Removing and installing track rod: Audi (CLPA, CLSA)
Step-by-step removing and installing track rod for the Audi (CLPA/CLSA): 25 steps, 3 torque figures. What to remove, what to tighten and to how many Nm.
Workshop procedure for AUDI — the exact step sequence and torque figures, straight from real workshop data.
🧭 Before you start
Fits: VW Caddy IV (SA, 2015–2020)
- Renewed: complete steering rack
Don't miss
- Loosen nut on track rod ball joint but do not remove completely.
- If the steering rack shows signs of corrosion, damage, wear or soiling, renew the complete steering rack.Likewise, if there is no film of grease on the steering rack, the steering rack must be renewed.
- Do not grease steering rack. — Make sure that correct track rod ball joint is installed on each side.
- If both track rods have been exchanged, basic setting must be carried out for steering angle sender G85.
🔩 Torque settings
Values can differ between engine variants — check the code stamped on your block.
| Torque | Fastener / step |
|---|---|
| 100 Nm (74 lb-ft) | Tighten track rod |
| 20 Nm (15 lb-ft) | Tighten nuts on bolt connections (1) and (2) initially |
| 90 Nm (66 lb-ft) | Tighten track rod with new nut at wheel bearing housing using open-end spanner attachment |
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
- Turn steering wheel to straight-ahead position.
- Loosen wheel bolts.
- Raise vehicle.
- Remove wheel.
- Clean outside of steering rack in vicinity of boot.
- Loosen nut on track rod ball joint but do not remove completely.
- ⚠ Leave nut screwed on a few turns to protect thread on pin. — Push track rod ball joint off wheel bearing housing and remove nut.
- Open clamps and push boot back.
- Turn steering as follows:
- Unscrew track rod. [Note: If the steering rack shows signs of corrosion, damage, wear or soiling, renew the complete steering rack.Likewise, if there is no film of grease on the steering rack, the steering rack must be renewed.]
- ⚠ Do not grease steering rack. — Make sure that correct track rod ball joint is installed on each side.
- Turn steering wheel to straight-ahead position.
- Thread new clamps and rubber boot onto track rod.
- Screw track rod into track rod ball joint until dimension (a) is attained.
- Tighten track rod.
- Lightly grease sealing surface between boot and track rod with grease from repair kit.
- Push rubber boot (2) onto track rod (1), making sure that boot is correctly positioned.
- Secure spring-type clip on rubber boot using hose clip pliersV.A.G 1275.
- Lightly grease sealing surface between boot and steering rack housing with grease from repair kit.
- Push rubber boot onto steering rack housing as far as it will go.
- Install new clamp, as shown in figure, with locking pliers for Phaeton steering rackVAS 6199.
- Install wheel and tighten.
- Check wheel alignment .
- If both track rods have been exchanged, basic setting must be carried out for steering angle sender G85.
- Then carry out basic setting of steering
Other AUDI procedures
- Bleeding steering system – VW Polo 6R CLPA/CLSA
- Removing and installing radiator fan V7
- Removing and installing cowling with radiator fan V7 – VW CFNA
- Repairing front suspension strut – VW CLPA/CLSA
- Renewing crankshaft oil seal, belt pulley end
- Removing and installing toothed belt – Audi · 56 torque figures
- Removing engine – Audi A8 D3 · 41 torque figures
- Removing camshaft timing chain from camshafts – Audi A6/A7 C7 · 38 torque figures
- Installing engine – Audi A8 D4 · 36 torque figures
- Removing and installing camshaft timing chain · 29 torque figures
Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
Seen a figure that does not match your manual? Write to us — we correct it and note when. support@torqfix.com
The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.