Audi 80 Quiz
Suspension and Steering

Replacing the ball joint

In this manual: Suspension and Steering
Technical Description — 39Engines — 41Exhaust System — 13Cooling System — 28Fuel tank and fuel pump — 12Air Filter and Intake Ducts — 13Mono-Motronic Injection System — 18Digifant Injection System — 19KE-III-Jetronic Injection System — 35MPI and MPFI Injection Systems — 32Clutch — 11Transmission and Driveline — 21Suspension and Steering — 33Brake System — 41Anti-lock brake system — 8Wheels and Tires — 13Body Electrical System — 35Ignition System — 24Lighting — 14Signaling Devices — 7Instruments and Auxiliary Equipment — 54Heating and Ventilation — 7Body Components — 18Troubleshooting — 6Specifications — 13
~1min read

PROCEDURE

Obtain a new self-locking nut and a new control arm ball joint pinch bolt.

Raise the front of the vehicle evenly so that the stabilizer bar is not loaded. Secure the vehicle.

Remove the ball joint pinch bolt at the bottom of the strut assembly.

Use a pry bar to press out the ball joint pin of the independent suspension at the strut. Under no circumstances widen the slot in the wheel hub bearing housing, for example with a screwdriver.

Mark the installation position of the ball joint on the lower transverse suspension arm.

Remove the lower axle joint retaining nuts from the lower transverse link arm. Remove the joint.

When bolting on the axle joint, observe the marks made during removal. In this case, the wheel alignment settings will remain approximately the same.

Do not forget the backing plates for the retaining nuts.

Tightening torques: tighten the independent suspension joint nuts to 65 N·m, and the clamp bolt nuts to 50 N·m.

Have the wheel alignment adjusted at a workshop.

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A quick Audi 80 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.