Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual: Removing and installing drive shaft

Special tools and workshop equipment required

Torque wrench -V.A.G 1332-

Press tool -T10520-

Caution When removing and installing drive shafts, do not allow them to hang free and stop against joints due to excessive bending.

Removing

Loosen outer drive shaft threaded connection → Chapter „Loosening and tightening threaded connections of drive shaft“.

Caution Wheel bearings must not be subjected to load after bolt securing drive shaft to wheel hub has been loosened. If wheel bearings are loaded with weight of vehicle, bearing will be damaged. This reduces the service life of the wheel bearing. It is not permissible to loosen drive shaft bolt more than 90° if vehicle is standing on its wheels. Do not attempt to move the vehicle without the drive shafts fitted as this would damage the wheel bearing. If a vehicle nevertheless has to be moved, comply with the following:

Install an outer joint instead of the drive shaft.

Tighten outer joint to 120 N·m.

Loosen wheel bolts.
Raise vehicle.
Remove wheel.
Remove coil springs → Chapter.

Vehicles with vehicle level sender

Remove bolts -1-.
Remove retainer for rear left vehicle level sender-2-.

Vehicles with adaptive chassis control DCC

Disconnect connector -1- on shock absorber -2-.
Pull line -3- off shock absorber -2--arrow-.

Note If there is moisture in the area of the connector, blow compressed air on the contacts on the shock absorber and the connector.

Vehicles with stone guard

Remove spreader rivet -1-.
Unscrew bolts -2- for stone deflector -3-.

Continuation for all vehicles

Unscrew nut -1- from coupling rod -2-.
Pull coupling rod -2- out of anti-roll bar -3-.

Unscrew bolts -arrows- for anti-roll bar -1-.
Pull anti-roll bar -1- off subframe -2- and swing it downwards.

Unscrew nut -1- and pull out bolt -2- securing shock absorber.
Unscrew nut -3- and pull out bolt -4- securing wheel bearing housing.

Unscrew bolt -1- for track rod -2- and remove.
Unbolt drive shaft at gearbox flange.
Swing wheel bearing housing outwards and pull drive shaft out of gearbox flange.
Swing drive shaft downwards and remove from wheel bearing.

If drive shaft cannot be pulled out of the wheel bearing by hand, use press tool -T10520-.

Before using press tool -T10520- ensure that thrust piece -1- is inserted.

Using press tool -T10520-:

To be able to press out drive shaft -3-, secure press tool -T10520--1- to wheel hub using 3 wheel bolts -2-.

It is essential to follow specified sequence.

I -	Tighten knurled nut -1- hand-tight.

II -	Turn only bolt -2- using a spanner in order to press out drive shaft with press tool -T10520-.

Note At the end of the procedure or for pressing out drive shaft further the spindle must be moved to its original position in order to deploy the hydraulic force!

Remove drive shaft.

Installing

Install in reverse order of removal, observing the following:

The threaded connections of the wheel bearing housing may only be loosened and tightened in the unladen weight position → Chapter. On vehicles with vehicle level sender, carry out basic settings for wheel damper electronics → Vehicle diagnostic tester. Before fitting the outer joint in the wheel hub, apply a thin coat of assembly paste to the splines on the outer joint → Electronic Parts Catalogue “ETKA”.

Specified torques

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - drive shaft“

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - transverse link, multi-link suspension, four-wheel drive“ → Chapter „Assembly overview - track rod, multi-link suspension, four-wheel drive“ → Chapter „Assembly overview - suspension strut, shock absorber, spring, multi-link suspension“ → Chapter „Removing and installing rear left vehicle level sender -G76-, multi-link suspension, front-wheel drive“

→ Chapter „Loosening and tightening threaded connections of drive shaft“

→ Chapter „Torque settings for wheel bolts“

On vehicles with vehicle level sender, carry out basic adjustment of headlights → Electrical system; Rep. gr.94.

Removing and installing drive shaft