Removal and Replacement
Coil Spring
Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required
• Pneumatic/hydraulic foot pump (VAS 6179)
• Spring tensioning system (VAS 6274)
• Supplementary set (VAS 6274/10)
• The (VAS 6274) must be converted using the (VAS 6274/10) before removing and installing the coil springs.
• Convert the (VAS 6274) using the (VAS 6274/10). Refer to => [ , Converting ] Spring Tensioning System VAS 6274 (VAS 6274), Converting.
• The rest of the tools from the (VAS 6274/10) are needed later in the procedure.
1. Pressure plate with pivot bearing (VAS 6274/10-1)
2. Pressure plate with lock (VAS 6274/10-2)
3. Locking device bolts
4. Spindle (VAS 6274/10-4)
5. Sleeve
Removing
- Place the vehicle on a hoist.
- Remove wheels.
- Slide the securing lever back in the - direction of the arrow - if necessary.
• This and the following illustrations show the procedure without the stone deflector.
- Insert the new (VAS 6274/10-2) with the locking device bracket from the supplementary seat from the outside.
1. (VAS 6274/10-2)
- Insert the piston - 2 - with the T-handle - 3 - in the pressure plate. Slide the locking lever on the pressure plate back toward the outside (open).
- Press the locking lever in the - direction of the arrow - to secure the piston.
- Rotate the pressure plate with lock all the way up.
- Insert the new (VAS 6274/10-1) with the locking device bracket from the supplementary seat from the inside.
1. (VAS 6274/10-1)
The locking device bracket - 2 - must be installed in the front.
- Rotate the pressure plate with pivot bearing all the way down.
• Coat the front area of the spindle lightly with the accompanying grease before removal and installation of each spring.
• Only grease the spindle with the accompanying grease. The spindle will be damaged if a different grease is used.
- Coat the front area of the new spindle (VAS 6274/10-4) lightly with the appropriate grease.
1. Tube of grease from the (VAS 6274) or (VAS 6274/10).
2. (VAS 6274/10-4)
- Install the new (VAS 6274/10-4) with the (VAS 6274/6) by hand.
1. (VAS 6274/10-4)
2. (VAS 6274/6)
- Attach the locking devices - 1 - and - 2 - on both pressure plates to each other.
- Install the new bolts - 3 - by hand.
• The coil spring may only be tensioned or released if both locking device brackets - 1 - and - 2 - are connected to each other using both bolts - 3 -.
- Lightly tension the pressure plates using the new (VAS 6274/10-4).
- Check to see if both coil springs are seated correctly in the pressure plates.
• When tensioning the coil spring, the locking device bracket must face forward in the direction of travel.
- Tension the coil spring using the (VAS 6274/6). Counterhold using the (VAS 6274/7).
1. (VAS 6274/7)
2. (VAS 6274/6)
• Do not use an impact wrench to tighten the coil spring.
• Use a commercially available ratchet to tighten.
- Tighten the coil spring - 1 - until the stone deflector - 3 - and the lower spring plate - 2 - can be removed. Tighten the coil spring - 1 - further if necessary.
• When tightening, make sure the bolts - A arrows - do not lie on the pressure plate stop - 1 -.
• The pressure plate locking device - 2 - must not lie on the stop - arrow B - on the pressure plate - 1 -.
- Remove the coil spring forward and down.
Release the coil spring in the (VAS 6274).
- Rotate the spindle - 1 - back slightly if necessary. The spindle - 1 - must not project over the end of the coil spring - 2 -.
- Insert the left coil spring on the spring plate - 1 - so the stop - 2 - aligns with the marking "L". Only applies to the left coil spring.
For the right coil spring, the stop - 2 - must align with the "R" marking.
- Position the bottom side of the end of the left coil spring in the (VAS 6274) at the "L" marking - arrow -.
Position the bottom side of the end of the right coil spring in the (VAS 6274) at the "R" marking.
- Make a marking - 1 - with a felt-tip marker.
• The marking - 1 - is needed when tightening for installation.
The locking device - 2 - faces up.
- Tighten the bolts - 1 - slightly by hand.
2 (VAS 6274/6)
- Release the coil spring using the (VAS 6274/6). Release the tension at the same time using the (VAS 6274) and (VAS 6179).
- Remove the spindle - 2 - once the coil spring is released.
- Remove the locking device bolts - 1 - and the (VAS 6274/10-1).
- Slide the locking lever - 1 - back.
- Remove the piston - 2 - with the T-handle - 3 -.
- Release the coil spring completely.
Installing
Install in reverse order of removal. Note the following:
- Insert the bottom side of the coil spring in the (VAS 6274).
- Position the end of the left coil spring in the (VAS 6274) at the "L" marking - arrow -.
Position the end of the right coil spring in the (VAS 6274) at the "R" marking.
- Insert the (VAS 6274/10-2) and install the piston - 2 - with the T-handle - 3 -.
- Secure the piston - 2 - with the securing lever - 1 -.
- Insert the (VAS 6274/10-1).
- Install the locking device bolts - 1 - loosely.
- Insert the spindle - 3 -.
- Insert the sleeve - 2 - as far as the stop.
- Tighten the locking device bolts - 1 - lightly by hand. The locking device must face upward when tightening the coil spring.
- Tighten the coil spring using the (VAS 6274/6). Tighten at the same time using the (VAS 6274) and (VAS 6179).
2 (VAS 6274/6)
• When tightening, make sure the locking mechanism bolts do not lie on the (VAS 6274/10-1) stop.
• The (VAS 6274/10-2) locking device must not lie on the (VAS 6274/10-1) stop.
- Only tighten the coil spring as far as the marking - 1 -. The locking device - 2 - must face up.
- When tightening using the spindle - 3 -, make sure the sleeve - 4 - does not slip out of the (VAS 6274/10-1).
- Release the (VAS 6274) and remove the coil spring with the tensioner.
- Tension the coil spring - 2 - slightly using spindle - 1 -.
The spindle - 1 - must only project far enough over the coil spring - 2 - that the upper spring plate can still rest completely on the coil spring.
- Position the coil spring with the lower spring plate - 3 - and stone deflector - 1 - on the wheel bearing housing - 2 -.
- Make sure the upper spring plate is installed. Install if necessary.
- Insert the lower spring plate with the pins - arrow A - in the wheel bearing housing hole - arrow B -.
- Install the coil spring - 1 - in the lower spring plate - 2 - as far as the stop.
- Then release the coil spring.
- Tighten wheel.
- Axle alignment is required, see Table. Refer to => [ Wheel Alignment ] Wheel Alignment.
• If the coil springs have been replaced, then is it necessary to adapt the control position. Refer to => [ Control Position, Programming using Vehicle Diagnostic Tester ] Testing and Inspection. On vehicles equipped with electronically controlled damping and to check the basic setting of the headlamp.
- If the sensor was removed and installed on a vehicle with electronically controlled damping or if the linkage was loosened, the control position must be reprogrammed. Refer to => [ Control Position, Programming using Vehicle Diagnostic Tester ] Testing and Inspection.
- If the sensor was replaced or removed on vehicles with lane assist, the directional stabilization assistance control module (J759) must be calibrated. Refer to => [ Lane Assist Calibration Procedure ] Lane Assist Calibration Procedure.