Illustration of the individual parts of the rear suspension strut in the assembly sequence in an Audi with front-wheel drive
- 1 - cap;
- 2 - cord ring;
- 3 - lock nut;
- 4 - disc washer;
- 5 - support ring;
- 6 - foam pad;
- 7 - upper spring plate;
- 8 - upper pad of the spring;
- 9 - spacer tube;
- 10 - support ring;
- 11 - washer;
- 12 - ring;
- 13 - rubber shock absorber;
- 14 - harmonic receiving ring (15);
- 16 - protective cap;
- 17 - spring;
- 18 - lining;
- 19 - lower lining of the spring;
- 20 - gas-filled shock absorber.
Mounting position of upper spring plate and cap in front-wheel drive Audi (rear suspension)
- A - shock absorber lug axle (at the bottom);
- B - the position of the threaded studs;
- C - cap axis;
- α - the value of the angle 45°.
The individual parts of the rear suspension strut in the Audi A4 quattro are shown here in the assembly sequence
- 1 - suspension strut support;
- 2 - self-locking nut;
- 3 - damping ring;
- 4 - spring;
- 5 - bolt;
- 6 - shock absorber body.
- 21°- the value of the angular displacement of the upper mount in relation to the lower mount of the shock absorber.
The hub cap can be pressed out by inserting a blunt chisel between the bulge of the hub cap and the hub.
pressure washer (1) under the adjusting nut (2) must be moved with a screwdriver if the wheel bearing clearance is correctly set. In this case, you can not rely on the blade of a screwdriver on the brake disc.
Rear suspension Audi A4 quattro
The arrow points to the lower screw connection of the suspension strut on the tie rod.
Here, the numbers indicate the mounting bolts of the suspension strut / wheel arch (1, 2, 4, 5), as well as the upper shock absorber mount (3).
Before replacing shock absorbers, it is necessary to establish which running gear is installed. Only then can you order the right shock absorbers. This can be found on the vehicle information sticker on the bottom of the trunk or in the spare wheel well.
Legend:
- VA - serial model
- BE - sports running gear
The shock absorber is separated from the dismantled suspension strut using a spring tensioner. Such tensioners are sold at a hardware store. It is important to know that the shock absorber mounting eye must be at a certain angle to the upper suspension strut mount. The Audi workshop uses a spring tensioner with an angle scale to set it correctly. Without this device, you need to use flair and goniometer.
Removing the rear shock absorbers
Front wheel drive vehicles
Along with the new shock absorbers, a new self-locking nut is also used for the upper shock absorber mounting:
1. Remove the spring strut and clamp it in a vice on the lower mounting lug. Do not pinch it in the area of the outer diameter, otherwise it will push through.
2. Install the tensioner on the coils of the spring and lightly compress the spring.
3. To prevent the tensioner from slipping, cover the corresponding coils of the spring with adhesive tape.
4. Squeeze out the protective cap, loosen the self-locking nut on the stabilizer connecting rod at the top, while pressing the rod in the opposite direction with an Allen key.
5. After unscrewing the nut, remove the shock strut upper support parts and fold them in the dismantling sequence.
6. Remove the spring and accessories from the shock absorber.
7. When assembling, pay attention to the fact that: the base of the spring and the lining are lubricated with talc and straighten in the direction of the shock absorber eye during assembly.
8. Install the still compressed spring.
9. The color mark on the spring is facing down towards the spring plate.
10. With proper installation, the lower end of the spring is adjacent to the lining stop.
11. Assemble the parts in the order shown in the figure above.
12. At the top, the end of the spring is also in contact with the top notch for the spring lug.
13. Straighten the shock absorber and the spring plate at the top as shown in the figure above.
14. Tighten the fixing nut at the top by 25 Nm.
15. If necessary, move the spring pad at the bottom and the pad on the stop to the end of the spring.
16. Slowly loosen the spring.
17. Put the cap on top, while straightening its location in accordance with the figure.
18. For mounting the shock absorber, see the previous section.
Removing the rear shock absorbers
Quattro cars
Along with the new shock absorbers, they also use a new self-locking nut and a new bolt for the upper shock absorber mounting:
1. Remove the spring strut and clamp it in a vice on the lower mounting lug. Do not pinch it in the area of the outer diameter, otherwise it will push through.
