Suspension Strut Removal and Installation

Suspension strut, removing and installing

Removing

- Raise vehicle.
- Remove wheel.





- Remove both guide pins -arrows- from brake caliper.
- Remove brake caliper housing and suspend it with wire so that the weight of the brake caliper does not stress or damage the brake hose.
- Remove connection link from control arm.
- Disconnect ABS wheel speed sensor wiring from suspension strut (where applicable).

Right-side suspension strut

To remove the right-side suspension strut, the following additional work is required





- Remove noise insulation panel -arrows-.

Vehicles with TDI engine

- Remove intake air duct between charge air cooler and turbocharger.

Continued for all vehicles

- Remove right-side noise insulation.
- Disconnect drive axle from transmission drive flange.

The continuation on the procedure is valid for both sides





- Remove bolt and nut from wheel bearing housing/suspension strut connection.





- Insert special tool 3424 into slot -arrow-.
- Turn ratchet handle 1/4-turn (90°) and remove ratchet from 3424.
- Press brake disc in direction of suspension strut by hand.
Otherwise the shock absorber tube can cant in wheel bearing housing hole.
- Pull wheel bearing housing from shock absorber downward.
- Remove wiper arms
- M8 Hex. nuts: 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.).
- Remove plenum chamber cover (outer).





Remove hex. nut for upper shock absorber rubber mount

1. Commercially available ratchet handle
2. T 10001/8
3. T 10001/11
4. T 10001/5