General information about the rear axle

Rear axle in VW Passat (except vehicles with all-wheel drive) has wheel suspension on trailing arms connected to a beam mounted on the body, with adjustable installation of rubber-metal bearings. The bridge beam has a V-shaped profile. Depending on the engine power and gearbox design, a stabilizer is additionally welded on. Trailing arms are welded to the V-profile of the rear axle on each side. The V-profile also acts as a stabilizer and reduces the vehicle's lean when cornering. The rear axle beam is bolted to the body through divided rubber-metal supports. The special shape of the supports, as well as the arrangement of their two halves relative to each other, have a positive effect on the dynamic properties of the vehicle. When turning, the installation of rubber-metal supports is corrected and undesirable steering of the bridge is eliminated. The suspension of the rear axle is made with the help of two shock absorber struts, which are screwed to the axle beam and at the top to the body.

The rear axle in the VW Passat with all-wheel drive has diagonal levers of independent suspensions, the rear wheels are driven through cardan shafts from the rear axle differential. This model is discussed here only in the subsection «Removing the shock absorber strut».

Attention: Welding and straightening work on the bridge beam is not allowed. All-wheel drive vehicles are not covered in this chapter.