How to Change Ball Joints on a 2001 VW Jetta

A ball joint is a part of a car's steering system that helps rotate the wheels, much like the joint in your shoulder works. The ball joints in your Volkswagen Jetta will wear down over time, and this causes steering problems. The joint for each front wheel is connected to the steering knuckle and the control arm for that wheel. Changing a ball joint is a difficult task.

Instructions

Removing the Ball Joint

1

Raise the Jetta's front end, support it on jack stands and remove the wheel for the ball joint you are changing. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel with the lug wrench before raising the car to make the wheel removal easier.

2

Grab hold of the control arm and try to move it up and down and then in an out. If the arm moves at all in these attempts, you need to replace the ball joint. You must also replace the joint if the ball joint boot is torn.

3

Loosen the nut connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle by a few turns with a wrench. Do not remove the nut yet.

4

Break the ball joint stud loose from the steering knuckle with a ball joint removal tool; a "picklefork" style tool works best.

5

Remove the nut connecting the joint to the steering knuckle, then separate the joint from the knuckle.

6

Mark the position of the ball joint's bolt heads to the control arm. Use chalk or washable paint.

7

Unscrew the retaining bolts for the ball joint, remove the retaining plate from the top of the control arm and detach the ball joint from the arm.

Installing the Ball Joint

8

Install the replacement ball joint to the control arm, aligning the bolt heads that connect it to the arm with the marks you made. Tighten the bolts to 15 foot-pounds, then turn the bolts an extra 90 degrees.

9

Connect the joint to the steering knuckle, tightening the stud nut to 33 foot-pounds.

10

Re-mount the wheel to the car and lower it.