Parts for your 2013 Audi Q5-Cluth slave cylinder

2013 Audi Q5 cluth-slave-cylinder — is it used on this model?

Short answer: for most 2013 Audi Q5 models sold in Australia and New Zealand, a cluth-slave-cylinder isn’t used. That’s because these Q5s were delivered with either the 7‑speed S tronic dual‑clutch (transmission code 0B5, DL501) or the 8‑speed Tiptronic automatic (0BK). Neither of those gearboxes runs a conventional clutch pedal or an external clutch hydraulic circuit with a slave cylinder.

That’s not just hearsay. Audi’s technical literature backs it up. Audi Self‑Study Programme for the 7‑speed S tronic (DL501) explains the twin multi‑plate clutches are actuated electro‑hydraulically inside the mechatronic unit, so there’s no separate slave cylinder to service. The Audi ELSA/ERWIN workshop manuals for the 2013 Q5 (type 8R) list no clutch hydraulic components for 0B5 or 0BK transmissions. Likewise, Audi’s ETKA parts catalogue for the 8R with 0B5 (S tronic) or 0BK (Tiptronic) shows no clutch slave cylinder in the relevant groups.

Why isn’t a cluth-slave-cylinder used? The 8‑speed Tiptronic uses a torque converter, so there’s no manual-style clutch at all. The 7‑speed S tronic does have clutches, but they’re controlled internally by valves and pistons within the mechatronic assembly, not by a master/slave cylinder linked to a pedal.

There’s one caveat. In some markets a limited number of Q5s were built with a 6‑speed manual. Those cars do use a conventional concentric cluth-slave-cylinder inside the bellhousing. If someone’s running a manual 2013 Q5 (often a private import), normal manual-clutch logic applies: the clutch hydraulic circuit shares brake fluid, the slave is typically a “gearbox-out” job, and it’s smart to pair slave replacement with a new clutch kit and release bearing while the box is out. Brake/clutch fluid should be flushed about every two years, and warning signs of trouble include a soft or sinking pedal, difficulty selecting gears, visible fluid leaks, or contamination around the bellhousing.

For everyone else in AU/NZ with S tronic or Tiptronic, there’s no cluth-slave-cylinder to maintain or replace. Servicing focuses instead on timely transmission fluid and filter changes per Audi specs, software updates, and keeping an eye on any mechatronic or torque‑converter behaviour under load.

• Tiptronic (0BK): no clutch pedal, no cluth-slave-cylinder.
• S tronic (0B5/DL501): internal electro‑hydraulic actuation, no external cluth-slave-cylinder.
• Rare manual variants: do have a concentric cluth-slave-cylinder.

Popular questions about the 2013‑Audi‑Q5 cluth-slave-cylinder

Does the 2013 Audi Q5 have a cluth-slave-cylinder?
Most AU/NZ cars do not. They use S tronic or Tiptronic transmissions without a conventional slave cylinder. Only rare manual versions (usually market‑specific or imports) have a cluth-slave-cylinder, typically a concentric unit inside the bellhousing.

How can someone tell which transmission their 2013 Q5 has?
Look at the shifter (PRNDS indicates an automatic), check the build sticker PR codes in the service book or under the boot floor (codes like 0B5 for S tronic or 0BK for Tiptronic), or decode the VIN with an Audi dealer. A visible clutch pedal and an H‑pattern shifter means a manual and therefore a slave cylinder is likely present.

What should they do if the clutch pedal feels soft on a manual 2013 Q5?
Check the brake/clutch fluid level under the bonnet, inspect for leaks, and book a bleed test. If the pedal still misbehaves, the concentric cluth-slave-cylinder may be failing. Because access usually requires gearbox removal, many workshops recommend replacing the slave, release bearing, and clutch kit together to save on labour and keep things sweet for the next 100,000+ km.