Removal and installation the drive shaft (Audi A4 B6)

Removal

1. Remove the wheel cover, decorative cap or wheel bolt caps.

2. Loosen the outer joint mounting bolt of the drive shaft by 90°.

Caution: Loosen the bolt when the vehicle is on its wheels. Risk of accident!

3. Mark the direction of rotation of the wheels with arrows. Unscrew the wheel mounting bolts. Raise and place the car on stands and remove the wheel.

4. Tighten all five wheel mounting bolts again by hand.

5. Remove the bolt securing the outer joint of the drive shaft.

6. Disconnect the drive shaft from the flange shaft/gearbox.

7. If there is not enough space to remove the drive shaft, do the following: unscrew the nut (1), unscrew the bolt and pull both levers (2) upward.

Warning: Do not enlarge the groove in the wheel bearing housing with a chisel or similar tool.

8. Move the wheel bearing housing aside.

Warning: Do not unscrew bolts (3) and (4), as this will change the front suspension adjustment and the chassis will have to be adjusted again.

9. Remove the drive shaft.

Installation

1. Insert the drive shaft into the wheel bearing housing.



2. Reinstall both upper control arms. Install a new bolt and tighten the new nut to torque 40 Nm. When tightening the nut, push the suspension arm towards the wheel bearing housing as far as possible.

3. Secure the drive shaft to the axle/gearbox flange with shims. Tightening torque: Bolt M8 – 40 Nm, bolt M 10 – 70 Nm.

4. Secure the outer joint of the drive shaft with a new bolt. Tightening torques: Bolt M14 – 115 Nm, bolt M16 – 190 Nm.

Warning: When tightening the bolt, the vehicle may not touch the ground.

5. Observe the direction of rotation of the wheels. Secure the wheel, lower the car onto the wheels and only then tighten the bolts crosswise with torque 120 Nm.

Caution: Refer to the "Wheel Removal and Installation" subsection of Section In emergency cases.

6. Ask an assistant to apply the parking brake.

7. Tighten the drive shaft mounting bolt, turn the bolt by 180°.

8. Replace the wheel cover, decorative cap or wheel bolt caps.