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.


Vehicle must not be sitting on the wheels when tightening or loosening.

With bolt loosened, wheel bearing can be damaged by vehicle's own weight.

If a vehicle needs to be moved when the drive axle is removed, an outer joint must be installed and tightened to 120 Nm.

- Remove the wheel.

- Remove the coupling rod on the left front level control system sensor (G78) or right front level control system sensor (G289) from the control arm, if equipped.

- Remove the nuts - arrows -.






- Pull the drive axle slightly off the wheel hub.

- Pull ball joint out of control arm.

- Bend control arm as far downward as necessary.

• 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.

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






Installing

- Insert ball joint into wheel bearing housing.

- Install new self-locking nut, and counter-hold with (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 => [ Wheel Bolt Tightening Specification ] [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