Volkswagen Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

Removing and installing suspension strut

Special tools and workshop equipment required

t	Spreader -3424-

t	Torque wrench -V.A.G 1331-

t	Torque wrench -V.A.G 1332-

t	Engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A-

t	Socket (36 mm) -T10125-

t  Shock absorber set -T10001-

t  Support -T10149- Removing suspension strut –  Lift vehicle far enough to take weight off front axle. –  Undo 12-point drive shaft nut using 36 mm socket -T10125-. –  Remove wheel.

–  Unscrew nut -arrow- and pull coupling rod -1- out from suspension strut. –  Unhook speed sensor line from suspension strut.

–  Remove clip for brake line -arrow- and unhook brake line at spring strut. –  Pull connector off ABS speed sensor.

–  Remove nuts -arrows-. –  Pull swivel joint out of suspension link. –  Pull outer joint of drive shaft out of wheel hub. –  Secure drive shaft to body with wire. If the drive shaft cannot be pulled out of the wheel bearing, use press tool -3283- to press it out of wheel bearing.   Caution Do not allow the drive shaft to hang down under its own weight, for this would allow the inner joint to bend too far and be damaged. –  Bolt swivel joint to suspension link again.

–  Use wheel bolt to attach engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- with support -T10149- to wheel hub.   WARNING t  Do not lift or lower vehicle while engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- is under vehicle. The vehicle could slip off the lifting platform. t  Do not leave engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- under vehicle longer than necessary.

–  Separate threaded connection between wheel bearing housing and suspension strut -arrow-.

–  Insert spreader -3424- in slot in wheel bearing housing. –  Turn ratchet handle through 90° and pull off from spreader -3424-. –  Press brake disc towards suspension strut by hand. Otherwise the shock absorber tube can cant in the bore of the wheel bearing housing. –  Pull wheel bearing housing downwards off shock absorber tube and lower with engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- until shock absorber tube is free. –  Tie wheel bearing housing to subframe with wire. –  Remove support -T10149- from wheel hub and remove engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- from beneath vehicle.   WARNING Do not leave engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- under vehicle longer than necessary.

–  Unbolt upper shock absorber mounting and remove spring strut downwards. 1 -  Ratchet, commercially available 2 -  -T10001/8- 3 -  -T10001/11- 4 -  -T10001/5- Installing suspension strut

–  Use wheel bolt to attach engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- with support -T10149- to wheel hub. –  Position suspension strut on wheel bearing housing and secure suspension strut with multi-point socket head bolt and a new nut. The tip of the multi-point socket head bolt must point in the direction of travel. –  Remove wire from wheel bearing housing. –  Remove spreader -3424-. –  Raise wheel bearing housing using engine and gearbox jack until suspension strut lies against inner suspension turret.

–  Position stop on suspension strut turret and tighten nuts for upper shock absorber mounting to tightening torque. 1 -  Torque wrench -V.A.G 1332- 2 -  -T10001/8- 3 -  -T10001/11- 4 -  -T10001/5- –  Remove support -T10149- from wheel hub and remove engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- from beneath vehicle.   WARNING Do not leave engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- under vehicle longer than necessary.

–  Tighten threaded connection between wheel bearing housing and suspension strut -arrow-

–  Remove nuts -arrows-. –  Pull swivel joint out of suspension link. –  Insert drive shaft into wheel bearing.

Make sure that deflector ring -1- is clipped completely onto outer joint.   Note Deflector ring -1- must align with contact surface of outer joint -arrow-.

–  Bolt swivel joint to suspension link with new nuts -arrows-. Use new nuts! Ensure that bellows are not damaged or twisted. Continue installation in reverse order. –  Install wheel and tighten bolts or nuts → Chapter. –  Tighten 12-point drive shaft nut using socket AF 36 mm -T10125-.

Specified torques

Component	Specified torque
Suspension strut to body t  Use new nut	60 Nm
Suspension strut to wheel bearing housing t  Use new bolts and nuts.	60 Nm + 90°
Swivel joint to suspension link t  Use new bolts.	100 Nm
Coupling rod to suspension strut t  Use new nut	40 Nm
12-point nut on drive shaft t  Use new nut	50 Nm + 45°