Rear Knuckle: Service and Repair

Wheel Bearing Housing

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Torque Wrench 50-200 Nm (V.A.G 1332)

• Torque Wrench (V.A.G 1410)

• Wood Block (hardwood) 30 x 50 x 1300 mm

Removing

• If the wheel bearing housing is replaced, axle alignment should be performed after installation. Refer to => [ Wheel Alignment ] Wheel Alignment.

- With vehicles with air suspension, place vehicle on hoist. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels.

- Remove the drive axle. Refer to => [ Drive Axle, Bolted Inner Joint ] Drive Axle, Bolted Inner Joint.

- Insert block of wood between underbody - Arrow A - and upper rear control arm - Arrow B -.






Wood block is needed to press wheel bearing housing down.

- Remove nut from bolt - arrow -






- Push the wheel bearing housing downward using a block of wood until it is possible to remove the bolt - arrow -.

- Remove parking brake.

- Remove wheel hub and wheel bearing. Refer to => [ Wheel Hub and Wheel Bearing ] Rear Suspension.

- Remove shield.

- Remove bolts - 1 - to - 4 -.






- Remove wheel bearing housing - 5 -.

- Remove connector from rear speed sensor - 4 -.






- Remove wiring harness from bracket - 1 -.

• Only if wheel bearing housing is to be replaced:

- Remove bolt - 2 - and bracket - 1 -.

- Remove bolt - 3 - and remove rear speed sensor - 4 - from wheel bearing housing.

Installing

Install in reverse order of removal. Note the following:

- Install wheel hub and wheel bearing. Refer to => [ Wheel Hub and Wheel Bearing ] Rear Suspension.

- Install bracket - 1 - and wiring harness. Tighten the bolt - 2 - to 8 Nm.






- Install rear speed sensor - 4 -.

• Bonded rubber bushings can only be turned to a limited extent. Only tighten suspension bolts when vehicle is in curb weight or control position.

• Wheel bearing, lifting to curb weight position on vehicles with coil springs. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles with Coil Spring ] Wheel Bearing In Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles With Coil Spring.

• For vehicles with air spring suspension, lift wheel suspension in control position. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Control Position, Lifting Vehicles with Air Suspension ] Wheel Bearing In Control Position, Lifting Vehicles With Air Suspension.

Tightening specifications, refer to => [ Lower Control Arm, Level Control System Sensor, Upper Front and Upper Rear Control Arms and Tie Rod Overview ] Rear Axle Overview

- On vehicles with air suspension, position vehicle on wheels. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels.

- Tighten the wheels.

- On vehicles with automatic headlamp range control system, perform a basic setting on the headlamps.