Front Suspension

Suspension Strut Overview

• Assembly Overview Suspension strut for adaptive chassis DCC => [ Overview: Adaptive Chassis DCC Suspension Strut ] Adaptive Chassis DCC Suspension Strut






1 Shock Absorber

• individually replaceable

• Allocation, refer to the Parts Catalog

2 Stop Buffer

• Allocation, refer to the Parts Catalog

3 Protective Sleeve

4 Coil Spring

• Note color code

• Allocation, refer to the Parts Catalog

Spring allocation via PR No.

These numbers can be found on vehicle data plate.

• Surface of spring coil may not be damaged

5 Axial Groove Ball Bearing

6 Suspension Strut Bearing

• Note installed position.

7 Hex Nut

• 60 Nm

• M14 x 1.5

• Self-locking

• Always replace if removed.

8 Suspension Strut Dome

9 Bolt

• 15 Nm + 90°

• M8 x 26

• Always replace if removed.

Suspension Strut, Removing and Installing

• Adaptive Chassis DCC Suspension Strut, Removing and Installing => [ Adaptive Chassis DCC Suspension Strut ] Adaptive Chassis DCC Suspension Strut






Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Spreader (3424)

• Torque wrench (V.A.G 1332)

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

• Mount (T10149)

Removing

- Loosen driveshaft bolt to wheel hub:

• Twelve-point bolt with ribs, refer to => [ Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening, Driveshaft Threaded Connection ] Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening, Driveshaft Threaded Connection

• Twelve-point bolt without ribs, refer to => [ Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening, Driveshaft Threaded Connection ] Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening, Driveshaft Threaded Connection

The wheel bearing must not be under a load while the driveshaft threaded connection on the wheel side is loose.

If the wheel bearings are under the load of the vehicle weight, the wheel bearing will be damaged. This reduces the service life of the wheel bearings.

The driveshaft bolt may be loosened maximum 90° when the vehicle is standing on its wheels.

Vehicles without a driveshaft must not be moved, otherwise the wheel bearing will be damaged. If a vehicle must be moved, be sure to note the following:

• Install an outer joint in place of the driveshaft.

• Tighten the outer joint to 120 Nm.

- Remove the wheel.

- Remove the nut - arrow - of the connecting link from suspension strut.






- Remove nuts - arrows -.






- Remove both the wheel bearing housing and ball joint from the control arm.

- Remove the driveshaft outer joint from the wheel hub.

- Secure drive axle to body using wire.

• The drive axle must not hang down, otherwise the inner joint will be damaged by overflexing.

- Bolt ball joint to control arm again.

- Fasten engine/transmission jack (V.A.G 1383 A) using wheel hub support - T10149 - to wheel hub with a wheel bolt.






- Disconnect threaded connection of wheel bearing housing/suspension strut - arrow -.






- Insert spreader (3424) into slot of wheel bearing housing.






- Turn the ratchet 90° and remove it from the spreader (3424).

- Press brake disc in direction of suspension strut by hand.

Otherwise strut tube may be canted in hole of wheel bearing housing.

- Pull off wheel bearing housing downward from strut tube and lower using engine/transmission jack (V.A.G 1383 A) as far until strut tube hangs freely.

- Secure the wheel bearing housing to the subframe with wire.

- Remove engine/transmission jack (V.A.G 1383 A) from below wheel bearing housing.

Only when removing the left suspension strut:

- Remove wiper arms Windshield washing system; wiper arms, removing and installing

Both sides, continued:

- Remove plenum chamber cover.

- Remove the hex bolts - arrows - for upper strut mount and remove suspension strut.






Installing

- Secure engine/transmission jack (V.A.G 1383 A) with wheel hub support (T10149) to wheel hub using a wheel bolt.






- Attach suspension strut to wheel bearing housing and secure suspension strut using socket head bolt and new nut.

Socket head bolt tip must point in direction of travel.

- Remove spreader (3424).

One of two markings - arrows - on spring plate must point in direction of travel.






- Remove wire on wheel bearing housing.

- Carefully lift the wheel bearing housing using the transmission jack enough so that the suspension strut/strut tower bolts - arrows - can be installed.






If necessary, use ladder, e.g. step ladder (VAS 5085) to install bolts.

- Tighten hex bolts for upper strut mounting - arrows -.

- Remove wheel hub support (T10149).

- Tighten threaded connection of wheel bearing housing/suspension strut - arrow -.






- Remove nuts - arrows -.






- Insert drive axle into wheel hub.

- Insert wheel bearing housing with ball joint into control arm.

- Attach the ball joint to the control arm - arrows -.

• Make sure that the ball joint boot is not damaged or twisted.

- Tighten driveshaft bolt to wheel hub:

• Twelve-point bolt with ribs, refer to => [ Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening, Driveshaft Threaded Connection ] Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening, Driveshaft Threaded Connection

• Twelve-point bolt without ribs, refer to => [ Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening, Driveshaft Threaded Connection ] Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening, Driveshaft Threaded Connection

Vehicle must not rest on wheels when doing so.

With screw loosened, wheel bearing can be damaged by the vehicle weight.

Differences between a twelve-point bolt with ribs and a twelve-point bolt without ribs






The contact surfaces - arrow A - and - arrow B - are different on the two-point bolts.

I Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs - arrow A -
II Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs - arrow B -

- Install plenum chamber cover.

- Install wiper arms Windshield washing system; wiper arms, removing and installing

Install in reverse order of removal.

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

Tightening Specifications






Suspension Strut, Servicing






Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Torque wrench (V.A.G 1332)

• Spring Compressor (V.A.G 1752/1)

• Spring Holder (V.A.G 1752/5)

• Holding fixture for suspension struts (V.A.G 1752/20)

• Shock absorber set (T10001)

• Ratchet (commercially available)

- Remove the suspension strut => [ Suspension Strut, Removing and Installing ]

Coil spring, removing

- Tension the spring compressor (V.A.G 1752/20) - 4 - in a vice.






- Tension the suspension strut in the spring compressor (V.A.G 1752/20) - 4 -.

- Pretension the coil spring using the spring compressor (V.A.G 1752/1) until the upper axial groove ball bearing is free.

1. Torque wrench (V.A.G 1332)

2. Ring Spanner Insert AF 21 (T10001/8)

3. Spring Compressor (V.A.G 1752/1)

4. Holding fixture for suspension struts (V.A.G 1752/20)

5. Spring Holder (V.A.G 1752/4)

6. Ring Spanner Insert AF 21 (T10001/5)

7. Ratchet (T10001/11)


First load spring far enough so that tension is relieved on upper spring retainer!

- Make sure the coil spring fits correctly inside the spring holder (V.A.G 1752/4) - arrows -.






- Remove hex nut from piston rod.

- Remove individual components of suspension strut and coil spring with spring compressor (V.A.G 1752/1).

Coil spring, installing

- Place coil spring with spring compressor (V.A.G 1752/1) on lower spring plate.

End of spring coil must rest against stop - arrow -.






- Tighten new hex nut to piston rod.

- Relieve the tension on the spring tensioner (V.A.G 1752/1) and remove from the coil spring.

- Suspension strut, installing.

Tightening Specifications