Drive Axles, Removing and Installing
Drive Axles, Servicing
Drive Axles, Removing and Installing
WARNING:
- Do not re-use 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 cotter pins. Always follow recommendations in this data-replace these fasteners with now parts where indicated, and any other time it is deemed necessary by inspection.
Special tools and equipment
- 3283 hub puller
- VAG1331 torque wrench
- VAG1756 angle measuring wrench
Removing
CAUTION:
- The wheel bearings must not be loaded when the 12-point nuts are loose.
- If the wheel bearings are loaded by the vehicle's weight, the bearings will be stressed and their service life reduced
- If a vehicle has to be moved after removing the drive axle, first install the outer CV joint and tighten to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.) otherwise the wheel bearing will be damaged
- Lift vehicle until load on front axle is relieved.
- Loosen 12-point nut.
- Raise vehicle.
- Remove wheel.
- Remove noise insulation panel (arrows).
- Remove left-side noise insulation (arrows).
Vehicles with TDI engine
- Remove intake air duct between charge air cooler and turbocharger.
Continued for all vehicles
- Remove right-side noise insulation.
- Disconnect drive axle from transmission drive flange.
- Mark installation position of ball joint bolts on control arm.
- Remove bolts (arrows).
- Press drive axle out.
Note:
- When pressing the drive axle out make sure that sufficient clearance is available.
- Remove drive axle.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
- Remove bolts (arrows).
- Push engine/transmission assembly forward (i.e. using lever).
- Remove drive axle.
Note:
- The arrow in the illustration points forward.
Installing
- Remove any paint residue and/or corrosion on threads/ splines of outer joint.
- Lubricate drive axle splines with oil.
- Install drive axle.
- Guide outer joint into wheel hub splines as far as possible.
- Coat contact surface of twelve-point nut with oil and screw on as far as possible.
- Pull outer joint into wheel hub until outer joint is in position.
- Connect ball joint to control arm.
- Use new bolts.
- Align bolts to markings.
Fastener/location - Tightening torque
Ball joint to control arm: 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.) + 1/4-turn (90°)
Use new bolts!
Transmission support to subframe: 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.) + 1/4-turn (90°)
Use new bolts!
Drive axle to drive flange on transmission: 40 Nm (30 ft. lbs.)
Recommended final tightening of 12-point nut:
- Lower vehicle until wheels touch ground.
WARNING:
- The vehicle must be standing on its wheels when loosening or tightening the 12-point nut. Otherwise there is risk of an accident.
- Tighten 12-point nut to 300 Nm (221 ft. lbs.) and then loosen one turn.
- Tighten 12-point nut to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).
- Using VAG1756 angle measuring wrench, tighten additional 1/12-turn (30°)
Alternate final tightening of 12-point nut (if angle measuring wrench is not available):
- Lower vehicle until wheels touch ground.
CAUTION:
- The vehicle must be standing on its wheels when loosening or tightening the 12-point nut. Otherwise there is risk of an accident.
- Tighten 12-point nut to 300 Nm (221 ft. lbs.) and then loosen one turn.
- Tighten 12-point nut to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).
- Mark point on nut with line (arrow -A-).
- Mark 2nd line (arrow -B-) on edge of wheel hub above next point.
The distance between each point is 30°.
- Tighten 12-point nut until both lines align.