Renewing oil seals for flanged shafts — VW
Renewing oil seals for flanged shafts on VW: factory workshop procedure. Full factory text, tools and checks.
Workshop procedure for VW — the factory write-up, straight from real workshop data.
📋 Procedure
Observe general repair instructions=> page
00-24
.
Special tools, workshop equipment, test and measuring appliances and auxiliary items required
VW 391 Drive shaft fitting appliance
VW 681 Oil seal extractor
3109 Puller
3319 Thrust piece
V.A.G 1331 Torque wrench
2 - Kukko 18/0 Puller
Additional information required
Workshop manual Caddy 1996 ▸, Polo Classic 1996 ▸, Polo estate 1998 ▸ Running gear, axles, steering
Removing right oil seal
Remove wheel.
Remove noise insulation -arrows-.
Remove vibration damper -A- from sub-frame. Mark installation position.
Disconnect drive shaft from flanged shaft.
=> Running gear, axles, steering; Repair group 40; Servicing driveshafts; Removing and installing driveshafts
Running gear, axles, steering
Servicing driveshafts
Removing and installing driveshafts
Lift drive shaft and secure to suspension strut with wire.
Vehicles with constant velocity joint shafts
Pierce sealing cap in flanged shaft with a screwdriver and lever out.
Remove circlip and set up pulling device.
Pull off flanged shaft using VW 391.
Pull out flange shaft oil seal using oil seal extractor VW 681.
Vehicles with triple roller drive shafts:
Pull off flanged shaft for triple roller drive shaft.
Bolt puller Kukko 18-0 using two 8x35 mm bolts and 8 mm ø washers to flange.
Pull out flange shaft oil seal using oil seal extractor VW 681.
Installing right oil seal
Apply gear oil to circumference and sealing lips of seal.
Half fill space between sealing lip and dust lip with grease G 052 128 A1.
Installation position:
Open side of seal faces gearbox.
Pull new oil seal in onto stop with press piece 3319, M10 threaded rod (approx. 80 mm long) and nut with washer.
Insert flanged shaft, dished washer and circlip.
Pull in flanged shaft.
Flanged shaft can also be pulled in using VW 391.
Vehicles with constant velocity joint shafts
Install circlip and seal drive flange with cover.
Continued for all vehicles
Install drive shaft.
=> Running gear, axles, steering; Repair group 40; Servicing driveshafts; Removing and installing driveshafts
Running gear, axles, steering
Servicing driveshafts
Removing and installing driveshafts
Bolt vibration damper -A- to subframe.
=> Running gear, axles, steering; Repair group 40; Servicing front suspension; Overview, subframe, anti-roll bar, wishbones
Running gear, axles, steering
Servicing front suspension
Overview, subframe, anti-roll bar, wishbones
Fitting position: Install the side with the greater length from edge to holes facing direction of travel.
With gearbox installed, check final drive oil level => page
39-1
.
Install noise insulation.
Fit wheel.
=> Running gear, axles, steering; Repair group 40; Servicing front suspension; II - Servicing wheel bearings
Running gear, axles, steering
Servicing front suspension
II - Servicing wheel bearings
Removing left oil seal
Remove wheel.
Mark installation position of ball joint bolts on left-hand wishbone and remove bolts.
Remove bolts (arrows).
Remove left-hand drive shaft.
=> Running gear, axles, steering; Repair group 40; Servicing driveshafts; Removing and installing driveshafts
Running gear, axles, steering
Servicing driveshafts
Removing and installing driveshafts
Vehicles with constant velocity joint shafts
Pierce sealing cap in flanged shaft with a screwdriver and lever out.
Remove circlip, set up pulling device.
Pull off flanged shaft using VW 391.
Pull out flange shaft oil seal using oil seal extractor VW 681.
Vehicles with triple roller drive shafts:
Pull off flanged shaft for triple roller drive shaft.
Bolt puller Kukko 18-0 using two 8x35 mm bolts and 8 mm ø washers to flange.
Pull out flange shaft oil seal using oil seal extractor VW 681.
Installing left oil seal
Apply gear oil to circumference and sealing lips of seal.
Half fill space between sealing lip and dust lip with grease G 052 128 A1.
Installation position:
Open side of seal faces gearbox.
Pull new oil seal in onto stop with press piece 3319, M10 threaded rod (approx. 80 mm long) and nut with washer.
Insert flanged shaft, dished washer and circlip.
Pull in flanged shaft.
Flanged shaft can also be pulled in using VW 391.
Vehicles with constant velocity joint shafts
Install circlip and seal drive flange with cover.
Continued for all vehicles
Install drive shaft.
=> Running gear, axles, steering; Repair group 40; Servicing driveshafts; Removing and installing driveshafts
Running gear, axles, steering
Servicing driveshafts
Removing and installing driveshafts
Install wishbone with ball joint using new securing plate and bolts.
Tighten new bolts at markings for old bolts.
=> Running gear, axles, steering; Repair group 40; Removing and installing wishbone
Running gear, axles, steering
Removing and installing wishbone
With gearbox installed, check final drive oil level => page
39-1
.
Install noise insulation.
Fit wheel.
=> Running gear, axles, steering; Repair group 40; Servicing front suspension; II - Servicing wheel bearings
Running gear, axles, steering
Servicing front suspension
II - Servicing wheel bearings
TorqFix answers live for your specific car — tell it the engine code and it serves the matching sequence, torque figures and wiring for that exact variant.
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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.
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The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.