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
• Spreader (3424)
• Torque wrench (V.A.G 1332)
• Engine/transmission jack (V.A.G 1383 A)
• Wheel hub support (T10149)
Removing
- Loosen drive axle bolt to wheel hub:
• 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.
- Remove 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.
- Disconnect threaded connection of wheel bearing housing/suspension strut - arrow -.
- Insert (3424) into slot of wheel bearing housing.
- 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.
- Secure the wheel bearing housing to the subframe with wire.
- Remove (V.A.G 1383 A) from below wheel bearing housing.
Only when Removing the Left Suspension Strut
- Remove wiper arms.
Both Sides, Continued
- Remove plenum chamber cover.
- Remove the bolts - arrows - for upper strut mount and remove suspension strut.
Installing
- Secure (V.A.G 1383 A) with (T10149) to wheel hub using a wheel bolt.
- Attach suspension strut to wheel bearing housing and secure suspension strut using socket head bolt and new nut.
Socket head bolt tip must point in direction of travel.
- Remove (3424).
One of two markings - arrows - on spring plate must point in direction of travel.
- Remove wire on wheel bearing housing.
- Carefully lift the wheel bearing housing using the transmission jack enough so that the suspension strut/strut tower bolts - arrows - can be installed.
If necessary, use ladder, e.g. step ladder (VAS 5085) to install bolts.
- Tighten hex bolts for upper strut mounting - arrows -.
- Remove (T10149).
- Tighten threaded connection of wheel bearing housing/suspension strut - arrow -.
- Remove nuts - arrows -.
- Insert drive axle into wheel hub.
- Insert wheel bearing housing with ball joint into control arm.
- Attach the ball joint to the control arm - arrows -.
• Make sure that the ball joint boot is not damaged or twisted.
- Tighten drive axle bolt to wheel hub:
• 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 -
- Install plenum chamber cover.
- Install wiper arms.
Further installation is in the reverse sequence to removal.
- Install the wheel and tighten the wheel bolts. Refer to => [ Tightening Specification for Mounting Wheels ] [1][2]Specifications.
Tightening Specifications
