Suspension Strut

Suspension Strut

• Adaptive chassis DCC suspension strut, removing and installing, refer to => [ Front Suspension Strut ] Front Suspension Strut.

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Torque wrench (V.A.G 1332)

• Spreader (3424)

• Engine/transmission jack (V.A.G 1383 A)

• Wheel hub support (T10149)

Removing

- Loosen drive axle bolt to wheel hub:

• Hex head bolt, refer to => [ Drive Axle Hex Bolt Connection, Loosening and Tightening ] Description and Operation.

• Twelve-point bolt with ribs, refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.

• Twelve-point bolt without ribs, refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.

The wheel bearing must not be under a load while the drive axle threaded connection on the wheel side is loose.

If the wheel bearings are under the load of the vehicle's own weight, the wheel bearing will be damaged. This reduces the service life of the wheel bearings.

The drive axle bolt may be loosened maximum 90° when the vehicle is standing on its wheels.

Vehicles without a drive axle must not be moved, otherwise the wheel bearing will be damaged. If a vehicle must be moved, be sure to note the following:

• Install an outer joint in place of the drive axle.

• Tighten the outer joint to 120 Nm.

- Remove the wheel.

- Remove the nut - arrow - of the connecting link from suspension strut.

- Disengage wire for wheel speed sensor from suspension strut.

- Remove the nuts - arrows -.

- Remove both the wheel bearing housing and ball joint from the control arm.

- Remove the drive axle outer joint from the wheel hub.

- Secure drive axle to body using wire.

The drive axle must not hang down, otherwise the inner joint will be damaged by overflexing.

- Bolt ball joint to control arm again.

- Fasten (V.A.G 1383 A) using (T10149) to wheel hub with a wheel bolt.

- Insert (3424) into wheel bearing housing slot.

- Using a ratchet and the (3424) , open the wheel bearing housing slot.

- Press brake disc in direction of suspension strut by hand.

Otherwise strut tube may be canted in hole of wheel bearing housing.

- Pull off wheel bearing housing downward from strut tube and lower using (V.A.G 1383 A) as far until strut tube hangs freely.

- Tightly tie wheel bearing housing to console/subframe using binding wire.

- Remove (V.A.G 1383 A) from below wheel bearing housing.

• Do not leave (V.A.G 1383 A) below vehicle any longer than necessary.

- Remove wiper arms.

- Remove plenum chamber cover.

- Remove the hex bolts - arrows - for upper strut mount and remove suspension strut.

Installing

Installation Position of Spring Retainer

- Insert suspension strut, one of the two markings - arrows - must point in direction of travel when doing this.

Tighten hex bolts - arrows - for upper strut mount.

- Install plenum chamber cover.

- Install wiper arms.

- Secure (V.A.G 1383 A) with (T10149) to wheel hub using a wheel bolt.

• Do not lift or lower vehicle when the (V.A.G 1383 A) stands below the vehicle. Vehicle could slip off lift.

• Do not leave (V.A.G 1383 A) below vehicle any longer than necessary.

- Position suspension strut on wheel bearing housing.

- Remove wire on wheel bearing housing.

- Carefully lift the wheel bearing housing with the engine and transmission jack enough so that the suspension strut/wheel bearing housing bolt can be inserted.

- To do so, press the brake disc by hand in direction of suspension strut while lifting.

Otherwise strut tube may be canted in hole of wheel bearing housing.

- Remove (3424).

- Tighten threaded connection of wheel bearing housing/suspension strut - arrow -.

• Do not leave (V.A.G 1383 A) below vehicle any longer than necessary.

- Remove the nuts - arrows -.

- Insert drive axle into wheel hub.

- Insert wheel bearing housing with ball joint into control arm.

- Bolt ball joint to control arm.

• Make sure that the ball joint boot is not damaged or twisted.

- Tighten drive axle bolt to wheel hub:

• Hex head bolt, refer to => [ Drive Axle Hex Bolt Connection, Loosening and Tightening ] Description and Operation.

• Twelve-point bolt with ribs, refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.

• Twelve-point bolt without ribs, refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.

Vehicle must not rest on wheels when doing so.

With bolt loosened, wheel bearing can be damaged by vehicle's own weight.

Differences Between a Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs and a Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs

The contact surfaces - arrow A - and - arrow B - are different on the two-point bolts.

I Twelve-point bolt with ribs - arrow A -
II Twelve-point bolt without ribs - arrow B -

Further installation is in the reverse sequence to removal.

- Install the wheel and tighten the wheel bolts. Refer to => [ Wheel Bolts Tightening Specification ] [1][2]Specifications.

Tightening Specifications