Does the front end need to be removed to do this job? What is the hours involved?

 

In general, it's about a years work, if you tell us which year and engine you have, it might be less

 

Doesn't matter the year or engine, the answer is yes, the front end has to go into service position to replace a timing belt.

And it only takes six months, not a year.

Good luck,

Bob

 

Yes, you have to move the front end to the service position

 

You need to move the front end to service position. All job takes about 5-8 hours (depends on your experience) and you need special tools. You can get all parts from blauparts.com The same place you can rent the tools.

 

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng.html

3.0 V6 timing belt service

 

i have bnib blauparts timing belt kit for 3.0 V6 if you need it. i'll sell it cheap

 

i found " service position" a little hard on my back .. so i disconected the rad on drivers side and swung whole front end out of the way .. boy was it ever worth it ...

 

He had 2.7T... not 3.0. And yes the front end is removed or put on a service position.

 

If I remember correctly, the timing chain on a 4.2 Allroad is on the rear of the engine. Didn't see whether or not the OP posted his engine type. I would imagine the 2.7t could be easier to access hence taking less time/difficulty.

My AWN took 3 week-nights of about 3 hours each night to complete the job for a mechanically inclined beginner. Yes to service mode (although my passenger side kept trying to slip back in place so I had to jam something back there to hold it in service mode). Blauparts kit and tool rental weren't bad. The cam seal remover tool didn't work worth a lick, so I used a seal remover tool from the parts store; worked fine. Used it for the crank seal as well.