Rear Cross-Member Bushing: Service and Repair

Bonded Rubber Bushing

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Engine-/Gearbox Jack (V.A.G 1383 A)

• Assembly Tool (T10230)

• Hydraulic Press (VAS 6178)

• Wheel Hub Support (T10149)

• Pneumatic/Hydraulic Foot Pump (VAS 6179)

• Torque Wrench 50-200 Nm (V.A.G 1332)

• Tensioning Strap (T10038)

Pressing Off

- With vehicles with air suspension, place vehicle on hoist. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels.

- Remove the wheel.

- Remove lower control arm - 2 - from the wheel bearing housing. Remove bolt - 1 - to do this.






- Install a block of wood between control arm - arrow - and wheel bearing housing.






Without this block of wood inserted, there is the danger of injury when lower control arm moves back to initial position.

- Install tools onto wheel bearing housing, as shown in illustration.






1. Nut (T10230/2)

2. Thrust piece (T10230/13)

3. Thrust plate (T10230/6)

4. Tube (T10230/5)

5. Thrust piece (T10230/4)

6. Tube (T10230/3)

7. Thrust plate (T10230/7)

8. Hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178)


Before pressing out, place (V.A.G 1383 A) with (V.A.G 1359/2) below (VAS 6178). Hydraulic cylinder can fall down at end of pressing out procedure.

- Press bonded rubber bushing out.

Pressing In






- Install tools and bonded rubber bushings onto wheel bearing housing, as shown in illustration.

1. Nut (T10230/2)

2. Thrust piece (T10230/13)

3. Thrust plate (T10230/6)

4. Bonded rubber mount

5. Thrust piece (T10230/8)

6. Tube (T10230/3)

7. Thrust plate (T10230/7)

8. Hydraulic cylinder (VAS 6178)


- Press in bonded rubber bushing until stop.

By doing this, core of bonded rubber bushing is pressed in by thrust piece (T10230/6) - arrow - more than is required. However, this is necessary so that bonded rubber bushing lip makes contact with control arm on outside. After loosening (VAS 6178) , bonded rubber bushing core settles into correct position.

- Remove wood block from between wheel bearing housing and lower control arm.

- Press wheel bearing housing in direction of - arrow -.






Make sure to press only at the wheel bearing housing. There is the danger of injury at the connection point of control arm and wheel bearing housing!

Control arm engages at wheel bearing housing.

Install in reverse order of removal.

• Bonded rubber bushings can only be turned to a limited extent. Only tighten suspension bolts when vehicle is in curb weight or control position.

• Wheel bearing, lifting to curb weight position on vehicles with coil springs. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles with Coil Spring ] Wheel Bearing In Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles With Coil Spring.

• For vehicles with air spring suspension, lift wheel suspension in control position. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Control Position, Lifting Vehicles with Air Suspension ] Wheel Bearing In Control Position, Lifting Vehicles With Air Suspension.

Tightening specifications, refer to => [ Wheel Bearing Housing, Wheel Hub and Wheel Bearing Overview ] Rear Axle Overview

- On vehicles with air suspension, position vehicle on wheels. Refer to => [ Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels ] Positioning Vehicle on Hoist and Wheels.

- Tighten the wheels.

- On vehicles with automatic headlamp range control system, perform a basic setting on the headlamps.