Trailing Arm: Service and Repair

Trailing Arm with Mounting Bracket

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Torque Wrench 40-200 Nm (V.A.G 1332)

• Wheel Hub Support (T10149)

• Engine/Gearbox Jack (V.A.G 1383 A)

• Wheel Hub Support (T10149)

Removing

- Loosen the wheel bolts.

- Raise the vehicle.

- Remove wheel.

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

- Disconnect the parking brake cable - 1 - from the bracket - 2 -.






- Push the lever on the brake caliper - 2 - in - direction of arrow -.






- Disengage the parking brake cable - 1 - from the lever on the brake caliper - 2 -.

- Squeeze the tabs - 3 - and remove the parking brake cable - 1 - from the bracket - 4 - on the brake caliper.

- Pull the parking brake cable - 1 - out of the retainer - arrow A - on the bracket - 2 -.






- Pull the parking brake cable - 1 - in - direction of arrow -out of the guide - arrow B - on the bracket - 2 -.

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

- Mark the mounting bracket installation location on the body.

- Remove bolts - Arrows -.






- Remove the coupling rod - 1 - from trailing link.






- Remove the bolts - arrows -.

- Remove trailing arm with mounting bracket.

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

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

Determining Installation Position of Mounting Bracket Relative to Trailing Arm

Dimension - a -: 34 +/- 1 mm.






1. Mounting bracket

2. Trailing arm


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

Installing

Threaded connection of trailing arm/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 arm and wheel bearing housing move into the position required - arrows -.

Position: Threaded Connection of Trailing Arm/Wheel Bearing Housing





Complete the following steps in the exact order specified.

- Install trailing arm and mounting bracket with bolts - arrows - on wheel bearing housing but do not yet tighten.






- Insert the coupling rod - 1 - into the trailing arm and stabilizer bar but do not tighten the nut.

- 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.

- Tighten the trailing arm bolts - arrows - to the tightening specification. Make sure each component is in its correct position. Refer to => [ Position: Threaded Connection of Trailing Arm/Wheel Bearing Housing ].






- Connect the coupling rod - 1 - to the wheel bearing housing and stabilizer bar.

- Insert the parking brake cable - 1 - into the guide - arrow B - on the bracket - 2 - opposite the - direction of arrow -.






- Clip the parking brake cable - 1 - back into the retainer - arrow A - on the bracket - 2 -.

- Push the parking brake cable - 1 - through the bracket - 4 - on the brake caliper until both tabs - 3 - engage.






- Press the lever - 2 - located on the brake caliper in - direction of arrow - and engage the parking brake cable - 1 -.

• The parking brake cable must be installed without tension between the bracket on the brake caliper and the bracket on the rear axle.

- Attach the parking brake cable - 1 - to the bracket - 2 -.






• Attach the parking brake cable to at the marking on the cable.

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

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

- Perform an axle alignment. Refer to => [ Wheel Alignment, Vehicles with Multi-Link Rear Suspension ] Wheel Alignment, Vehicles with Multi-Link Rear Suspension.

Tightening Specifications