Removing and installing wheel bearing housing, multi-link suspension, four-wheel drive

Special tools and workshop equipment required

Torque wrench -V.A.G 1332-

Engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A-

Removing

• Loosen outer drive shaft threaded connection → 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.
• Remove wheel bearing unit → Chapter
• Remove heat shield → Brake system; Rep. gr.46.
• Remove spring → Chapter.

Vehicles with vehicle level sender

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

Vehicles with stone guard

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

Continuation for all vehicles

• Disconnect electrical connector from ABS speed sensor and electromechanical parking brake motor.

• Use tensioning straps -T10038--1- to strap vehicle to support beams of lifting platform on both sides.

WARNING If the vehicle is not strapped down, there is a great danger that the vehicle will slip off the lifting platform!

• Position engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A--1- under track rod and press upwards slightly.

• Unscrew bolts -2- and -3- one after the other.

• Remove engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A--1- from under track rod.
• Pull out bolt -4-.
• Remove shim -3-.

• Unscrew nut -1- and remove bolt -2-.

• Unscrew nut -1- and pull out bolt -2-.
• Remove bolt -3-.
• Take out wheel bearing housing -4-.

Installing

Install in reverse order of removal, observing the following:

It is essential to follow specified sequence of work steps below!

• Fit wheel bearing housing.

• Insert bolt -4- with washer -3-.
• Install washer -2-.
• Only hand-tighten nut -1-.

• Insert bolt -2- and tighten nut -1- only hand-tight.
• Insert bolt -3- and tighten only hand-tight.

• Position engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A--1- under track rod and press upwards slightly.
• Screw in bolts -2- and -3- by hand.
• Remove engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A--1- from under track rod.
• Install wheel bearing unit → Chapter
• Install heat shield → Brake system; Rep. gr.46.

• Tighten nut -1-.

• Tighten nut -1-.
• Tighten bolt -3-.
• Detach engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- with support -T10149- from wheel hub.

• Install coil spring → Chapter.

• Tighten bolts -2- and -3-.

Specified torques

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - trailing arm“

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - track rod“

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

→ Chapter „Torque settings for wheel bolts“

Bolts for heat shield, brake caliper and brake disc → Brake system; Rep. gr.46