Tie Rod

Special tools and workshop equipment required

Ball Joint Puller 3287A
Hose Clamp Pliers VAG1275
Torque Wrench 1332 40-200Nm VAG1332
Torque Wrench Insert - Open Jaw VAG1923
Locking Pliers VAS6199

Removing Tie Rod

-- Turn steering wheel into straight ahead position.

-- Clean outside of steering gear in area of bellows.

Loosen nut -arrow 3-, counterhold on tie rod end -arrow 2- while doing this.

Fig 1: Adjusting Toe At Front Axle

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Remove front wheel.

-- Loosen nut of track rod ball joint, but do not unscrew yet.

To Protect Thread, Screw Nut on Pin a Few Turns.

-- Press off track rod ball joint from wheel bearing housing using Puller - Ball Joint 3287A and now unscrew nut.

Fig 2: Identifying Tie Rod End Pressed Off From Wheel Bearing Housing With Ball Joint Puller 3287A

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Loosen spring clamp (-1- in illustration N44-10005, refer to TIE ROD ) using Hose Clamp Pliers VAG1275 from bellows and slide onto tie rod.

-- Remove clamp and pull off bellows from steering gear housing.

-- Remove the tie rod from steering gear using Torque Wrench Insert - Open Jaw VAG1923.

Fig 3: Identifying Tie Rod At Steering Gear And 38 Mm Open End Wrench Insert V.A.G 1923

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

NOTE:

If corrosion, damage, wear-out or first signs of soiling on steering rack can be seen, complete steering gear must be replaced.

If no grease film is visible on steering rack, steering gear must also be replaced completely.

Installing Tie Rod

CAUTION:

Do not lubricate the steering rack.

-- Turn steering wheel into straight ahead position.

-- Guide new clamp and bellows onto tie rod.

-- Twist tie rod far enough into tie rod end until dimension -a- is obtained.

Fig 4: Identifying Tie Rod Dimension

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

Dimension -a- = 367 +/- 1 mm

-- Rotate tie rod in steering rack and tighten.

-- Slightly grease the sealing surface of the bellow to the tie rod with Grease G 052 168 A1 (from the repair kit, from Fuchs Renolit JP1619).

-- Slide bellows -2- onto tie rod -1-, pay attention to correct position when doing this.

Fig 5: Identifying Boot And Tie Rod

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Secure spring clamp on bellows using Hose Clamp Pliers VAG1275.

-- Slightly grease the sealing surface of the bellow to the steering gear housing with Grease G 052 168 A1 (from the repair kit, from Fuchs Renolit JP1619).

-- Slide bellows onto steering gear housing until it stops.

-- Tighten new clamp using Locking Pliers VAS6199 to the extent depicted in the figure.

Fig 6: Identifying New Clamp Tightened

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

Install in reverse order of removal.

After the installation the vehicle must be measured.

-- Perform vehicle alignment, refer to VEHICLE ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE .

-- If both tie rods have been exchanged, then perform a basic setting for the Steering Angle Sensor -G85- using the Vehicle Diagnostic Tester in "Guided Fault Finding".

-- Then perform basic setting of steering system using the Vehicle Diagnostic Tester in "Guided Fault Finding".

Tightening Specifications

Component	Tightening Specification
Tie rod to steering rack	100 Nm
Tie rod end to tie rod	70 Nm
Tie rod end to wheel bearing housing Use new nut	50 Nm