Drive Axle

Drive Axle

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Torque wrench (VAG 1576)

Removing

- Place the vehicle on hoist. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on the Hoist and on its Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on the Hoist and on its Wheels.

- Remove the wheel covers, remove the cover cap on light alloy wheels (removal hook in vehicle tool kit).

- Loosen the drive axle bolt - arrow - only 90 degrees, otherwise the wheel bearing will be damaged





CAUTION!
When loosening and tightening the drive axle bolt, the vehicle must sit on its wheels.

-risk of accident-

- Remove the wheel.

- Install all 5 wheel bolts and tighten by hand.

A second mechanic is needed for the next step:

- Mechanic 1: Sit in vehicle and press the brake pedal

- Mechanic 2: Remove the drive axle bolt.

If the drive axle bolt is loose or removed, the wheel bearings must not be loaded.

If the wheel bearings are loaded by the vehicle's own weight the wheel bearing will be damaged. The wheel bearings will be stressed and the life expectancy reduced.

If it should be necessary to move a vehicle whose drive axle has been removed, then before doing so install an outer joint in place of the drive axle and tighten it to 200 Nm, or else the wheel bearing will be damaged.

- Loosen the quick release fasteners - 1 and 2 - and remove the noise insulation.





- Remove the guide link from the wheel bearing housing. Refer to => [ Guide Link ] Guide Link.

- Remove the noise insulation fasteners - arrows - and insulation, if applicable.





- Remove the drive axle from the wheel bearing housing.

- Remove the drive axle - 1 - from the transmission flange shaft.





- Remove the drive axle.

Installing

Installation is performed in the reverse order of removal. Observe the following when doing so:

- Position the drive axle inner joint - 1 - and tighten the bolts in a diagonal sequence to 10 Nm.





- Tighten the drive axle to the transmission flange shaft. Refer to - item 14 - in => [ Drive Axle Assembly Overview ] Drive Axle Assembly Overview.

- Install the guide link to the wheel bearing housing. Refer to => [ Guide Link ] Guide Link.

- Install the noise insulation and fasteners - arrows -, if applicable.





- Install the noise insulation.

A second technician is needed to tighten the drive axle bolt:

- Mechanic 1: Sit in vehicle and press the brake pedal.

- Mechanic 2: Tighten the drive axle bolt to 200 Nm.

- Install the wheel and tighten.

- Place the vehicle on its wheels. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on the Hoist and on its Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on the Hoist and on its Wheels.

- Tighten the drive axle bolt by turning the bolt an additional 180 degrees.

CAUTION!
When loosening and tightening the drive axle bolt, the vehicle must sit on its wheels.

-risk of accident-