Audi Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

Removing and installing wheel bearing housing The material of the wheel bearing housing has been changed from steel casting to aluminium. Only aluminium wheel bearing housings are available as replacement parts. Consequently, certain other components may have to be renewed or fitted in addition when installing a new wheel bearing housing → Electronic parts catalogue. The following components must be renewed or fitted in addition: t  Brake carrier t  Bolts (2x) for brake carrier t  Bolt, nut and washer for securing upper transverse link to wheel bearing housing t  Bolt, nut and washer for securing track rod to wheel bearing housing t  Bolt and washer for securing shock absorber to wheel bearing housing t  Bolts (2x) for securing trailing arm to wheel bearing housing t  Splash plate and bolts (4x) for securing to wheel bearing housing   Caution The additional washers must always be installed between the new component and the wheel bearing housing. It is possible to install an aluminium wheel bearing housing on one side of the vehicle and a steel casting wheel bearing housing on the other → Electronic parts catalogue. Special tools and workshop equipment required

t  Torque wrench -V.A.G 1332- Removing –  Measure distance from centre of wheel to lower edge of wheel housing → Chapter. –  Loosen outer bolt on drive shaft. Procedure for loosening outer bolt on drive shaft → Chapter „Loosening and tightening hexagon bolt securing drive shaft“ Procedure for loosening outer bolt on drive shaft → Chapter „Loosening and tightening twelve-point ribbed bolt securing drive shaft“ Procedure for loosening outer bolt on drive shaft → Chapter „Loosening and tightening twelve-point bolt (without ribbing) securing drive shaft“ –  Remove wheel. –  Remove coil spring → Chapter. –  Detach brake carrier with brake caliper and attach to body using wire → Rep. gr.46.   Note Do not suspend the brake caliper from the brake hose. –  Remove splash plate. –  Remove ABS speed sensor from wheel bearing housing.

–  Remove bolt -2- and take off washer -1-. Washer -1- installed on vehicles with aluminium wheel bearing housing.

–  Unscrew bolts for track rod -1-, upper transverse link -2- and lower transverse link -3- from wheel bearing housing -4-. –  Detach coupling rod from trailing arm -arrow-.

–  Hold wheel bearing housing and unscrew bolts -arrows-. –  Pull coupling rod -1- out of trailing arm. –  Take out wheel bearing housing.

Installing Installation is performed in reverse sequence; note the following: –  Fit bolts for track rod -1-, upper transverse link -2- and lower transverse link -3-. –  Bolt coupling rod -arrow- to trailing arm hand-tight.

Do not tighten bolts securing trailing arm to wheel bearing housing until all other suspension components (especially spring and shock absorber) on that side are fitted. The wheel suspension must be in extended position before securing. The trailing arm and the wheel bearing housing will only then move into the required position -arrows-. It is important to keep to the specified sequence for the following operations.

–  Install bolt -2- with washer -1- and tighten bolt. Washer -1- installed on vehicles with aluminium wheel bearing housing.

–  Fit trailing arm to wheel bearing housing with bolts -arrows- (do not tighten at this stage). –  Install coil spring → Chapter.

–  Tighten bolts -arrow-.

–  Bolt coupling rod -arrow- to trailing arm. –  Install splash plate. The bolted connections on the wheel bearing housing may only be tightened when dimension „a“ has been obtained → Chapter.

–  Tighten bolt for track rod -1-. –  Tighten bolt for lower transverse link -3-.

–  Install bolt -3- with washer -4- and tighten bolt. Washer -4- installed on vehicles with aluminium wheel bearing housing.

–  Tighten bolt -1- for upper transverse link.   Note Washer -2- must be installed so that there is a gap -arrow B- between washer and cover plate -3-. –  Install ABS speed sensor in wheel bearing housing. –  Install brake disc. –  Install brake carrier with brake caliper → Rep. gr.46. –  Fit and secure wheel. Tightening torques → Chapter „Exploded view of subframe, lower transverse link, upper transverse link, track rod, vehicle level senders“ Tightening torques → Chapter „Exploded view of wheel bearing housing, wheel bearing unit, trailing arm with mounting bracket, stone deflector“ Tightening torques → Chapter „Exploded view of shock absorbers, coil springs“ Tightening torques → Chapter „Exploded view of anti-roll bar“ –  Check and adjust wheel alignment as required, see chart → Anchor.