Do I have to Remove Axle Nut Before Reinstalling Lower Control Arm(s)?

[arjun90]

Do I have to Remove Axle Bolt Before Reinstalling Lower Control Arm(s)?

I'm having great difficult positioning the front lower control arm with the subframe to get the new bolt through. What could be the conflict here?

I got the bolt 95% percent through until the edge of the other side was coming in the way. Very frustrating

At first, I got the front lower control aligned with subframe perfectly, but then the ball joint was not getting through the spindle because of the axle boot in the way. These axle nuts are not even reusable.

None of the Bentley Publisher Videos and Erwin Audi Service Manuals indicate removal of the axle bolt.

[PaperToast]

disconnect the sway bar link
that'll give the movement you'll need

[arjun90]

The Sway Bar Link is already out of the way
I'm relying on a rubber mallet and pry bar to help me make little adjustments here and there.

There's very little wiggle from that front lower control arm

I haven't gotten to removing the rear lower arm yet.

I temporarily disconnected the tie rod, to allow me to move the spindle when attempting to fit the ball joint in.

It was perfect getting the front lower control in the subframe prior to placing in the ball joint, but the ball joint then would not be able to insert into the spindle because of the CV Axle Boot.

[arjun90]

Finally got the front lower control in with gentle persuasion. I had to disconnect the upper control arms from the spindle first to get more leverage. I attached the front lower control arm to the subframe first as that is a nuisance to align--then I moved around the spindle (being careful not to damage the axle boot) to align the front lower control arm ball joint. Note: the ball joint may need some adjustment for proper fitment into the ball joint socket on the spindle. There should be no reason to remove the axle bolt. There's a reason why Audi states to replace the bolt with a new bolt if the axle bolt is ever removed.

Hopefully, someone will find my Suspension threads useful--even though they're not all in one.

disconnect the sway bar link
that'll give the movement you'll need

[carmudgeon]

The axle bolt is torque to yield, meaning you deliberately stretch it for maximum clamping force. It also means it will never be able to provide the same clamping force again. Take a metal Slinky and stretch it out all the way and then let it go. It'll never return to its original shape, same principal.

For that matter, most of the suspension bolts are torque to yield as well.

[arjun90]

Thanks, by the way, are all the Axle Nuts now allen-type (interchangeable between older and newer models)? Did Audi make a revision? I can't seem to find the part number for the bolt-type. I see the one on mine is a hex-bolt type aka axle bolt, not a nut. Odd...

The axle bolt is torque to yield, meaning you deliberately stretch it for maximum clamping force. It also means it will never be able to provide the same clamping force again. Take a metal Slinky and stretch it out all the way and then let it go. It'll never return to its original shape, same principal.

For that matter, most of the suspension bolts are torque to yield as well.

[arjun90]

As it all turns out, there shouldn't be a reason to removing the axle nut / bolt when replacing the lower control arms unless the service / repair manual specifically mentions it though.