Volkswagen Golf Quiz
Running gear, axles, steering

Removing and installing suspension strut

In this manual: Running gear, axles, steering
General body repairs, exterior — 230General body repairs, interior — 279General information, paint — 133Vechile- specific paint information — 27Heating, air conditioning — 156Auxiliary heater — 58Air conditioning system with refrigerant R134a — 1297- speed dual clutch gearbox 0CW — 544- cylinder injection engine(1.4 1 direct inction. turbocharger) — 182Fuel supply system - Petrol engines — 59Running gear, axles, steering — 221Brake system — 92Wheels and Tyres guide — 12Guide for using trailers — 11Wheels and Tyres Guide - General Information — 121Brake system (hybrid) — 73Electrical system — 326Communication — 65Electrical system, general information — 111
~5min read
0408012016020012089N·mlb·ft
Tightening torque found on this page
Removing and installing suspension strut

Special tools and workshop equipment required

Torque wrench -V.A.G 1332-

Spreader -3424-

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

Support -T10149-


Special tools and workshop equipment required

Press tool -T10520-

Removing

  • Loosen drive shaft bolt at wheel hub → Chapter.
Caution Wheel bearings must not be subjected to load after bolt securing drive shaft to wheel hub has been loosened. If wheel bearings are loaded with weight of vehicle, bearing will be damaged. This reduces the service life of the wheel bearing. It is not permissible to loosen drive shaft bolt more than 90° if vehicle is standing on its wheels. Do not attempt to move the vehicle without the drive shafts fitted as this would damage the wheel bearing. If a vehicle nevertheless has to be moved, comply with the following:

Install an outer joint instead of the drive shaft.

Tighten outer joint to 120 N·m.
  • Loosen wheel bolts.
  • Raise vehicle.
  • Remove wheel.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Unscrew nut -arrow- and pull coupling rod -1- off suspension strut.
  • Detach wire for ABS speed sensor from suspension strut.
Removing and installing suspension strut

Vehicles with vehicle level sender

  • Unscrew nut -1-.
  • Pull bracket -2- for front left vehicle level sender -G78- and/or for front right vehicle level sender -G289- out of suspension link -3-, as applicable

Continuation for all vehicles
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Remove nuts -arrows-.
  • Pull wheel bearing housing with swivel joint out of suspension link.
  • Pull outer joint of drive shaft out of wheel hub.
If drive shaft cannot be pulled out of the wheel bearing by hand, use press tool -T10520-.
Removing and installing suspension strut

Before using press tool -T10520- ensure that thrust piece -1- is inserted.

Using press tool -T10520-:
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • To be able to press out drive shaft -3-, secure press tool -T10520--1- to wheel hub using 3 wheel bolts -2-.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • It is essential to follow specified sequence.
I - Tighten knurled nut -1- hand-tight.
II - Turn only bolt -2- using a spanner in order to press out drive shaft with press tool -T10520-.
Note At the end of the procedure or for pressing out drive shaft further the spindle must be moved to its original position in order to deploy the hydraulic force!
  • Secure drive shaft to body with wire.
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.

Vehicles with adaptive chassis control DCC
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Disconnect connector -1- on shock absorber -2-.
Note If there is moisture in the area of the connector, blow compressed air on the contacts on the shock absorber and the connector.

Continuation for all vehicles
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Insert a screwdriver -1- into brake disc between brake caliper and brake carrier.
  • Secure engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- with support -T10149--2- to wheel hub using a wheel bolt.
WARNING 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. Do not leave engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- under vehicle longer than necessary.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Separate threaded connection between wheel bearing housing and suspension strut -arrow-.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Insert spreader -3424- in slot in wheel bearing housing.
Note Make sure that the spreader -3424- is only inserted into the wheel bearing housing. Insert sufficiently to ensure that the metal tab of the suspension strut is not damaged.
  • Turn ratchet handle through 90° and detach 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.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Lower wheel bearing housing -1- in -direction of arrow- using engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A-.
  • Lower wheel bearing housing -1- until shock absorber is hanging free -arrow-.
  • Bolt swivel joint to suspension link again and tighten wheel bearing housing to subframe.
  • Pull engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- out from under support -T10149-.
WARNING Do not leave engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- under vehicle longer than necessary.
  • Pull seal off entire length of plenum chamber cover.
  • Detach clips
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Lift plenum chamber cover -1- not more than 60 mm.
a - 60 mm
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Unscrew bolts -1- for upper shock absorber mounting and remove suspension strut.

Installing
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Position suspension strut so that the arrow -1- is always on the inner side.
  • One of the two arrows -1- on the spring plate -2- must point in direction of travel.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Insert suspension strut and bolt bolts -1- to body.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Position engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- under support -T10149- and secure wheel bearing housing.
  • Untie wheel bearing housing from subframe.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Remove nuts -arrows-.
  • Pull wheel bearing housing with swivel joint out of suspension link.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Lower wheel bearing housing -1- in -direction of arrow- using engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A-.
  • Press wheel bearing housing upwards using engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A-, guide into suspension strut in the process.
  • Bolt swivel joint to suspension link again and continue to press wheel bearing housing upwards until final position is reached on suspension strut.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Remove spreader -3424-.
Removing and installing suspension strut
  • Insert new bolts, tip of bolt must point in direction of travel.
  • Attach wheel bearing housing to suspension strut using new nut -arrow-.

Install in reverse order of removal, observing the following:

Note

Lever on vehicle level sender must face towards outside of vehicle.

Thread of vehicle level sender must be screwed into outer hole in suspension link. Retaining lug for vehicle level sender must engage in inner hole in order to guarantee correct installation position.
  • On vehicles with vehicle level sender, carry out basic settings for wheel damper electronics → Vehicle diagnostic tester.

Specified torques

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - suspension strut, upper suspension link“

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - lower suspension link, swivel joint“

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - subframe“

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - front vehicle level senders“

→ Chapter „Assembly overview - drive shaft“

→ Chapter „Torque settings for wheel bolts“
Removing and installing suspension strut

Test yourself

A quick Volkswagen Golf quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.