Rear Axle, Removing and Installing (FWD)

Rear axle, removing and installing
Special tools and equipment required





- 80-200 Removal lever





- VAG 1383 A Engine/transmission jack

Removing





- Remove bolts with vehicle standing on its wheels (raise vehicle until the bolt is excessible).
- Raise vehicle to assembly height to relieve the pressure on the coil spring.
- Pull rear axle down and remove coil spring with the help of a second mechanic if necessary.
- Remove wheels.





- Remove cover -arrows-.





- Remove retainer -arrows- for parking brake cable.





- Remove retainer -arrow- for parking brake cable.





- Disconnect ABS vehicle speed sensor.
- Unclip vehicle speed sensor wiring from retainer.
- Unclip brake line.
- Remove brake caliper and hang up on body.





- Remove retainer -arrow- for brake line.





- Loosen left mounting bracket bolts -arrows-.
- Support rear axle using, e.g. VAG 1383.
- Mark installation position of mounting bracket on longitudinal member, e.g. with color or felt tip.





- Remove rear axle mounting bracket bolts -arrows- on both sides and take out rear axle.

Installing
- Make sure that the contact surface is clean before installing rear axle
- Install rear axle to vehicle.





Make sure that the rubber mounting centralizer -arrow A- seats in the hole of the axle beam -arrow B-.
- Insert bolt for mounting bracket and rear axle and tighten nut only until mounting bracket and rear axle are in position.





- Tighten bolts -arrows- for mounting bracket.
- Loosen bolt for bearing bracket and rear axle until the nut and the bolt can be turned by hand.

CAUTION: The mounting bracket on rear axle bolted union must be tightened only when the vehicle is standing on its wheels!

Otherwise the rubber mounting will be stressed, resulting in a reduced service life.

- Further installation in reverse order
- Install wheel and tighten.
- After installing check position of steering wheel during a test drive.
- If steering wheel is not in straight ahead position the front axle tracking must be checked!

Tightening torques:
Shock absorber to body, Refer to Shock Absorber, Service and Repair, Procedures, Shock Absorbers on vehicles with front wheel drive, assembly overview, See -item 7
Shock absorber to rear axle, Refer to Shock Absorber, Service and Repair, Procedures, Shock Absorbers on vehicles with front wheel drive, assembly overview, See, item 3
Rear axle to mounting bracket, Refer to Axle Beam, Service and Repair, Rear axle beam, assembly overview, See item 11