Drive Axles, Removing and Installing

Drive axles, removing and installing

Removing
- Remove wheel trim; pull trim cap off light-alloy wheels (puller in vehicle tool kit).
- Loosen hex bolt of drive axle outer joint by maximum 90°.
- Remove wheel.
- Screw all five wheel bolts back in.
- Completely unscrew hex bolt of drive axle outer joint.
- Unscrew drive axle from flange shaft/transmission.
If not enough space is available for removing the drive axle, perform the following step:





- Unfasten nut -1-, take out hex bolt and pull out both links -2- upward.

Note:
^ Never widen slots in wheel bearing housing using a chisel or the like.
^ Do not loosen bolts -3- and -4- as this changes the alignment of the front axle.

- Swivel wheel bearing housing to one side in direction of arrow.
- Take out drive axle.

Installing
- Insert drive axle in wheel bearing housing.
- Insert both upper links and tighten nuts to 40 Nm.
Press links as far as possible in direction of wheel bearing housing while tightening nuts.
- Screw drive axle to gearbox.
Tightening torques: M8 = 40 Nm, M10 = 70 Nm.
- Bolt on drive axle outer joint

Note: Vehicle must not touch the ground while drive axle outer joint is being secured

For the next step a second mechanic is required:
- 1st mechanic: Sit in vehicle and press foot brake
- 2nd mechanic: Screw in and tighten hex bolt of drive axle
M14 hex bolt: 115 Nm
M16 hex bolt: 200 Nm
- Install wheel.
- Lower vehicle to ground and turn hex bolt of drive axle additional 180° (1/2 turn). Only tighten bolt if vehicle is standing on wheels -danger of accident-.