Removing and installing drive shafts — AUDI

🧭 Before you start

Fits: VW Transporter T5 (7H), VW Transporter T5 (7J), VW Transporter T6 (7E)

Don't miss

• When bolt is loosened or tightened, vehicle must be standing on its wheels.Danger of accidents. — Raise vehicle.
• When pressing out drive shaft, ensure that there is sufficient clearance to all other parts.
• Insert »new« retaining ring directly into groove of drive shaft. It is not permitted for retaining ring to be pushed over splines. This will overstretch retaining ring and render it unusable.
• Make sure that inner joint has been inserted as far as stop.The retaining ring must be »felt« to engage.
• Tighten twelve-point nut finger-tight (do not completely tighten).

🔩 Torque settings

Values can differ between engine variants — check the code stamped on your block.

ℹ️ Always cross-check the exact figure against your vehicle's factory manual before final tightening — a wrong torque can damage the engine. These values are extracted from workshop data and may not cover every variant or revision.

📋 Procedure

1. Loosen twelve-point nut on wheel hub.
2. ⚠ When bolt is loosened or tightened, vehicle must be standing on its wheels.Danger of accidents. — Raise vehicle.
3. Remove front wheels.
4. Unscrew nut from swivel joint arrows on suspension link.
5. Using ball joint pullerT 40010, pull suspension link from tapered seat of swivel joint.

6. Pull suspension link down and guide swivel joint out of suspension link.
7. Mount adapterT 10103/1 and removerT 10103 on wheel hub.
8. Press drive shaft out of wheel hub splines using removerT 10103. [Note: When pressing out drive shaft, ensure that there is sufficient clearance to all other parts.]
9. Pull off connector for brake pad wear indicator and speed sensor.
10. Unclip both wires from the retainer on suspension strut and lay them to side.
11. Pull wheel bearing housing outwards and lay an appropriate wooden block between body and suspension strut.
12. Press drive shaft in (direction of arrow B) and remove external push rod joint of drive shaft from wheel bearing housing.
13. Remove support bearing .
14. Pull right-hand-side drive shaft out of gearbox splines and remove complete drive shaft.
15. Lever triple roller joint of drive shaft off gearbox housing using wedge T10161.
16. Pull drive shaft out of gearbox splines and remove complete drive shaft. [Note: When removing drive shafts, make sure that triple roller star with rollers is not pulled out of triple roller joint.If triple roller star with rollers has slipped out, joint protective boot must be opened and triple roller star with rollers must be re-inserted in triple roller joint.] [Note: Before installing drive shafts, ensure that the O-rings on both sides of the gearbox splines are not damaged. Renew them if necessary.]
17. Replace »old« retaining ring of drive shaft with a »new one«. [Note: Insert »new« retaining ring directly into groove of drive shaft. It is not permitted for retaining ring to be pushed over splines. This will overstretch retaining ring and render it unusable.]
18. Grease the final drive at the gearbox »abundantly« with lubricating grease Electronic Parts Catalogue.
19. Fit drive shaft into splines of final drive.
20. With a forceful »jolt«, push drive shaft as far as possible in direction (B) of gearbox. [Note: Make sure that inner joint has been inserted as far as stop.The retaining ring must be »felt« to engage.]
21. Grease the final drive at the gearbox »abundantly« with lubricating grease Electronic Parts Catalogue.
22. Insert stub shaft on greased splines of final drive.
23. Bolt on support bearing.
24. Insert drive shaft into wheel hub.
25. Tighten twelve-point nut finger-tight (do not completely tighten).
26. Remove wooden block from between body and suspension strut.
27. Insert swivel joint into suspension link and bolt on suspension link.
28. Route wiring harness neatly along suspension strut and restore electrical connections.
29. Position front wheels.
30. Lower vehicle onto its wheels.
31. Tighten front wheels.
32. Tighten twelve-point nut.

🎬 Related video tutorial

Independent AUTODOC tutorial for the same job, filmed on a different model (A6 C5 Avant) — the technique carries over, the fasteners and figures on this page are the ones for your car.

How to change cv joint on AUDI A6 C5 Avant

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