Rear Axle, Removing And Installing

Removing And Installing
- Also refer to Rear Axle Beam Assembly, Overview.

Special tools and equipment





- VAG1383 A Gearbox jack





- VAG1869 Brake filling and bleeding unit

Removing





- Unscrew fasteners - 1 to - 8 - and take out rear axle guard panel.

Notes: The bearing bracket should not be removed to remove the rear axle.

- Remove wheels.





- Unclip brake cables (arrows).
- Unfasten clamps - 2 - for brake hose retainer, detach brake lines from axle beam and plug the ends of the brake lines.





- Slacken bolts - A - and attach brake caliper housing to bodywork with wire.





- Pull connector - 1 - off speed sensor.
- Unclip speed sensor wiring from retainer.

Notes: Use gearbox jack VAG1383 with attachment 1359/2 when removing and installing the axle beam.





- Unscrew bolt - 2 - on left and right sides of vehicle.
- Lower gearbox jack and remove coil spring.
- Support rear axle.
- Use gearbox jack VAG1383 A, for example.





- Remove bearing bracket bolts - 1 - on rear axle on both sides and lower rear axle.

Installing
Greasing rubber bonded bushing
- Before installing rear axle, grease kidney shaped apertures in rubber bonded bushing using G 052 150 A2 grease.
- Install in reverse order of removal.

The vehicle must be standing on its wheels when tightening bolts securing bonded rubber bushings, otherwise the rubber bushing will be placed under stress and its service life will be reduced.

- After installing, check position of steering wheel during a test drive.
- If steering wheel is not in straight ahead position the wheel alignment must be checked.
Tightening torques:

Strut to axle beam: 40 Nm + 90°
Always use new bolts.

Bearing bracket to rear axle: 80 Nm
Always use new nuts and bolts.

Brake caliper to axle beam Socket head bolt: 65 Nm