Removing and installing drive shaft, constant velocity joint, plug-in connection — VW

🧭 Before you start

Fits: VW Polo 6C (2014–2017)

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• 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!
• The lugs of deflector ring (1) must face towards outer joint.Deflector ring (1) must lie on contact surface of outer joint (arrow).
• Never use a hammer or other driving tools.
• During this step, vehicle must not be standing on its wheels or wheel bearing will be damaged.

🔩 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. ⚠ 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 it is necessary for a vehicle to be moved, please comply with the following instructions:Install an outer joint instead of the drive shaft.Tighten outer joint to 120 Nm. — Lift vehicle far enough to take weight off front axle. — 120 Nm (89 lb-ft)
2. Unscrew twelve-point nut for drive shaft.
3. Loosen wheel bolts.
4. Raise vehicle.
5. Remove wheel.

6. Remove nuts (arrows).
7. Pull swivel joint out of suspension link.
8. Unbolt coupling rods from anti-roll bars on both sides.
9. Push drive shaft outer joint out of wheel hub by hand.
10. Secure press tool T10520(1) to wheel hub using 3 wheel bolts.
11. It is essential to follow specified sequence. [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!]
12. Secure drive shaft to prevent it from falling.
13. Remove lower noise insulation General body repairs, exterior66Noise insulation; Assembly overview - noise insulation.
14. Using suitable tool, e.g. wooden block (2), drive the drive shaft (1) off gearbox stub shaft.
15. Remove drive shaft from vehicle. [Note: The lugs of deflector ring (1) must face towards outer joint.Deflector ring (1) must lie on contact surface of outer joint (arrow).] [Note: If deflector ring (1) is not positioned correctly or if it fell off outer joint, it must be driven onto outer joint to stop using thrust piece T10049.]
16. Insert new retaining ring in groove in stub shaft on gearbox.
17. Lightly grease splines of stub shaft with universal greaseG 060 735 A2.
18. Mesh outer and inner splines of gearbox and constant velocity slip joint.
19. Slide drive shaft into constant velocity joint to stop by hand.
20. Now push constant velocity joint onto stub shaft of gearbox with a »sudden, hard push«. [Note: Never use a hammer or other driving tools.]
21. Check that constant velocity slip joint is securely seated by pulling constant velocity slip joint against resistance of retaining ring.
22. ⚠ For this check, pull only on the constant velocity joint, not on the drive shaft. — Remove tensioning strap T10038.
23. Guide outer joint into wheel hub splines as far as possible.
24. Bolt swivel joint to suspension link with new nuts (arrows).
25. Install lower noise insulation General body repairs, exterior66Noise insulation; Assembly overview - noise insulation.
26. Install wheel and tighten bolts or nuts .
27. Tighten twelve-point nut for drive shaft. [Note: During this step, vehicle must not be standing on its wheels or wheel bearing will be damaged.]

🎬 Related video tutorial

Independent AUTODOC tutorial for the same job, filmed on a different model (CADDY 3 Van) — the technique carries over, the fasteners and figures on this page are the ones for your car.

How to change cv joint on VW CADDY 3 Van

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