Removing and installing drive shaft, triple roller joint AAR3300i inserted

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

Removing

• Remove bolt for drive shaft → Chapter.

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.
• If fitted, remove noise insulation → General body repairs, exterior; Rep. gr.66.

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

Vehicles with vehicle level sender

• Unscrew nut -1-.
• Pull bracket -2- for front left vehicle level sender -G78- and/or for front right vehicle level sender -G289- out of suspension link -3-, as applicable

Continuation for all vehicles

• Remove nuts -arrows-.
• Pull wheel bearing housing with swivel joint out of suspension link.
• Pull drive shaft out of wheel hub and tie up to body.

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.

Note

• Insert wedge -T10161--1- between gearbox housing and triple roller joint.
• Press inner joint out of gearbox by striking wedge -T10161- with a rubber hammer.
• Remove drive shaft.

Installing

Install in reverse order of removal, observing the following:

• Fit new retaining ring into groove of joint pin.
• Mesh outer and inner splines of joint body and gearbox.
• Slide drive shaft into joint body to stop by hand.
• Push joint body into gearbox with a »forceful jolt«.

Caution Never use a hammer or other driving tools.

• Check that the drive shaft is securely seated in the gearbox by pulling the joint body against the resistance of retaining ring.

Caution For this check, pull only on joint body and not on drive shaft.

• Guide outer joint into wheel hub splines as far as possible.
• Install lower noise insulation → General body repairs, exterior; Rep. gr.66.

• Bolt swivel joint to suspension link -arrows-.

Note

Ensure that bellows are not damaged or twisted.

Note

Lever on vehicle level sender must face towards outside of vehicle.

• On vehicles with vehicle level sender, carry out basic settings for wheel damper electronics → Vehicle diagnostic tester.

Specified torques

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - drive shaft“

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

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - front vehicle level senders“

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - subframe“

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - lower suspension link, swivel joint“

→ Chapter „Torque settings for wheel bolts“

Bolts for noise insulation → General body repairs, exterior; Rep. gr.66.