FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
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Removal and Replacement






Ball Joint

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

Ball joint puller (3287A)

Torque wrench (V.A.G 1332)

Engine/transmission jack (V.A.G 1383 A)

Angle wrench (V.A.G 1756)

Removing

- Loosen drive axle bolt to wheel hub. Refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.

- Remove the wheel.

- Remove the nuts - arrows -.






- Pull the drive axle slightly off the wheel hub.

- Remove the ball joint from the control arm and at the same time swivel the wheel bearing housing to the outside.

- Bend control arm as far downward as necessary.

- Attach (3287 A) as depicted in illustration and press out ball joint.






Place (V.A.G 1383 A) or something similar underneath (danger of accident if parts fall off when ejecting ball joint).

To protect ball joint thread, leave nut on a few turns.

Installing

- Remove the drive axle from the wheel hub.

- Insert ball joint into wheel bearing housing.

- Install new self-locking nut, and counter-hold using internal Torx bit (T40).

- Install drive axle in wheel hub.

- Tighten nuts - arrows -.






Make sure that the ball joint boot is not damaged or twisted.

- Install the wheel and tighten the wheel bolts. Refer to => [ Tightening Specification for Mounting Wheels ] [1][2]Specifications.

- Tighten drive axle bolt onto the wheel hub. Refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.

Vehicle must not be standing on its wheels when doing this, otherwise wheel bearing will be damaged.

Tightening Specifications