Rear Suspension
Drive axles, removing and installing
Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required
^ Hub puller 3283
^ Angle wrench V.A.G1756
Removing
Left and right drive axles
- Raise vehicle until the weight is off the rear axle.
The wheel should still be touching the ground.
- Loosen 12-point nut.
- Disconnect drive axle - 1 - from final drive flange shaft - 2 -.
Left drive axle
- Push exhaust system to one side using a suitable lever - arrow -.
- Remove inner joint of drive axle from final drive.
1 - Exhaust system
2 - Drive axle
The remaining procedure is the same for both sides.
- Press out drive axle.
Note: Ensure sufficient clearance when pressing out drive axle.
- Take out drive axle.
Installing drive axle
Remove any paint residue and/or corrosion on thread and splines of outer joint.
- Before installing drive axle, lightly lubricate:
^ Splines on outer joint,
^ Thread of outer joint,
^ Splines in wheel hub,
^ Contact surface and thread of 12-point nut with oil.
- Insert drive axle.
- Insert outer joint as far as possible into wheel hub splines.
- Pull outer joint into wheel hub until it makes contact with wheel bearing.
- Place inner joint of drive axle in position and tighten bolts in diagonal sequence to 10 Nm.
- Tighten socket head bolts in diagonal sequence to 40 Nm.
- Lower vehicle until the wheel touches the ground.
- Tighten 12-point nut to 200 Nm and then loosen 1/2 turn.
- Tighten twelve-point nut.
Tightening torque:
50 Nm plus an additional 60° 1/6 turn
Note: To tighten 12-point nut we recommend using angle torque wrench V.A.G 1756
If no angle torque wrench is available the 12-point nut can be tightened as follows.
- Lower vehicle until the wheels touch the ground.
- Tighten 12-point nut to 200 Nm and then loosen 1/2 turn.
- Pre-tighten 12-point nut to 50 Nm.
- Mark edge of one of the 12-point flats on the nut with a line - arrow A -.
- Make a second mark - arrow B - on the inside of the wheel hub as illustrated.
- Turn 12-point nut until the two marks are in line.