Axle Shaft (Hollow Shaft), Servicing

Axle Shaft (Hollow Shaft), Servicing
The axle shaft can be identified by a circlip on the axle shaft at the outer joint
Removing outer joint
- Clamp drive axle in vise using protective jaw covers.
- Remove clamps (large and small) and slide back boot.





- Remove circlip using pointed pliers (arrow) and push back spring washer and spacer washer.





Driving off outer joint
- Only drive off using drift (brass or copper) at ball hub (arrow).

Assembly
- When slipping boot onto profiled shaft, apply small quantity of grease to bead on profiled shaft and carefully position boot.





1. Circlip
2. Dished washer
3. Spacer washer (plastic)
4. Circlip (snap ring)
- Use plastic headed hammer to drive joint onto shaft until circlip engages.





Tightening clamp

Plastic CV joint boots
On the Audi A4, new plastic CV joint boots are installed on the 88 mm outer joint (wheel end) of the front axle.
The plastic boots can be identified because they are made out of a harder material than the rubber boots.
The harder plastic boots necessitates the use of stainless steel clamps for attaching the boots.

Instructions for stainless steel clamps only





Tightening clamp on outer CV joint
- Position VAG1682 pliers as shown in illustration. Make sure jaws of pliers seat in grooves of clamp (arrows -B)
- Using torque wrench, turn spindle -A- and tighten clamp.
- Do not cant pliers
- Tightening torque: 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.)

Notes:
- Use a torque wrench with a range of 5 - 50 Nm (approx. 4 - 40 ft. lbs.) (e.g. VAG1331).
- Make sure spindle -A- turns freely. If necessary lubricate the spindle threads with MOS2 grease.
- If the spindle does not turn freely (e.g. spindle is dirty), the clamping force required on the clamp will not be achieved even though the correct tightening torque is indicated.