Removal and Replacement

Ball Joint

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Ball Joint Puller (3287A)

• Torque Wrench 40-200 Nm (V.A.G 1332)

• Engine/Gearbox Jack (V.A.G 1383 A)

• Digital Torque Wrench (V.A.G 1756)

Removing

• Twelve-point bolt with ribs, refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.

• Twelve-point bolt without ribs, refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.


The wheel bearing must not be under a load while the drive axle threaded connection on the wheel side is loose.

If the wheel bearings are under the load of the vehicle's own weight, the wheel bearing will be damaged. This reduces the service life of the wheel bearings.

The drive axle bolt may be loosened maximum 90° when the vehicle is standing on its wheels.

Vehicles without a drive axle must not be moved, otherwise the wheel bearing will be damaged. If a vehicle must be moved, be sure to note the following:

• Install an outer joint in place of the drive axle.

• Tighten the outer joint to 120 Nm.

- Loosen the wheel bolts.

- Raise the vehicle.

- Remove the wheel.

- Remove the nuts - arrows -.






- Pull the drive axle slightly off the wheel hub.

- Remove the control arm from the ball joint.

- Move the control arm downward as much as needed.

- Loosen the nut on the ball joint - 2 - but do not remove it.







To protect thread, screw nut on pin a few turns.

- Remove the ball joint from the wheel bearing housing. Then remove the nut and the ball joint - 2 -.

1. (3287 A)


Installing

Install in reverse order of removal. Note the following:

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

- Tighten drive axle bolt to wheel hub:

• Twelve-point bolt with ribs, refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.

• Twelve-point bolt without ribs, refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.


Vehicle must not rest on wheels when doing so.

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

Differences Between a Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs and a Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs






The contact surfaces - arrow A - and - arrow B - are different on the two-point bolts.

I Twelve-point bolt with ribs - arrow A -
II Twelve-point bolt without ribs - arrow B -

- Install the wheel and tighten the wheel bolts. Refer to => [ Wheel Bolt Tightening Specification ] [1][2]Specifications.

Tightening Specifications