97 Rear End Swap In To A 02

[philbar71]

The rear end in my 02 A4 3.8 is grinding and making popping noises when driving around. When I did a fluid change, I found alot and i mean ALOT of metal shavings on the magnet. It has to be a bearing gone bad somewhere or an axle shaft ground down.

So basically Im looking to get a rear end from a 97, that has been freshly rebuilt with a Auburn Pro series diff and 3.73 gears. It is a 3 channel rear. My car is a 3 channel (ABS, no traction control)

Would it be basically a bolt on? I would use my brakes, as the calipers are almost brand new and the rotors are brand new. What else is involved in installing it in my car?

[FirebirdGT]

Re: 97 Rear End Swap In To A 02

93-97 and 98+ rear ends are NOT the same. Not only are the brakes different, the axles are different and so is the rear housing - SO, the proper centering of the rotor in the PAB will need to be addressed requiring shims or swapping axles.

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[philbar71]

Re: 97 Rear End Swap In To A 02

After some googling, I did read that the axles can be swapped from the 98-02 in to the 93-97 rear with no problem.

Other than that, will my 98+ brakes and Ebrake work with it?

Anything else to watch out for?

[thebeewantsboost]

Re: 97 Rear End Swap In To A 02

bump for more info. have an older rear end to swap in myself.

[philbar71]

Re: 97 Rear End Swap In To A 02

I think as long as i can get a hold of the seller, ima buy it and see.

[Skinny]

Re: 97 Rear End Swap In To A 02

Other than that, will my 98+ brakes and Ebrake work with it?

Anything else to watch out for?

Yes. You seem to have everything covered. Your newer axles will swap in with no problems, both rears are 3-channel (speed sensor on top of the pumpkin), and your brakes will swap over as well. You will have to transfer the brake backing plates too. Make sure you use some loctite on the backing plate bolts.