Drive Axle, Removing and Installing

Drive axle, removing and installing

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required:

^ Hub puller 3283
^ Torque wrench V.A.G. 1331
^ Angle wrench V.A.G. 1756

Removing
The wheel bearings must not be loaded when the 12-point nut/hex bolt is loose.

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

If a vehicle that has a drive axle removed and is to be moved, an outer CV joint must be installed in place of the drive axle and be tightened to 50 Nm. Otherwise, the wheel bearing will be damaged.





The wheel hub/drive axle on model Golf GTI 132 kW and R32 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 revised torque settings are contained in the following work sequence.
- Lift vehicle until the load on front axle is relieved.
- Loosen 12-point nut.
- Disconnect drive axle from transmission axle flange.

Vehicles with 12-point nut
- Mark installation position of bolts from ball joint to control arm.





- Remove bolts - Arrows -.

Vehicles with hex. bolt
- Loosen nut from ball joint.





- Install ball joint puller 3287 A as shown in illustration and press out ball joint.

Note:
^ To protect ball joint threads and for safety reasons leave nut on a few turns.

Continued for all vehicles





- Press out drive axle.
- Vehicles where the drive axle is secured with a hex bolt, use Thrust piece VW 434.

Note:
^ When pressing drive axle out ensure sufficient clearance is available.

- Remove drive axle.
The drive axle must not hang down!
The inner joint will be damaged through over flexing.

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 a pry bar.

Now drive axle can be removed.
( - 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 drive axle;
^ The splines of outer joint,
^ The thread of outer joint
^ Wheel hub splines,
^ The contact surface and thread of 12-point nut

Vehicles with hex. bolt

Note:
^ Do not oil threads of hex bolt.

Continued for all vehicles
- Install drive axle.
- Insert outer joint as far as possible into spline in wheel hub.
- Connect ball joint to control arm using new bolts onto old marks.
Torque ball joint to control arm: 20 Nm plus an additional 1/4 turn 90°
- Install inner joint of drive axle and initially tighten bolts diagonally to 10 Nm.





Tightening torques:

- Pull outer joint into wheel hub until outer joint is in position.

Vehicles with 12-point nut





- Tighten 12-point nut to 200 Nm and loosen 1/2 turn.
- Turn wheel hub 180°.
Tighten again with: 50 Nm plus an additional 60° turn

Vehicles with hex. bolt
- Tighten hex bolt to 250 Nm plus an additional 1/4turn 90° and then loosen 1/2 turn.
- Turn wheel hub 180°.
Tighten again with: Tighten 250 Nm plus an additional 1/4 turn 90°

Note:
^ To tighten 12-point nut/hex bolt we recommend the angle measuring wrench V.A.G. 1756.

If an angle measuring wrench is not available, tighten 12-point nut using following method.

Vehicles with 12-point nut
- Lower vehicle until wheels touch ground.
- Tighten 12-point nut to 200 Nm and loosen 1/2 turn.
- Tighten 12-point nut to 50 Nm.





- 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 12-point nut until both points align.