Trailing Arm: Service and Repair

Trailing Arm with Mounting Bracket

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Torque wrench (V.A.G 1332)

• Wheel hub support (T10149)

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

Removing

- Remove the wheel.

- Remove coil spring. Refer to => [ Coil Spring ] Coil Spring.

- Remove retainer - 1 -, pressing out inner pins of rivets - arrows A -.






- Remove the coupling rod - 2 - from trailing arm.

- Remove bolts - arrows B -.

- Unclip electrical wire from mounting bracket.

- Mark installation position of mounting bracket on body.

- Remove the screws - arrows -.






- Remove longitudinal control arm - 1 - with mounting bracket.

• If longitudinal control arm is being replaced, mounting bracket must be removed from longitudinal control arm.

- To do so, clamp longitudinal control arm into vise so that mounting bracket - 1 - makes contact at vise - arrow -.






- Remove bolt - 2 -.

Installation position of mounting bracket to trailing link must then be adjusted.

Determining Installation Position of Mounting Bracket Relative to Trailing Arm

Measure dimension - a - from center of bolt to outer edge of mounting bracket.






Dimension - a -: 57,5 +/- 1 mm.

1. Mounting bracket

2. Trailing arm


- When dimension - a - has been adjusted, tighten bolt.

Installing


Note the different tie rod versions when replacing the trailing arm. Refer to => [ Tie Rod Characteristics ] Application and ID.

Note the allocation of the tie rods for the trailing arms. Refer to => [ Note the allocation of the tie rods for the trailing arms ] Application and ID.

Threaded connection of trailing link/wheel bearing housing must only be tightened when all other components (spring and strut always) of the respective wheel suspension have been already assembled. To tighten, suspension must be unloaded. Only now do the trailing link and wheel bearing housing move into the position required - arrows -.

Position: Threaded Connection of Trailing Arm/Wheel Bearing Housing





Always perform the following work in the sequence given!

- Attach longitudinal control arm and mounting bracket with bolts - arrows - to wheel bearing housing, but do not tighten.






- Insert coupling rod - 1 - in trailing arm, do not tighten nut yet.

- Raise wheel suspension using (V.A.G 1383 A) and (T10149) until mounting bracket makes contact on body.

- Tighten bolts - arrows - on old impression.






- Let down wheel suspension again using (V.A.G 1383 A) and remove (T10149) from wheel hub.

- Install coil spring. Refer to => [ Coil Spring ] Coil Spring.

- Tighten bolts - arrows B - for longitudinal control arm to tightening specification, observe required position of components while doing so. Refer to => [ Position: Threaded Connection of Trailing Arm/Wheel Bearing Housing ].






- Tighten the coupling rod nut - 2 - to the wheel bearing housing.

- Install retainer - 1 -, pressing in inner pins of rivets - arrows A -.

- When installing the wires for the electrical parking brake, make sure the dimension - a - between the connector - 1 - and the retainer - 2 - is exact.






Dimension - a - = 150 mm

- Install the wheel and tighten the wheel bolts. Refer to => [ Tightening Specification for Mounting Wheels ] [1][2]Specifications.

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

Tightening Specifications