Suspension Strut, Removing and Installing

Suspension strut, removing and installing

Removing
- Remove wheel trim; pull trim cap off light-alloy wheels (puller in vehicle tool kit).
- Remove wheel.
- Before removing suspension strut, remove headlight range control linkage from track control link by opening metal clip.
- Remove brake caliper and attach to body.
- Secure brake disc with wheel bolt.





- Remove clip -1- using pliers.

Note: You do not need to re-insert this clip.

- Unfasten nut -2-, take out hex bolt and pull both links upward and out. Never widen slots in wheel bearing housing using a chisel or the like.





- Protect steering gear boots from damage.
- Illustration shows steering gear removed for the purpose of greater clarity.
- Protective sleeve -1- can be ordered under no. 893 512 137.
- Cut a strip, dimension A; 20 to 25 mm, out of protective sleeve -1-.
- Carefully deburr cut surfaces.
- Push protective sleeve over steering box boots. The open side with cut out strip must face downward.

Note: To avoid damaging joints of lower links, provide support e.g. using VAG 1383-A (engine and transmission lifter) to guard against excessive rebound.





- Unscrew hex bolt -arrow- from suspension strut/track control link.
- Swivel wheel bearing housing to one side.
- Unfasten connection of coolant reservoir
- Remove plenum chamber cover





- Remove cover -arrow- of bolt





- Unscrew hex bolts -1- in plenum chamber.
- Remove suspension strut together with mounting bracket. Take care not to damage boot when doing so.

Installing





- Insert suspension strut and mounting bracket in suspension strut dome. Tighten hex bolts -1- to 75 Nm.

Note: Make sure shims are correctly seated.

- Bonded rubber bushings can only be turned to a limited extent. The bolted joints at the suspension links are therefore not to be tightened until the vehicle is standing on the ground.





- Insert forked head of suspension strut in link, tighten bolt -1- to 90 Nm.

Note: Insert bolt against direction of travel.





- Insert both upper links, tighten nut -2- to 40 Nm.
- Press down upper links as far as possible while screwing on.
- Insert ABS wire in mount on brake caliper.
- Install brake disc, screw on brake caliper and tighten to 190 Nm.
- Install headlight range control.
- Install wheel.