Removing and Installing Upper Trailing Arm
Removing and installing upper trailing arm
Preliminary work
1. Remove cowl panel cover.
2. Remove transverse control arm cover.
3. Raise the vehicle.
4. Remove the wheel.
Tools
- Ball joint puller T40010 - For pressing out the ball joint on the wheel carrier at the top.
-A- - Ball joint puller T10187 - For pressing out the ball joint on the tie-rod ball on the wheel carrier.
-B- - Spring tensioner VW 552 - For slightly tensioning the trailing arm.
Removing upper trailing arm
Caution
Wheel carrier raised incorrectly
* Risk of squashing
* Risk of damage to components
-> Wear personal protective gear.
-> Do not raise the wheel suspension higher than the normal vehicle position (vehicle resting on wheels).
1. Secure upper trailing arm using the spring tensioner VW 552. This involves tensioning the trailing arm slightly because otherwise the top ball joint can become damaged.
1.1. Spring tensioner VW 552 -arrow- must be secured at the top.
Securing spring tensioner on front axle, top
1.2. Spring tensioner VW 552 -arrow- must be secured at the bottom.
Securing spring tensioner on front axle, bottom
2. Release connector on range adjustment/leveling system sensor -a- and pull it off -arrow-.
2.1. Remove sensor linkage at the bottom.
Sensor
3. Release and disconnect plug connection for rpm sensor at the wheel carrier on both sides -direction arrow-.
Connector for rpm sensor
4. Disconnect plug connection for brake pad wear indicator at the wheel bearing housing.
5. Loosen the brake caliper (do not unscrew screws fully!).
6. Remove air guide on the lower trailing arm.
7. Loosen the fastening nuts on the upper control arms (do not remove fully!).
7.1. Loosen fastening nuts -1-.
Fastening nuts on upper control arms, for example
7.2. Press off the ball joint using the ball joint puller T40010. When doing this, leave the fastening nut flush on the ball pin so as not to damage the thread.
Pressing off trailing arm for upper control arm
8. Press ball joint -1- off the cone.
Pressing tie-rod ball off cone
8.1. Ball joint puller T10187 (shown in Figure -2-) must be positioned over the ball joint -1- and fitted on the fastening nut -3-.
8.2. Screw in hexagon on the ball joint puller T10187 until the ball joint -1- is released from the cone.
9. On all-wheel-drive vehicles, remove inner end of drive shaft. Use a protective tube (shop-made) for the drive shafts.
10. Then, remove the fastening screw for the lower spring strut -arrow-. To do this, use a suitable lift -lift with rubber base- (to prevent slipping) to lift the wheel carrier so that the screw can be unscrewed easily (Secure the spring tensioner VW 552 to prevent it from falling down!).
Lifting wheel carrier (air suspension)
Fastening screws on brake caliper
11. Remove brake caliper, but do not remove the brake line (Do not open the brake system!).
11.1. Get another worker to remove the fastening nut from the upper control arm and tilt the wheel bearing housing out slightly. Guide the brake caliper through between the spring strut and wheel bearing housing and hang it at a suitable position in the wheel housing.
12. Remove air guide on the lower trailing arm.
13. Remove the spring strut.
Information
If the upper trailing arm is to be used again, mark its position with respect to the body -arrows- using a felt-tip pen for example (assembly aid).
* The manufacturing seams on the trailing arm can be used as a marking here (useful when replacing the training arm).
* The other marking is applied to the body.
Installing upper trailing arm on front axle
* The screw points can no longer be changed once the work is complete. The screws are not accessible.
* See also Information.
14. Unscrew fastening screws and remove the trailing arm. The rear fastening nut can be accessed from the plenum panel!
15. If you do not intend to use the trailing arm again, the mount for the range adjustment/leveling system sensor must be fitted on the new trailing arm.
Installing upper trailing arm
Caution
Wheel carrier raised incorrectly
* Risk of squashing
* Risk of damage to components
-> Wear personal protective gear.
-> Do not raise the wheel suspension higher than the normal vehicle position (vehicle resting on wheels).
Information
Dimension X - center of wheel to lower edge of wing (rear axle shown)
* All the threaded joints on the axle must be tightened in vehicle position. Vehicle position means: vehicle standing on its wheels, or the wheel suspension is raised using a universal vehicle lift. Dimension -X-, from lower edge of wing to middle of axle corresponds to vehicle position. Always observe the following points!
Steel springs
* The vehicle position is reached at the front axle by placing the vehicle onto the wheels in a suitable work area (wheel alignment platform, workshop pit).
Air suspension
* Vehicle position can be obtained on the front axle of vehicles with air suspension by using the Porsche System Tester to bleed the relevant air spring and carefully raise the relevant wheel bearing housing.
Raising wheel carrier (air suspension)
* Use an intermediate layer (hard rubber)! Do not damage the brake cover plate.
* Screws and nuts are Geomet-coated and must not be greased.
* Grease the toothing of the drive shaft slightly with aluminum paste Optimoly TA.
* Drive shafts must not be left hanging from the joint stop! Tie up.
* Use new screws and lock nuts.
* Use correct tightening torques and torque angles.
1. Installation is carried out in reverse order. Fit according to the previously applied markings -arrows-.
Installing upper trailing arm on front axle
Subsequent work
1. Fit the wheel.
2. Fit cowl panel cover.
3. Fit transverse control arm cover.
4. Perform suspension alignment.