B5 S4 Engine/Trans Removal With Subframe

[all_motor_A4]

So it's possible I'm a massive idiot and missed it, but are there any writeups for popping the entire engine/trans/suspension/subframe out as a unit? I see plenty for removing the drivetrain with a hoist separately, but none for the subframe method.

Background:
Swapping everything from the front ends between two 2001 S4's. One is fully built (Ohlins suspension, BBK, F21's and fully built engine, and JHM 01E) but unable to be registered, the other is a high mileage stock car. Rather than taking things apart piece by piece, we decided it may be easiest to drop the subframes and swap them over as assemblies.

Before diving in though, it'd be nice to take a look at a writeup if anyone has one! Also I have two lifts at my disposal, which obviously is helpful for subframe related things.

[nynoah]

Its not hard. The subframes are pretty obvious how they unbolt from the bottom. On the shock towers there are 3 bolts on each side and you can then drop subframe, engine and suspension as a unit. Its designed to do this easy too.

[MacDaddy]

The engine mount bracket is seperate, so your still swapping subframe and engine seperate.

[sxC]

nynoah is correct, it's literally that easy. The 8 bolts holding the subframe/sway bar up (4 large, 2 medium, 2 small in the back) plus the 3 bolts on top of the strut tower on each side. Don't forget the rear driveshaft/shifter/clutch slave!

[christianb5s4]

nynoah is correct, it's literally that easy. The 8 bolts holding the subframe/sway bar up (4 large, 2 medium, 2 small in the back) plus the 3 bolts on top of the strut tower on each side. Don't forget the rear driveshaft/shifter/clutch slave!

And disconnect the downpipes from the rest of the exhaust.

[blitz2190]

I believe there are also two more bolts holding each engine mount separate from the one big one that is part of the subframe(so 3 total that go through the engine mounts).

[all_motor_A4]

You guys are awesome, thanks for the input! Popped the built car in the air today and scouted it out. Looks like the clutch slaves might be the worst part of the whole thing.

Looking at it now, does the rad support even need to come off for this? It seems like putting it into service position may be enough

[blitz2190]

You guys are awesome, thanks for the input! Popped the built car in the air today and scouted it out. Looks like the clutch slaves might be the worst part of the whole thing.

Looking at it now, does the rad support even need to come off for this? It seems like putting it into service position may be enough

I believe you could do it without going into service postion at all if you remove the fan from the pully first, which is easy with the right tools, near impossible without.

[zipdoa]

Bump!

I'm going to be doing this method on Quickjack 7000TL's. Any recommendations for the best surface to drop the engine/trans/subframe combo onto? I know on a hoist there are hydraulic carts, but the quickjacks won't go that high. I was thinking of dropping onto a pallet jack?

[CELison]

You could drop it on a pallet. I honestly thinking picking the motor straight out is the way to go. Even with a lift I did it that way.

[Cybersombosis]

Ya if you do the subframe method, you basically leave your car immovable either taking up valuable garage space or occupying your QuickJacks and you may feel pressure to complete it quickly rather than taking your time. Having a rolling chassis gives you more options.

[zipdoa]

I'm doing coilovers/adjustable uca/aluminum uprights at the same time, along with hotchkis front and rear bars, etc.so I'll need an alignment and having it all out should make it a lot easier to swap the parts. Not worried about garage space, as I have a 2.5 wide and the project is the only thing going for a month. Just looking for the least cursing/quickest path towards dropping the assembly out, and it sounds like 3hrs is reasonable if the whole thing is dropped out on the subframe.

[rob]

Please provide any pics or video that you can. Thanks.

[zipdoa]

Never pulled a motor before! Here we go...

[bakedziti]

This is basically the approach I am slowly taking.

I bought 4 of these 8” caster wheels rated for 500+lbs each and bolted them to a pallet. I plan to place everything down on the pallet using my engine hoist but then it’s all easily movable with the pallet and caster wheels. I did add a broken snow shovel handle and then swapped it for some old wheel barrel handles on the pallet for easy maneuvering around but that was optional. Plus the whole assembly fits under my taller torin 6 tonne stands for storage in the engine bay being that my project will take me forever and I’ll need the engine out for my slow build for things like turbos and the trans out to do the clutch. IIRC, I picked these up as ‘used like new’ from amazon for cheaper being that they would get beat up anyway in the garage.

This setup has been useful or more things around the house and garage - ie, I built a 250sqft paver patio last year with a 12’x20’ gazebo structure and I was able to move everything over grass with this setup on my own including the 1,500lb gazebo in its 5 shipping boxes.



https://a.co/d/6JHgYQX

Good luck, keep us posted please

[zipdoa]

Great idea. I'm looking for a hydraulic cart long enough - taking inspiration from VW having their own Snap-on Scissor Lift SST for the V10 TDI:

https://vw.snapon.com/SpecialToolsDe...temId=39410155

Here's a cool video of it in action. I didn't realize it could articulate as well:
https://i.imgur.com/1nmMZph.mp4