Front Suspension

Suspension strut, removing and installing

Removing

- Remove wheel trim.

On light alloy wheels use puller in vehicle tool kit to remove trim cap.

- Remove wheels.





- Remove rubber grommets in plenum chamber (arrows).

Note:
For vehicles with headlight range control.

CAUTION:
To prevent damage to the joint of the lower links from excessive rebound, support using VAG 1383 A (engine and transmission lifter).





- Remove suspension strut nuts -1- from body.
- Detach ABS wheel speed sensor wire from bracket at brake caliper.

CAUTION:
Be careful not to damage the surface of the brake lines.





- Remove nut -1- and bolt, then pull both links -2- upward and out.
- Swivel wheel bearing housing aside in direction of arrow.

CAUTION:
^ Do not use a chisel (or similar) to widen the slots in the wheel bearing housing.
^ Do not loosen bolts -3- and -4-. Otherwise, the wheel alignment must be checked.

The guide link must be removed from the wheel bearing housing in order to be able to remove the bolt mounting the suspension strut to the track control link.

- If necessary, counterhold ball joint using 4 mm hex wrench.





- Unscrew nut for guide link ball joint and press out ball joint.

Note:
Be careful not to damage the boot.





- Remove bolt -1- mounting suspension strut to lower track control link. Remove suspension strut downward.

Note:
^ When removing the suspension strut, make sure that the CV joint boot is not damaged.
^ Servicing suspension strut.

Installing

- Install suspension strut.





^ Hole in spring plate (arrow) faces toward middle of vehicle.

CAUTION:
The bonded rubber bushings can only be turned to a limited extent. The bolted connections between the suspension strut and the lower track control links should therefore only be tightened when the vehicle is standing on the ground.

- Bolt suspension strut to track control link and tighten new nut -1-.

Tightening torque: 90 Nm (66 ft lb)

- Insert both upper control links into wheel bearing housing and tighten new nut -2-.

^ Tightening torque: 40 Nm (30 ft lb)
^ Upper link joint with collar must be pushed onto wheel bearing housing as far as possible when installing.

- Tighten nut at ball joint.

^ Tightening torque: 100 Nm (74 ft lb)
^ If necessary, counterhold ball joint using 4 mm hex wrench

- Insert ABS wheel speed sensor wire into holder at brake caliper.
- Install new nuts for both suspension struts and tighten to 20 Nm (15 ft lb).

CAUTION:
Be careful not to damage the surface of the brake lines.

- Re-install rubber grommets into plenum chamber.
- Install wheel and tighten bolts to 120 Nm (89 ft lb).