TT.Mk1 Ball Joint Replacement

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Back to 2000-2005 (Mk1)

Submitted and Entered by: MCPaudiTT

The ball joint connects the wheel hub to the lower control arm. It is a ball and socket joint. As the joint wears, you may notice odd tire wear, and/or "sloppy" steering. Replacement is not difficult, and should take less than 2 hours.

Required Parts:

8N0 407 365 A or 8N0 407 365 B (under $100 from www.1stvwparts.com ) - may or may not come with the required nuts; ask or you will be in a bind if you need new ones.

Required Tools:

Lug wrench; Jack; Jack Stands; 16 mm Wrench; 18 mm Wrench; Ball Joint Splitter tool or Pickle Fork 15 mm Wrench (or 16mm, depending on size of nuts with the new part); Torque wrench with 15 mm socket (or 16mm, depending on size of nuts with the new part)

ETKA front suspension layout:

http://images111.fotki.com/v751/photos/4/435091/4092571/FrontSuspension-vi.jpg File:QW.Wiki.MCPi.TT.Mk1.Balljoint1.jpg‎

Here's what we want to replace:

http://images115.fotki.com/v662/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN7997-vi.jpg File:QW.Wiki.MCPi.TT.Mk1.Balljoint2.jpg‎

Jack your car up on the side you want to work on (or both sides, if you are changing both). Support the car with jack stands before you roll under it!

If you want to keep your alignment close, take note of where your camber adjustment nuts are adjusted to (underside). You will need to have a new alignment done after you change the balljoint, but you can at least try to keep it close by knowing where you are starting.

http://images47.fotki.com/v1402/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8003-vi.jpg File:QW.Wiki.MCPi.TT.Mk1.Balljoint3.jpg‎

The lower OEM nuts use a 16mm wrench, large upper nut is 18 mm. With the nuts removed, either use a pickle fork or a ball joint removal tool to pop the joint free:

http://images115.fotki.com/v662/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8007-vi.jpg File:QW.Wiki.MCPi.TT.Mk1.Balljoint4.jpg‎

http://images111.fotki.com/v751/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8009-vi.jpg File:QW.Wiki.MCPi.TT.Mk1.Balljoint5.jpg‎

http://images39.fotki.com/v1235/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8010-vi.jpg File:QW.Wiki.MCPi.TT.Mk1.Balljoint6.jpg‎

With the joint free, throw it away, and slide a new one in to place. Doesn't matter if you start at the upper or lower nuts with the new part. The "stem" on top has a socket inside that you may need to hold steady in order to tighten the upper nut - it may spin freely as you try to tighten the nut. It takes a T30 Torx bit:

http://images28.fotki.com/v977/photos/4/435091/4092571/DSCN8223-vi.jpg File:QW.Wiki.MCPi.TT.Mk1.Balljoint7.jpg‎

Torque the lower nuts to 75 Nm. The upper nut has no spec in the Bentley Manual.

More pictures at this link.

Back to 2000-2005 (Mk1)

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