Ball Joint: Service and Repair

Ball joint, removing and installing

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required:

- Hub puller 3283
- Ball joint puller 3287 A
- Engine/transmission jack V.A.G 1383 A
- Angle measuring wrench V.A.G 1756

Removing
- Lift vehicle enough that the front axle is no longer burdened.
- Remove 12-point nut.

- Remove sound insulation pan - arrows -.

- Remove left sound insulation - arrows -.

Vehicles with TDI engine
- Remove charge air pipe between charge air cooler and turbocharger.

Continued for all vehicles
- Remove right sound insulation panel.
- Mark installation position of ball joint bolts on control arm.

- Remove bolts - arrows -.

- Press out drive axle. Using tool as shown in illustration.

Note: Be sure there is sufficient room when pressing drive axle out.

- Pull out wheel bearing housing with ball joint from control arm.

- Swivel suspension strut outward and support e.g. using block of wood - 1 -, while pulling drive axle out of wheel bearing.
- Fasten drive axle to body with wire.
- Drive axle must not hang down!

Otherwise inner joint is damaged by excessive bending.
- Remove nut from ball joint.

- Install ball joint puller 3287 A as shown in illustration and press out ball joint.

CAUTION:
- Place engine/transmission jack V.A.G 1383 A underneath (danger of accident if parts fall off when ejecting ball joint).
- To protect ball joint thread, leave nut on a few turns.

Installing
- Insert ball joint into wheel bearing housing.

- Install new self-locking nut, counterhold with internal Torx T40.
1 - Internal Torx T40
2 - Box wrench insert or open end wrench insert (Illustration V40-1323 below)
3 - Torque wrench V.A.G 1331
- Insert drive axle.
- Bolt ball joint with control arm with new bolts to old impression.

Always use new bolts.
1 - Box wrench insert (commercial type, 18 mm)
2 - Open end wrench insert (commercial type, 18 mm)

Note: Ensure that boot is not damaged or twisted.

- Install wheel and tighten.
- Tighten 12-point nut.