Tie Rod: Service and Repair

Tie Rod

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Ball joint puller (3287 A)

• Hose clamp pliers (V.A.G 1275)

• Torque wrench (V.A.G 1332)

• 38 mm open end wrench insert (V.A.G 1923)

• Locking pliers (VAS 6199)

Removing Tie Rod

- Turn steering wheel into straight ahead position.

- Clean outside of steering gear in area of bellows.

Loosen nut - arrow 3 -,counterhold on tie rod end - arrow 2 - while doing this.






- Remove front wheel.

- Loosen nut of track rod ball joint, but do not unscrew yet.

To protect thread, screw nut on pin a few turns.

- Press off track rod ball joint from wheel bearing housing using ball joint puller (3287 A) and now unscrew nut.






- Loosen spring clamp (item - 1 - in illustration N44-10005 ) using hose clamp pliers (V.A.G 1275) from bellows and slide onto tie rod.

- Remove clamp and pull off bellows from steering gear housing.

- Remove the tie rod from steering gear using 38 mm open end wrench insert (V.A.G 1923).






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

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

Installing Tie Rod

Do not lubricate the steering rack.

- Turn steering wheel into straight ahead position.

- Guide new clamp and bellows onto tie rod.

- Twist tie rod far enough into tie rod end until dimension - a - is obtained.






Dimension - a - = 367 +/- 1 mm

- Rotate tie rod in steering rack and tighten.

- Slightly grease the sealing surface of the bellow to the tie rod with grease (G 052 168 A1) (from the repair kit, from Fuchs Renolit JP1619).

- Slide bellows - 2 - onto tie rod - 1 -, pay attention to correct position when doing this.






- Secure spring clamp on bellows using hose clamp pliers (V.A.G 1275).

- Slightly grease the sealing surface of the bellow to the steering gear housing with grease (G 052 168 A1) (from the repair kit, from Fuchs Renolit JP1619).

- Slide bellows onto steering gear housing until it stops.

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






Install in reverse order of removal.

After the installation the vehicle must be measured.

- Perform vehicle alignment => [ Vehicle Alignment Procedure ] Vehicle Alignment Procedure.

- If both tie rods have been exchanged, then perform a basic setting for the steering angle sensor (G85) using => Vehicle Diagnosis, Testing and Information System , "Guided Fault Finding".

- Then perform basic setting of steering system via => Vehicle Diagnosis, Testing and Information System "Guided Fault Finding".

Tightening Specifications