Disassembling the outer hinge (VW Golf 2)

9. To disassemble the joint, you must first remove the balls, which are easily seated in the basket. Therefore, they can be pushed out without problems by inserting a screwdriver between the joint hub and the ball. It is necessary to tilt the hub together with the basket so that the groove in the basket and the ball are above the edge of the housing (photo 7.5).

Caution: When removing and installing the balls, the basket plane and the hub plane should be as parallel to each other as possible.

10. In the initial position, the planes of the hub, basket and body are mutually parallel.

11. Tilt the hub with the basket so that one of the hinges is above the edge of the housing. When the ball is above the edge of the housing, you can insert a screwdriver under the ball and push it out (photo 7.6).

Note: To obtain a clearer photograph, the joint hub must be removed.

12. Then put the hub with the basket back in its original position.

13. Then tilt the hub with the basket so that the next ball is above the edge of the body, and also push it out of the basket (photo 7.7).



14. Return to the initial position. All other balls are removed in a similar manner. Returning to the initial position is necessary to prevent the hub with balls from jamming in the housing. In case of jamming, you can lightly tap the side surface of the bushing with a hammer. Align the surface of the hub with the surface of the basket and then install it in the initial position. Usually difficulties arise when removing and installing the first and last balls.

15. When all the balls have been removed, it is necessary to turn the basket with the hub perpendicular to the surface of the housing, as shown in photo 7.8. It is important to align the axis of symmetry of the basket with the axis of symmetry of the two opposite grooves in the housing.



16. Turn the basket so that the ball sockets are in the indicated position (photo 7.8 and 7.9).




17. Then remove the basket from the body parallel to the axis.

18. To remove the hub from the basket, it is necessary to turn the hub perpendicular to the basket. Insert the projection of the hub 1 into the socket of the ball 2 in the basket and roll the hub out of the basket

19. Wash the elements in kerosene and check them for wear (photo 7.10).



The surfaces of the outer and inner tracks on which the balls roll must not show any signs of peeling, friction or corrosion. The balls must not show any signs of deformation.