Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Control Arm: Description and Operation






Lower Control Arm Bonded Rubber Bushing

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

Engine-/Gearbox Jack (V.A.G 1383 A)

Assembly Tool (T10230)

Hydraulic Press (VAS 6178)

Socket Wrench 21 mm (T10188)

Pneumatic/Hydraulic Foot Pump (VAS 6179)

Torque Wrench 50-200 Nm (V.A.G 1332)

Affects Vehicles with Air Suspension

- Place vehicle on hoist. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels.

Affects All Vehicles






- Disconnect connections - 1 and 2 -.

- Remove lower control arm from the subframe and place a block of wood - arrow - between lower control arm and subframe.






Bonded Rubber Bushing, Pressing Out (camber adjustment bolt connection)






- Attach tools onto lower control arm, as shown in illustration.

1. Nut

2. Thrust piece (T10230/4)

3. Lower control arm

4. Tube (T10230/5)

5. Thrust plate (T10230/7)

6. Hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178)

7. Nut (T10230/2)

8. Threaded spindle (T10230/1)


- Press out the bonded rubber mount.

Bonded Rubber Bushing, Pressing In (camber adjustment screw connection)






Observe installation position of bonded rubber bushing.

- Attach tools onto lower control arm, as shown in illustration.






1. Nut

2. Thrust piece (T10230/8)

3. Lower control arm

4. Bonded rubber mount

5. Thrust plate (T10230/7)

6. Hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178)

7. Nut (T10230/2)

8. Threaded spindle (T10230/1)


- Press in bonded rubber bushing until stop.

By doing this, the core of bonded rubber bushing is pressed in by thrust piece (T10230/6) more than might be required. This is necessary so that the outside lip of the bonded rubber bushing contacts the control arm. After loosening hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178) , bonded rubber bushing core settles into correct position.

- Install control arm to subframe.

Bonded rubber bushings can only be turned to a limited extent. Only tighten suspension bolts when the vehicle is in curb weight or control position.

Wheel bearing, lifting to curb weight position on vehicles with coil springs. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles with Coil Spring ] Wheel Bearing In Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles With Coil Spring.

For vehicles with air spring suspension, lift wheel suspension in control position. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Control Position, Lifting Vehicles with Air Suspension ] Wheel Bearing In Control Position, Lifting Vehicles With Air Suspension.

- On vehicles with air suspension, position the vehicle on wheels. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels.

- Perform vehicle alignment. Refer to => [ Wheel Alignment ] Wheel Alignment.

Checking and aligning the front/rear axle must take place on a VW/Audi recommended alignment stand.

Removing a 60 mm diameter bonded rubber bushing (caster adjusting bolt connection)






- Attach tools onto lower control arm, as shown in illustration.

1. Nut (T10230/2)

2. Hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178)

3. Thrust plate (T10230/7)

4. Tube (T10230/9)

5. Lower control arm

6. Thrust piece (T10230/10)

7. Washer

8. Nut

9. Threaded spindle (T10230/1)


- Press out the bonded rubber mount.

Installing a 60 mm Diameter Bonded Rubber Bushing (caster adjusting bolt connection)






- Using, for example, a felt-tipped pen, draw an extension of the relief notch on the outer diameter of the bonded rubber bushing.

- Attach tools onto lower control arm, as shown in illustration.

1. Nut (T10230/2)

2. Hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178)

3. Thrust plate (T10230/7)

4. Tube (T10230/5)

5. Bonded rubber mount

6. Lower control arm

7. Thrust piece (T10230/11)

8. Washer

9. Nut (T10230/2)

10. Threaded spindle (T10230/1)


Align the bonded rubber bushing to marking - arrow - and press in until stop.






Arrow - A - - Seam edge in casting of control arm

Arrow - B - - Relief notch in the bonded rubber bushing

- Install control arm to subframe.

Bonded rubber bushings can only be turned to a limited extent. Only tighten suspension bolts when the vehicle is in curb weight or control position.

Wheel bearing, lifting to curb weight position on vehicles with coil springs. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles with Coil Spring ] Wheel Bearing In Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles With Coil Spring.

