Tie Rod: Service and Repair

Tie Rod

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Ball joint puller (3287A)

• Hose clamp pliers (VAG 1275)

• Torque wrench 40-200 Nm (VAG 1332)

• Open jaw torque wrench insert (VAG 1923)

• Locking pliers (VAS 6199)

Removing

- Turn the steering wheel to the straight ahead position.

- Clean the outside of the steering gear in the area of the boots.

- Loosen the nut - 3 -, counter hold on tie rod end - 2 - while doing this.





- Remove the front wheel.

- Loosen the nut of tie rod ball joint, but do not remove yet.

To protect the threads, leave the nut on the stud a few turns.

- Press the tie rod end off the wheel bearing housing using (3287A) and remove the nut.





- Loosen the spring clamp (item - 1 - in illustration N44-10005, refer to) using (VAG 1275) from the boot and slide onto the tie rod.

- Remove the clamp and pull off the boot from the steering gear housing.

- Remove the tie rod from the steering gear using (VAG 1923).





• If corrosion, damage, wear out or first signs of contamination on the steering gear can be seen, the complete steering gear must be replaced.

• If no grease film is visible on the steering gear, the steering gear must also be replaced completely.

Installing

Before installing, the steering gear must be coated with grease (G 052 192 A1) supplied in the repair set.

CAUTION!
Do not use other grease under any circumstances.

For this purpose, turn the steering to the stop toward both sides in succession.

For a clearer illustration, the steering gear has been removed in the illustration.

- Remove the clamp on the other side of the steering gear and remove the boot from the steering gear housing.

- Grease the steering gear on the toothed side - A - and on the thrust piece side with grease (G 052 192 A1).





- Turn the steering wheel to the straight ahead position.

- Slide the boot onto the tie rod.

- Install the tie rod far enough until dimension - a - is obtained.





Dimension - a - = 371 ± 1 mm

- Guide the new clamp and boot onto the tie rod.

- Install the tie rod onto the steering gear and tighten to specification.

- Position the boot - 2 - on the tie rod - 1 -.





- Slide the boot onto the steering gear housing until seated.

- Tighten the new clamp using (VAS 6199) to the extent depicted in the illustration.





Further installation is in the reverse sequence of removal.

Tightening specification for wheel mounting. Refer to --> [ Wheel Bolt Tightening Specification ] .

After the installation the vehicle must be measured.

- Perform a vehicle alignment. Refer to --> [ Wheel Alignment ] Wheel Alignment.

- Perform adaptation for the steering angle sensor using the --> vehicle diagnosis, testing and information system (VAS 5051B), "Guided Fault Finding".

- Then perform steering system adaptation using the --> vehicle diagnosis, testing and information system (VAS 5051B), "Guided Fault Finding".

Tightening Specifications