Drive Axle, Removing and Installing

Drive axle, removing and installing
Removing
^ Remove hubcap, for light-alloy wheels pull off center cap (use pulling hook in vehicle tools).
^ Loosen hex bolt for outer joint of drive axle a maximum of 90° (vehicle is standing on its wheels).
^ Remove wheel.
^ Thread in all five wheel bolts again.
^ Remove hex bolt for outer joint of drive axle (vehicle has been raised using a lift). (if necessary, have a second technician operate brake)
^ Thread in all five wheel bolts again.





^ Unscrew drive axle from flange shaft/transmission.
1. Hex socket head bolts
^ Pull cable of ABS wheel speed sensor out of bracket on brake caliper (arrow).
^ Pull ABS wheel speed sensor slightly out of wheel bearing housing.





^ Remove nut -1- and hex bolt, and lift out both control arms -2-.
Slits in wheel bearing housing may not be widened with a chisel or similar tool'

Note:
^ Do not remove bolts -3- and -4-, otherwise the adjustment of the front axle will change!

^ Swing away wheel bearing housing toward side, in direction of (arrow).
^ Remove drive axle.

Installing
^ Insert drive axle into wheel bearing housing.
^ Insert both upper control arms, tighten nuts to 40 Nm.
While tightening, press control arm as far as possible in direction of wheel bearing housing.
^ Bolt drive axle onto transmission.
Tightening torques:
M8 = 40 Nm, M10 = 70 Nm.
^ Press ABS wheel speed sensor into wheel bearing housing until impact and insert cable into bracket on brake caliper.
^ Bolt in outer joint of drive axle

Note:
^ Vehicle must not contact ground when tightening outer joint of drive axle.

A second technician is required for the next work step:
^ Technician 1: sits in car and operates the foot brake
^ Technician 2: tightens hex bolt for drive axle
Hex bolt M 14: 115 Nm
Hex bolt M 16: 190 Nm
^ Mount wheel.
^ Tighten hex bolt for drive axle. Only tighten when vehicle is standing on its wheels to avoid danger of accidents.
Hex bolt M 14: 115 Nm plus an additional 180° turn.
Hex bolt M 16: 190 Nm plus an additional 180° turn.