Front Drive Shafts

Removing and Installing the Front Drive Shaft





Tools


Removal

NOTE:
- Before raising the vehicle, undo the drive shaft fastening at the wheel side. Actuate the brake while doing this.
- Remove diagonal brace to facilitate assembly (2 M12 screws).

1. Remove front wheel and underside panel.

2. Undo the pan-head screws of the drive shaft on the transmission flange.

NOTE:
- The CV joint can come apart if the dust bellows holder -arrow- is removed or damaged. The joint must therefore be secured against falling apart during removal, installation and transport with 8 mm screws + nuts (2 ea.).





- When loosening the fastening nuts, counter with special tool 9546 (Torx screwdriver).

3. Disengage air guide on control arm.

4. Loosen stabilizer mount at stabilizer (counter with open-ended wrench).

5. Undo track rod and control arm on wheel carrier.





6. Press ball joint off control arm -1- with press-out tool 9560 and ball joint off track rod -2- using a commercially available track rod extractor.

NOTE:
- To prevent damage to the rubber sleeves of the ball joints, coat the rubber sleeves and the extractors in this area with tire mounting paste.
- Since the drive shaft can be moved in the wheel hub toothing only with great use of force, undo the drive shaft using a copper mandrel (driving mandrel). For unfavourable tolerances, the drive shaft must be pressed out of the wheel hub toothing using a suitable wheel hub extractor.

7. Push protective tube (shop-made) onto the drive shaft (profile shaft).

8. Swivel (pull) spring strut outwards without using excess force and extend drive shaft.

9. Do not damage the boots of the ball joints. Push a transport protective cap onto the joint if necessary.


Installation

Install in reverse order.

NOTE:
- Before installing, give the parts a visual check.
- Replace fastening nuts.
- Use correct tightening torques.
- Grease the toothing of the drive shaft with Optimoly HT. Additionally, only on the front axle, grease the thread with Optimoly HT.
- Taper of hall joints and wheel carrier must be free of grease.
- When tightening the fastening nuts, counter with Torx screwdriver 9546.

1. Grease the toothing and the thread of the drive shaft with Optimoly HT.

2. Swivel spring strut outwards and insert drive shaft into the vehicle.

3. Insert pan-head screws with shim plates into the halfshaft flange

4. Insert drive shaft and fit pan-head screws. Fit new fastening nut M22 x 1.5.

5. Fit ball joints on wheel carrier.