Removing and Installing

Front Drive Axles, Removing and Installing

WARNING:
Do not re-use any fasteners that are worn or deformed in normal use.
Some fasteners are designed to be used only once, and are unreliable and may fail if used a second time. This includes, but is not limited to nuts, bolts, washers circlips and coffer pins. Always follow the recommendations in this information replace these fasteners with new parts where indicated, and any other time it is deemed necessary by inspection.

Removing

- Remove wheel trim.

On light-alloy wheels use puller in vehicle tool kit to remove trim cap

- Remove collar bolt for drive axle.

WARNING: The vehicle must be standing on its wheels when loosening or tightening the collar bolt for the drive axle. Otherwise the risk of an accident exists.

- Remove wheel.





- Remove socket-head bolts -1- and disconnect drive axle from drive flange on transmission.
- Remove ABS wheel speed sensor wiring from retainer on brake caliper (arrow).
- Pull ABS wheel speed sensor out from wheel bearing housing slightly.






- Remove nut -1-, remove bolt and disconnect both links -2- upward.

CAUTION: Do not use a chisel (or similar) to widen the slots in the wheel bearing housing.
Do not loosen bolts -3- and -4-. Otherwise, the wheel alignment must be checked.

- Swing wheel bearing housing aside in direction of arrow.
- Remove drive axle.

Installing

- Install drive axle into wheel bearing housing and bolt it to drive flange on transmission.
- Install both upper links and tighten nut to 40 Nm (30 ft lbs)

When tightening, press upper links downward as far as possible.

- Fully tighten bolts connecting drive axle to drive flange on transmission.

M8 bolts: 40 Nm (30 ft lbs)
M10 bolts: 80 Nm (59 ft lbs)

- Push ABS wheel speed sensor into wheel bearing housing up to stop and insert sensor wiring into retainer on brake caliper.
- Install wheel.

- Install and tighten new bolt for drive axle.
M14 bolt: 115 Nm (85 ft lbs) + 1/2-turn (180°)
M16 bolt: 190 Nm (140 ft lbs) + 1/2-turn (180°)

WARNING: The vehicle must be standing on its wheels when loosening or tightening the collar bolt for the drive axle (item -17-). Otherwise the risk of an accident exists.