Removal and Installation
Front axle shafts, servicing
Special tools and equipment
^ 3283 Press tool
^ VAG 1756 Angle wrench
^ VW 408 A Press tool
^ VW 402 Thrust plate
^ VW 401 Thrust plate
^ VW 522 Support sleeve
^ 40-204 A Tensioner
Front axle shafts, removing and installing
Removing
The wheel bearings must not be loaded when the 12-point nut/hex bolt is loose.
If the bearings are loaded by the vehicle's own weight, the wheel bearings will be stressed and the life expectancy reduced.
If a vehicle has to be moved after removing the axle shaft, first install an outer joint and tighten to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.) instead of the axle shaft, otherwise the wheel bearing will be damaged.
The wheel hub/axle shaft on model "Golf GTI 132 kW"and " GTI 337 Edition" is secured with a hex bolt -1- instead of a 12-point nut. The spline of the outer joint -2- is slightly shorter then previous splines and has an internal thread.
The revised assembly sequence and the revised torque settings are contained in the following work sequence.
- Lift vehicle until the load on the front axle is relieved.
- Loosen 12-point nut/hex nut.
- Disconnect axle shaft from transmission drive flange.
- Mark installation position of bolts -1-.
- Remove bolts -1
- Press axle shaft out.
- Vehicles where the axle shaft is secured with a hex bolt, use special tool VW 434.
Note:
^ When pressing axle shaft out ensure sufficient clearance is available.
^ Do not allow drive axle to hang by inner CV or triple-rotor joint to avoid damaging bearing surfaces.. Tie drive axle to stabilizer bar or other suspension component if it is to remain attached to drive flange.
^ Do not flex inner CV or triple-rotor joint more than 25° from its original angle.
- Remove axle shaft.
The following sequence applies to automatic transmission vehicles only
- Remove bolts -arrows-.
- Remove left side of noise insulation if necessary.
- Push engine/transmission assembly forward with pry bar.
Remove triple roller joint axle shaft.
(Arrow points forward)
Installing
For vehicles with 12-point nut or hex bolt
Remove any paint residue and/or corrosion on thread/splines of the outer joint.
- Coat with oil before installing axle shaft;
^ The splines of the outer joint,
^ The thread of the outer joint
^ Wheel hub splines,
^ The contact surface and thread of the 12-point nut with oil.
Note for vehicles with hex bolt:
Do not oil threads of hex bolt.
- Install axle shaft.
- Guide outer joint into wheel hub splines as far as possible.
- Connect ball joint to control arm using new bolts onto old marks.
- Torque ball joint to control arm: 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.) plus additional 90° turn
- Install inner joint to axle shaft and initially tighten bolts diagonally to 10 Nm (7.38 ft. lbs.).
Tightening torque:
- Tighten multi-point socket head bolts diagonally to tightening torque listed.
Multi-point socket head bolt M 8 x 18; 40 Nm (29.50 ft. lbs.)
Multi-point socket head bolt M 8 x 28; 40 Nm (29.50 ft. lbs.)
Multi-point socket head bolt M 8 x 48; 40 Nm (29.50 ft. lbs.)
Previous multi-point socket head bolts
Multi-point socket head bolt M 10 x 201 70 Nm (51.63 ft. lbs.)
Multi-point socket head bolt M 10 x 48; 70 Nm (51.63 ft. lbs.)
New multi-point socket head bolts
Multi-point socket head bolt M 10 x 23; 70 Nm (51.63 ft. lbs.) Multi-point socket head bolt M 10 x 52; 70 Nm (51.63 ft. lbs.)
- Bolt pendulum support to sub-frame and tighten to 25 Nm (18 ft. lbs.).
- Pull outer joint into the wheel hub until the outer joint is in position.
Vehicles with 12-point nut
- Tighten 12-point nut to 200 Nm (147.5 ft. lbs.) and then loosen 1/2 turn.
Tighten 12 point nut to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.) plus an additional 60° turn.
Vehicles with hex bolt
- Tighten hex bolt to 250 Nm (184.4 ft. lbs.) and an additional 90 turn and then loosen 1/2 turn.
then finally tighten to
250 Nm (184.4 ft. lbs.) plus additional 90° turn
^ To tighten 12-point nut/hex bolt we recommend the angle measuring wrench VAG 1756.
If an angle measuring wrench is not available, then tighten 12-point nut using following method.
- Lower vehicle until the wheels touch ground.
- Tighten 12-point nut to 200 Nm (148 ft. lbs.) and then loosen 1/2 turn (180).
- Tighten 12-point nut to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).
- Mark one of the 12-points on the nut with a line -arrow A-.
- Mark 2nd line (arrow B) on the edge of the wheel hub as shown in illustration.
- Turn 1 2-point nut further until points A and B align.