Front Suspension

Drive Axle

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Press piece (VW 454)

• Thrust plate (VW 401)

• Punch (VW 408 A)

• Torque wrench (VAG 1331)

• CV joint boot clamp tool (VAG 1682)

• Circlip pliers (VW 161 A)

• Punch (VW 412)

Disassembling

Pressing Off Outer Constant Velocity (CV) Joint





- Secure drive axle with protective covers in vise clamp.

- Remove both clamps from CV joint boot.

- Remove CV joint boot from outer CV joint.

- Drive CV joint from axle shaft using a drift - A -.

Drive must be applied exactly on star of CV joint.

Check outer CV joint. Refer to --> [ Outer Constant Velocity Joint, Checking ] Front Suspension.

Driving CV Joint On

- Drive onto axle shaft with plastic hammer until securing ring engages.

- Remove securing ring.

Removing Inner CV Joint

- Remove both clamps from CV joint boot.

- Pull off CV joint boot from inner joint.

- Drive off inner CV joint cover.





Remove circlip using circlip pliers (VW 161 A).

- Press off inner joint from axle shaft, as depicted in illustration. Hold axle shaft securely while doing so.





Inner CV joint cannot be disassembled for checking.

Assembling

- Press the inner CV joint onto the axle shaft as shown in the illustration.





- Install new circlip on axle shaft using circlip pliers (VW 161 A).

- Place new cover on inner joint.

- Attach CV joint boot clamp tool (VAG 1682) as shown in illustration. Be sure that edges of clamping pliers are seated in corners - arrows B - of hose clamp.





- Tension clamp by turning spindle with a torque wrench (do not tilt clamp tool).

• A stainless steel clamp must be used due to hardness of CV boot material (compared to rubber). This clamp can only be tensioned using CV joint boot clamp tool (VAG 1682).

• Tightening specification: 25 Nm.

• Use torque wrench with adjustment range 5 to 50 Nm (e.g. torque wrench (VAG 1331)).

• Be sure thread of spindle - A - of clamp tool moves freely. Grease with MOS 2 grease if necessary.

• If it does not move freely, e.g. due to dirt in thread, the required clamp tension will not be achieved at the specification.