Drive shafts, removing and installing: 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 wheel bearing will be damaged. The wheel bearings will be stressed and the life expectancy reduced.
If a vehicle that has a drive shaft removed is to be moved, an outer CV joint must be installed in place of the drive shaft and be tightened to 50 Nm. Otherwise, the wheel bearing will be damaged.
The wheel hub/axle shaft 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 the revised torque specification are contained in the following work sequence.
- Lift vehicle until the load on the front axle is relieved.
- Loosen 12-point nut.
- Disconnect axle shaft 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 as shown in illustration and press out ball joint.
- To protect ball joint threads and for safety reasons leave nut on a few turns.
Continued for all vehicles
- Press out drive shaft.
- Vehicles where the axle shaft is secured with a hex bolt, use Arbor VW 434.
- When pressing axle shaft out ensure sufficient clearance is available.
- Remove drive shaft.
The axle shaft 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 lever.
Now axle shaft can be removed.
( - Arrow - points forward)