Replacing Rear-Axle Bearings

→ Do not reach into the danger area.

→ Relieve the tension on components before starting work.

→ Secure components to prevent them from loosening suddenly.

→ Wear personal protective gear.

→ Get someone to help if necessary.

Information 

• To replace the rubber-metal mounts, the rear axle housing must be lowered at the front or rear. There is no need to remove the rear axle housing  .
• Lower the rear axle housing alternately at the front or rear. This can eliminate the need for wheel alignment  .
• The rear axle housing must not be lowered by more than 4 cm  .
• Before removing the rubber-metal mounts, mark their installation position with respect to the rear axle housing  .

Replacing front bearing: 

Information 

The following tools are required for replacing the front bearing:

• Assembly fixture T10263 
• Assembly fixture T40185 
• Assembly fixture T40033 
• Hydraulic cylinder WE 1284 

1. Transmission jack WE 1082  must be positioned under the rear axle housing -1-  with a suitable piece of wood -2-  underneath.

   Supporting rear axle housing 

2. Unscrew fastening screws -1-  on both sides of the vehicle.

   Mounting for rear axle housing, front 

   Information 

   Screw in fastening screw until dimension a = → Control value: 4 cm  is reached.

3. Screw the fastening screw -1-  you removed earlier into the body on the opposite side of the bearing to be replaced.

   Screwing in screw again 

4. Lower the rear axle housing.
5. Lever off the twist lock -1-  close to the retaining lugs alternately on both sides of the bearing using a screwdriver.

   Levering off twist lock 

6. Mark the installation position of the bearing with respect to the rear axle housing -arrows-  . Use the ends of the rubber bead on the bearing as a guide.

   Marking installation position 

   Information 

   As soon as the bearing is pressed out, the device falls down.

   A second person must therefore hold the device tightly while pressing out bearings on the hydraulic cylinder.

7. Press out front bearing.

   To do this, fit tools on the bearing as shown → Arrangement of tools for pressing out front bearing  .

   1. Nut T10263/5 
   2. Pressure piece T40185/5  (cut-out is facing the bearing)
   3. Rear axle housing

      Arrangement of tools for pressing out front bearing 

   4. Support ring T40185/6  (conical side is facing upwards, bars must engage in the cut-outs on the bearing)
   5. Pipe T40033/3 
   6. Pressure piece T40033/4 
   7. Hydraulic cylinder VAS 6178 
   8. Nut T10263/5 
   9. Spindle T10263/4  (pin of the spindle pointing downwards)
8. Lever off the twist lock -1-  close to the retaining lugs -arrows-  alternately on both sides of the bearing using a screwdriver.

   Twist lock on new bearing 

   Information 

   Installation position of front bearing 

   Twist lock -1-  is at an angle to the direction of travel. -arrow-  indicates direction of travel.

   Alignment of front bearing 

   The following must also be observed:

   • Align bearing with the applied markings before pressing it in  .
   • Press bearing in until the collar is positioned loosely at the bush of the rear axle housing  .
   • The ends of the rubber beads on the bearing must match the markings on the rear axle housing  .

     Information 

     Align the pressure piece T40185/3  on the bearing as shown -Illustration-  .

     Aligning pressure piece T40185/3 

9. Press in front bearing.

   To do this, fit tools on the bearing as shown → Arrangement of tools for pressing in front bearing  .

   1. Nut T10263/5 
   2. Pressure piece T40185/4 
   3. Rear axle housing
   4. Bearing
   5. Pressure piece T40185/3 
   6. Hydraulic cylinder VAS 6178 
   7. Nut T10263/5 
   8. Spindle T10263/4  (pin of the spindle pointing downwards)

   Arrangement of tools for pressing in front bearing 

10. Fit twist lock on the bearing.
11. Further installation is performed in reverse order.

    Tightening torque for rear axle housing at front to body: Initial tightening 115 Nm (85 ftlb.) Final tightening +90° 

    Replacing rear bearing: 

    Information 

    The following tools are required for replacing the rear bearing:

    • Assembly fixture T10263 
    • Assembly fixture T40185 
    • Assembly fixture T40033 
    • Hydraulic cylinder WE 1284 
    • Assembly fixture 3301 
    • Assembly fixture 3346 
    1. Transmission jack WE 1082  must be positioned under the rear axle housing -1-  with a suitable piece of wood -2-  underneath.

       Supporting rear axle housing 

    2. Unscrew fastening screws at the rear of the rear axle housing.
    3. Screw spindle 3346/2  with assembly tool 3301  and nut 3346/3  on the opposite side of the bearing to be replaced approx. 1.5 cm into the body.
       1. Assembly tool 3301 
       2. Nut 3346/3 
       3. Spindle 3346/2 

       Assembly tool 

       Information 

       Screw nut 3346/3  onto the spindle 3346/2  until dimension a = → Control value: 4 cm is reached.

    4. Lower the rear axle housing.
    5. Lever off the twist lock -1-  close to the retaining lugs alternately on both sides of the bearing using a screwdriver.

       Levering off twist lock 

    6. Pull plastic insert -1-  up and out.

       Pulling out plastic insert 

    7. Mark the installation position of the bearing with respect to the rear axle housing -arrows-  . Use the ends of the rubber bead on the bearing as a guide.

       Marking installation position 

       Information 

       As soon as the bearing is pressed out, the device falls down.

       A second person must therefore hold the device tightly while pressing out bearings on the hydraulic cylinder.

    8. Press out rear bearing.

       Arrangement of tools for pressing out rear bearing 

       To do this, fit tools on the bearing as shown → Arrangement of tools for pressing out rear bearing  .

       1. Nut T10263/5 
       2. Pressure piece T40185/5  (cut-out is facing the bearing)
       3. Rear axle housing
       4. Support ring T40185/6  (conical side is facing upwards, bars must engage in the cut-outs on the bearing)
       5. Pipe T40033/3 
       6. Pressure piece T40033/4 
       7. Hydraulic cylinder VAS 6178 
       8. Nut T10263/5 
       9. Spindle T10263/4  (pin of the spindle pointing downwards)
    9. Lever off the twist lock -1-  close to the retaining lugs -arrows-  alternately on both sides of the bearing using a screwdriver.

       Twist lock on new bearing 

       Information 

       Installation position of front bearing 

       Twist lock -1-  is at an angle to the direction of travel. -arrow-  indicates direction of travel.

       Alignment of front bearing 

       The following must also be observed:

       • Align bearing with the applied markings before pressing it in  .
       • Press bearing in until the collar is positioned loosely at the bush of the rear axle housing  .
       • The ends of the rubber beads on the bearing must match the markings on the rear axle housing  .

       Information 

       Align the pressure piece T40185/3  on the bearing as shown -Illustration-  .

       Aligning pressure piece T40185/3 

    10. Press in rear bearing.

        To do this, fit tools on the bearing as shown → Arrangement of tools for pressing in rear bearing  .

        1. Nut T10263/5 
        2. Pressure piece T40185/4 
        3. Rear axle housing
        4. Bearing
        5. Pressure piece T40185/3 
        6. Hydraulic cylinder VAS 6178 
        7. Nut T10263/5 
        8. Spindle T10263/4  (pin of the spindle pointing downwards)

        Arrangement of tools for pressing in rear bearing 

    11. Fit twist lock on the bearing.
    12. Further installation is performed in reverse order.

        Tightening torque for rear axle housing at the rear to body: Initial tightening 115 Nm (85 ftlb.) Final tightening +90°