Front Fender: Service and Repair

Removing And Installing Wing

Technical

Preliminary work

1. Remove front wheel housing liner. Refer to Removing and installing front wheel housing liner.
2. Remove front apron and side guide rails. Refer to Removing and installing front apron.
3. Remove wing trim panel. Refer to Removing and installing wing trim panel.

Only when removing the right wing:

4. Remove tank for windscreen washer system. Refer to Removing and installing tank for windscreen washer system.

Only when removing the left wing on vehicles with auxiliary heater:

5. Remove heater. Refer to Removing and installing complete heater.

Tools and materials

Cartridge gun V.A.G. 1628: WE1141 cartridge gun V.A.G. 1628
Leister-Electron hot-air blower: WE1119 hot-air blower, Leister-Electron/V.A.G. 1416
Sealant

Removing the wing

INFORMATION: Due to the contour of the wing, the fastening tab -2- must be deformed in order to remove the wing. If a wing is to be reused following removal, the paint in the area of the fastening clip must be heated using a hot-air gun during installation.

1. Open front door.
2. Detach roof moulding -6- in the area of the A-pillar.

3. Unscrew fastening screw -3- at the A-pillar.

4. Bend the fastening clip -2- by approx. 70 degrees. If the wing is to be reused, heat up the tabs with a hot-air gun before bending.

5. Unscrew fastening screws -4-.

6. Unscrew fastening nuts -7- at the A-pillar.

7. Undo fastening screws -4- on top flange.

8. Remove the wing.
9. Remove old sealant.

Removing wing trim panel

INFORMATION:
- The removal and installation of the wing trim panel is described for a removed wing.
- If the wing trim panel is removed when the wing is installed, the front door must be removed. Refer to Removing and installing front door.

1. Press back the pins of the -2- expansion rivets -1- (-arrow A-), until the expansion rivets -1- are completely relieved.

2. Remove expansion rivets -1- and wing trim panel -3-.

Installing the wing

Installing wing trim panel

1. Position wing trim panel -3- and secure with the expanding rivets -1-.

2. Press in the pins -2- of the expansion rivets -1- (-arrow A-).

Installing the wing

INFORMATION: Due to the contour of the wing, the fastening clip -3- must be deformed in order to install the wing. For this reason, the paint in the area of the fastening tab must be heated using a hot-air gun during installation.

1. Open front door.
2. Seal wing.
2.1. Before installing the wing, apply an approx. 3 mm thick layer of sealant on the flange areas illustrated.

3. Position wing -1- on the fastening bolts of the A-pillar -arrow- and attach to the A-pillar.

4. Screw in fastening nuts -7- into the A-pillar and tighten them slightly. Tightening torque: 6 ftlb.±0.5 ftlb.

5. Screw in fastening screws -4- and tighten them slightly.

6. Heat fastening clip using a hot-air gun.
7. Attach fastening clip -2- to the A-pillar.

8. Screw in fastening screw -3- into the A-pillar and tighten slightly.
Tightening torque: 6 ftlb.±0.5 ftlb.

9. Clip roof moulding -6- into the retaining clips in the area of the A-pillar.

Subsequent work

1. Adjust the contour and gap dimensions relative to the front door and front lid. Refer to Diagram - body gap dimensions
2. Tighten fastening screws and fastening nuts with the specified torque.
Tightening torque: 8 Nm (6 ftlb.)±1 Nm (±0.5 ftlb.)
Tightening torque: 14 Nm (10.5 ftlb.)±1 Nm (±0.5 ftlb.)

3. Apply underbody protection.

Only when removing the left wing on vehicles with auxiliary heater:

4. Install heater. Refer to Removing and installing complete heater.

Only when removing the right wing:

5. Install tank for windscreen washer system. Refer to Removing and installing tank for windscreen washer system.
6. Install wing trim panel. Refer to Removing and installing wing trim panel.
7. Install front apron and side guide rails. Refer to Removing and installing front apron.
8. Install front wheel housing liner. Refer to Removing and installing front wheel housing liner.