Ball Joint: Service and Repair

Ball Joint

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Ball Joint Puller (3287 A)

• Angle Wrench (V.A.G 1756)

• Ring Spanner Insert (V.A.G 1332/10)

• Vehicle Diagnostic, Testing and Information System (VAS 5051B)

Removing

- Loosen the drive axle threaded connection on the wheel side. Refer to:

• => [ Drive Axle Hex Bolt Connection, Loosening and Tightening ] Description and Operation

• => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt With Ribs, Loosening and Tightening

• => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt Without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening

- Remove the wheel.

- Remove the hex nuts - arrows - on the ball joint.






- Loosen the nut on the vehicle level sensor bracket.

- Disengage the transverse link from the ball joint.

- Press the CV joint out of the wheel bearing unit with a brass drift (tap lightly if necessary).

- Pivot the suspension strut outward while guiding the drive axle out of the wheel bearing.

• Do not let the drive axle hang down. The inner joint could be damaged if it is bent too far.

- Secure the drive axle to the body with wire.

- Position (3287 A) on ball joint as shown in the illustration.






- Press ball joint out of wheel bearing housing.


When pressing off, the ball joint loosens itself from the wheel bearing housing abruptly - risk of accident!

Installing

Installation is the reverse of removal, with special attention to the following:

- Install the new self-locking nut counter holding it with the internal TORX(R) bit (T40) - 1 -.






• Standard ring spanner inserts can also be used instead of the (V.A.G 1332/10).

- Guide the drive axle into the wheel hub splines.

- Tighten the drive axle. Refer to:

• => [ Drive Axle Hex Bolt Connection, Loosening and Tightening ] Description and Operation

• => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt With Ribs, Loosening and Tightening

• => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt Without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening

Tightening specifications, refer to => [ Subframe, Diagonal Brace, Ball Joint, Stabilizer Bar, Transverse Link, Bracket and Vehicle Level Sensor Overview ] Subframe, Diagonal Brace, Ball Joint, Stabilizer Bar, Transverse Link, Bracket and Vehicle Level Sensor Overview.

- On vehicles with electronically-controlled damping (Audi magnetic ride), reprogram the control position using the (VAS 5051B).

- Perform headlamp basic setting.

Axle alignment is required, see Table => [ An axle alignment is necessary when: ] Wheel Alignment.