Removal and installation of shock absorbers and springs

Removing

Loosen the wheel hub nut.

Hang the front of the car and remove the wheel.

On vehicles with ATE brand front wheel brakes, remove the brake caliper and brake hose bracket. Hang the caliper assembly with pads to the body on a technological hook so that the hose is not loaded.

On cars with Volkswagen front wheel brakes, unscrew the bolts securing the guide pads to the steering knuckle, hang the caliper assembly with pads on a technological hook to the body so that the hose is not loaded.

Loosen the nut of bolt 1 (see photo) terminal connection and disconnect the suspension arm ball joint from the steering knuckle.



Loosen the tie rod ball joint pin nut and press the pin out of the suspension strut pivot arm.

On vehicles with mechanical steering and with power steering release before January 1984, unscrew the nuts securing the anti-roll bar to the subframe and suspension arms and remove the stabilizer bar.

On vehicles with power steering release from January 1984, unscrew the nuts securing the stabilizer bar struts to the suspension arms.

Loosen the wheel hub nut.


Move suspension arm down.

Disconnect the wheel drive shaft from the hub. On vehicles with 5-cylinder engines from March 1984, press the shaft out of the hub using a puller.

Loosen the nut securing the telescopic strut to the upper support while holding the shock absorber rod with a hex wrench. Remove the telescopic pole by supporting it from below.

Clamp the telescopic pole in a vice with soft grips.

Install the spring compressor on the telescopic strut spring.

Slightly compress the spring, then loosen the nut on the damper rod and slowly release the spring.

Remove spring from telescopic strut.

Clamp the telescopic strut in a vice with pads of soft material and unscrew the shock absorber housing nut with a special wrench VW 40 201 A.

Remove shock absorber from strut housing.

The shock absorber and suspension spring are installed in the reverse order of removal, observing the tightening torques of the threaded connections and considering the following:

• on vehicles with 5-cylinder engines manufactured after March 1984, apply a layer of special adhesive (e.g. type D6) on the splined shank of the outer hinge of the wheel drive shaft for a length of approximately 5 mm and install the wheel drive in place;
• replace the ball joint of the suspension arm and the bolt of its fastening to the steering knuckle with new ones and install the bolt with the head in the direction of vehicle movement.