Front Suspension

WM 408519 Removing and installing spring strut





Removing and installing spring strut - preliminary work
1. Raise the vehicle and remove front wheel.

Removing front spring strut
1. Loosen stabilizer mount at stabilizer (counter with Torx T30).
2. Loosen tie rod and control arm at wheel carriers and press off the ball joints with special tool press-out tool 9560. When loosening the lock nuts, counter at the ball-joint pins with special tool screwdriver 9546 (Torx screwdriver).





Loosening tie rod

3. Disconnect plug connection at wheel carrier and pull out plugs. Undo plug connection at wheel carrier and unclip electric wires at the spring strut.
4. Loosen holder for brake line/brake hose at wheel carrier. Loosen brake caliper from wheel carrier and attach in wheel arch.
5. Open luggage compartment and remove the relevant design cover over the spring strut.
6. Loosen cover over piston rod (at spring strut). For PASM spring struts, carefully disconnect connecting cable at the connector and unclip it from the bracket -Arrows-.





PASM bracket and connector

7. Mark the installation position of the spring-strut mount (position of the three collar nuts). Loosen fastening nuts (3 ea. M8) at spring-strut mount.
8. Pull out spring strut with wheel carrier.
9. Loosen clamped connection between spring strut/wheel carrier (ball joint of stabilizer mount). Counter with open-ended wrench. Pull spring strut out of wheel carrier.

Installing front spring strut

Information: If assembly work was performed or parts replaced that affect the vehicle height, a complete wheel alignment is necessary.

1. Install in reverse order. Before installing, do a visual check on the parts. Replace brake caliper fastening screws.
2. Do not grease threaded connections in Dacromet finish - aluminum color. Observe correct tightening torques.
3. Place the spring-strut/wheel-carrier assembly into the vehicle. Note installation position of the spring-strut mount. The arrow markings must point to the outer side of the vehicle. The shock-absorber piston rod is thereby shifted outwards. Use new lock nuts. Before tightening the lock nuts, align spring-strut mount in accordance with the applied marking (position of the three collar nuts).

Removing and installing spring strut - subsequent work
1. Fit front wheel.
2. Check wheel alignment values on front axle and adjust if necessary.