2. Install the tensioner on the coils of the spring and lightly compress the spring.
3. To prevent the tensioner from slipping, cover the corresponding coils of the spring with adhesive tape.
4. Loosen the self-locking nut of the upper shock mount, remove the bolt.
5. Remove shock absorber, spring and damping ring.
6. Install still compressed spring.
7. The color mark on the spring is facing down towards the spring plate.
8. The lower end of the spring rests on the notch of the spring lug at the bottom of the shock absorber.
9. At the top, the end of the spring is also adjacent to the recess of the damping ring.
10. Reassemble the suspension strut (the spring is still under tension).
11. First, loosely screw the shock absorber top mount to the top of the shock strut by hand (the so-called adapter).
12. Straighten the shock absorber and the upper part of the shock absorber so that the imaginary axes of both mounting holes of the shock absorbers are at an angle of 21°to each other (tolerance only 2°). At the same time, the lower opening in the front is turned towards the outside of the car (see picture on the right above).
13. In this position, unload the spring.
14. Now tighten the shock absorber mounting bolt nut to 70 Nm. Then tighten it 1/2 turn.
15. See section above for shock strut installation.
Rear wheel bearing replacement
Front wheel drive vehicles
1. One new cotter pin, one inner and one outer bearing, and an O-ring are used on each side.
2. Raise and secure the vehicle.
3. Remove the brake discs (chapter brakes), to do this, dismantle the caliper.
4. Remove the wheel bearing grease cap.
5. Straighten the safety pin and remove it.
6. Remove the castle nut stopper and unscrew the hex nut.
7. Remove thrust washer and outer wheel bearing.
8. Squeeze out the O-ring in the middle of the wheel hub, remove the bearing and wipe off the old grease in the hub.
9. Remove the rotating rings of both bearings from the middle of the wheel hub. To do this, attach a brass rod from the inside to the rotating ring from the inside and knock it out with soft hammer blows. Make sure the ring is not bent.
10. Install a new bearing ring on the wheel hub. Place the old bearing ring on top for protection (thick side down) so that when carefully driven in, damage does not appear on the working surface of the new bearing.
11. Drive in all the bearing rings until they stop.
12. Now take out again all the old bearing rings supplied for protection.
13. Fill with grease the intermediate space between both bearing rings, as well as the rings and the bearings themselves.
14. Insert the inner bearing.
15. Evenly tap the O-ring on the inside with a rubber mallet.
16. Slide the wheel hub onto the end of the axle.
17. Fit the outer wheel bearing and thrust washer.
18. Thread the hex nut onto the end of the axle by hand; at the same time, constantly turn the wheel so that the bearing does not bend.
19. Adjust wheel bearing (see next section).
20. Install the brake disc and caliper (chapter brakes). Then press the brake pedal several times.
Rear wheel bearing adjustment
Front wheel drive vehicles
1. Raise the rear of the vehicle and secure it.
2. The wheel in cars with steel rims can not be dismantled. If the rims are made of light metals, then the wheel must be removed to improve access.
3. Remove the hub cap, cotter pin and crown lock as described above.
4. Screw in the hex nut lightly while rotating the wheel so as not to pinch the bearing.
5. Loosen the nut again a little.
6. The clearance is set correctly if the pressure washer behind the nut can be moved slightly with a screwdriver with strong finger pressure. Be careful not to damage the edge of the wheel hub with the screwdriver.
7. If the locking pin cannot now be pushed through the crown lock, turn the nut slightly in the direction of screwing.
8. Slide on the hub cap with a rubber mallet, if necessary, place a rolled-up rag between them.
Wheel bearing for quattro models
The all-wheel drive model has press-fitted double ball bearings also on the rear axle. They do not need to be adjusted, but due to the lack of necessary press dies, they cannot be replaced on their own.
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