For vehicles with air spring suspension, lift wheel suspension in control position. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Control Position, Lifting Vehicles with Air Suspension ] Wheel Bearing In Control Position, Lifting Vehicles With Air Suspension.

- On vehicles with air suspension, position vehicle on wheels. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels.

- Perform vehicle alignment. Refer to => [ Wheel Alignment ] Wheel Alignment.

Checking and aligning the front/rear axle must take place on a VW/Audi recommended alignment stand.

72 mm Diameter Hydraulic Mount, Removing (caster adjusting bolt connection)






- Attach tools onto lower control arm, as shown in illustration.

1. Nut (T10230/2)

2. Hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178)

3. Thrust plate (T10230/7)

4. Tube (T10230/14)

5. Lower control arm

6. Thrust piece (T10230/15)

7. Washer

8. Nut

9. Threaded spindle (T10230/1)


- Press out the bonded rubber mount.

72 mm Diameter Hydraulic Mount, Installing (caster adjusting bolt connection)






- Using, for example, a felt-tipped pen, draw an extension of the relief notch on the outer diameter of the bonded rubber bushing.

- Attach tools onto lower control arm, as shown in illustration.

1. Nut (T10230/2)

2. Hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178)

3. Thrust plate (T10230/7)

4. Tube (T10230/9)

5. Bonded rubber mount

6. Lower control arm

7. Thrust piece (T10230/16)

8. Washer

9. Nut (T10230/2)

10. Threaded spindle (T10230/1)


Align bonded rubber bushing to marking - arrow - and press in until stop.






Arrow - A - - Seam edge in casting of control arm

Arrow - B - - Relief notch in the bonded rubber bushing

- Install control arm to subframe.

Bonded rubber bushings can only be turned to a limited extent. Only tighten suspension bolts when vehicle is in curb weight or control position.

Wheel bearing, lifting to curb weight position on vehicles with coil springs. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles with Coil Spring ] Wheel Bearing In Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles With Coil Spring.

For vehicles with air spring suspension, lift wheel suspension in control position. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Control Position, Lifting Vehicles with Air Suspension ] Wheel Bearing In Control Position, Lifting Vehicles With Air Suspension.

- On vehicles with air suspension, position vehicle on wheels. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels.

- Perform vehicle alignment. Refer to => [ Wheel Alignment ] Wheel Alignment.

Checking and aligning the front/rear axle must take place on a VW/Audi recommended alignment stand.

Bonded Rubber Bushing, Pressing Out (suspension strut connection)






- Remove the wheel.

- Remove lower control arm. Refer to => [ Lower Control Arm ] Lower Control Arm.

- Attach tools onto lower control arm, as shown in illustration.

1. Threaded spindle (T10230/1)

2. Nut

3. Thrust piece (T10230/13)

4. Lower control arm

5. Tube (T10230/5)

6. Thrust plate (T10230/7)

7. Hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178)

8. Nut (T10230/2)


- Press out the bonded rubber mount.

Bonded Rubber Bushing, Pressing In (suspension strut connection)






- Attach tools onto lower control arm, as shown in illustration.

1. Threaded spindle (T10230/1)

2. Nut

3. Thrust piece (T10230/13)

4. Bonded rubber mount

5. Lower control arm

6. Tube (T10230/5)

7. Thrust plate (T10230/7)

8. Hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178)

9. Nut (T10230/2)


- Press in bonded rubber bushing flush.

- Use clear areas in tube (T10230/5) to observe pressing sequence.

- Install lower control arm. Refer to => [ Lower Control Arm ] Lower Control Arm.

Bonded rubber bushings can only be turned to a limited extent. Only tighten suspension bolts when vehicle is in curb weight or control position.

Wheel bearing, lifting to curb weight position on vehicles with coil springs. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles with Coil Spring ] Wheel Bearing In Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles With Coil Spring.

For vehicles with air spring suspension, lift wheel suspension in control position. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Control Position, Lifting Vehicles with Air Suspension ] Wheel Bearing In Control Position, Lifting Vehicles With Air Suspension.

- On vehicles with air suspension, position vehicle on wheels. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels.

- Perform vehicle alignment. Refer to => [ Wheel Alignment ] Wheel Alignment.

Checking and aligning front/rear axle must take place on a VW/Audi recommended alignment stand.