Removing Front-Axle Carrier

→ Wear personal protective gear.

→ Get someone to help if necessary.

Information 

• The spring struts are not removed in order to remove the front axle carrier  .
• Fix upper axle strut. The lower control arms are loosened on the front axle carrier and remain with the spring struts in the vehicle  .

Information 

• The pictures shown in this document may differ from the original  .

1. Fix the upper trailing arm -2-  in place using spring compressor VW 552  , -1-  .

   The spring compressor is engaged in the top opening of the wheel housing and in the upper trailing arm and is tensioned slightly to avoid damaging the upper ball joint -3-  .

   Fig 1: Identifying Upper Trailing Arm

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2. To make it easier to remove the outer tie rod joint, swivel the relevant wheel carrier so that the tie rod is fully extended. Remove the outer tie rod using ball joint puller T10187  . When pressing out, screw lock nut on flush (protects the ball joint thread).
   Fig 2: Pressing Off Tie Rod

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3. Loosen fastening screws -1-  on the heat shield -2-  at the steering gear.

   Remove the heat shield.

   Fig 3: Identifying Heat Shield For Steering Gear

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4. Loosen the clamping screw -1-  on the steering column -2-  at the steering gear -3-  .

   Press the steering column -3-  up -arrow-  out of the steering gear -A-  .

   Fig 4: Loosening Steering Column At Steering Gear

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5. Remove the upper hydraulic line -1-  (pressure line) at the steering gear -2-  .

   Collect hydraulic fluid in a suitable container.

   Fig 5: Identifying Hydraulic Line - Steering Gear

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6. For vehicles with PDCC (Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control - anti-roll stabilization): 

   On vehicles with PDCC, the lines at the flow distributor and at the front right side member must be disconnected. Unclip them if necessary. Allow fluid to flow into a suitable drip pan.

7. Loosen the clamp -1-  on the hydraulic line -2-  (intake pipe) in the front left wheel housing and pull off the line.

   Close off the line and connection piece using suitable stoppers.

   Fig 6: Identifying Front Left Hydraulic Line

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8. Loosen the cardan shaft at the transfer gear using a mounting lever and tie it up. → 390219 REMOVING AND INSTALLING CARDAN SHAFT
9. Unscrew fastening screws -1-  from the drive shaft at the front-axle final drive.

   Make sure that the drive shafts do not become kinked (tie them up).

   Fig 7: Identifying Drive Shaft To Transmission Screws

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10. Mark the eccentric screws -1-  for the adjusting camber and caster on the chassis subframe with a colored pen -A, B-  (facilitates fitting during re-installation).
    Fig 8: Identifying Marking On Eccentric Screws

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11. Remove the eccentric screws. Make sure that the eccentric screws do not damage the bellows. For this purpose, raise the wheel bearing housing using a suitable jack.
12. Pull (press) the lower trailing arm out of the front-axle carrier -A-  .
    Fig 9: Locating Trailing Arm

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13. Remove fastening screw -1-  for the connecting link -2-  at the bottom of the anti-roll bar -3-  .
    Fig 10: Identifying Connecting Link For Anti-Roll Bar

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14. Mark the installation position of the front-axle carrier diagonally at least two places on the body using a felt-tip pen. This makes it easier to correctly position the front-axle carrier on the body during re-installation. → Marking installation position of front-axle carrier 
    Fig 11: Marking On Installation Position Of Front-Axle Carrier

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15. Set up the lifting platform according to instructions → Tools And Materials . Then position it under the engine and raise it. When you do this, ensure that the positioning guides of the lifting platform are inserted into the body. → Lifting platform under engine 
    Fig 12: Lifting Platform Under Engine

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16. The -arrows-  show the mounting points for the mounting frame in the front-axle carrier (view from below here).
    Fig 13: Locating Mounting Points For Front-Axle Carrier

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17. Position lifting platform in the front-axle carrier in the mounting points provided -(arrows)-  , -4 into the body-  .
    Fig 14: Lifting Platform

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18. Mark the final position of the lifting platform -1-  on the workshop floor -A-  .
    Fig 15: Positioning Lifting Platform

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19. Remove the 4 fastening screws -(arrows)-  on the front-axle carrier.
    Fig 16: Locating Fastening Screws On Front-Axle Carrier

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20. Lower the front-axle carrier with steering, final drive and anti-roll bar. Be careful not to damage adjacent parts (e.g. cardan shaft, oil pan, body).