Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
VW PASSAT Variant (3B6) 1.9 TDI, VW PASSAT Variant (3B6) 1.6, VW PASSAT Variant (3B6) 2.3 VR5, VW PASSAT Variant (3B6) 2.8 4motion, VW PASSAT Variant (3B6) 2.3 VR5 4motion, VW PASSAT Variant (3B6) 2.0 TDI, VW PASSAT Variant (3B6) 2.8, VW PASSAT Variant (3B6) 2.8 … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change front springs / front coil springs on VW PASSAT 5 (B5) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Springs for PASSAT Variant (3B6) and other VW models

Alternative products

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SA030MT Magnum Technology Coil spring

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RH1019 KYB Coil spring

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SKCS-0040223 STARK Coil spring

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Replacement: coil springs – VW Passat B5 Variant. Tools you need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #16
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 15 
                    
                      Drive socket # 16 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      HEX bit no.H6.
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Pin punch
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: coil springs – VW Passat B5 Variant. AUTODOC recommends:

Both coil springs of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right coil springs of the front suspension.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: coil springs – VW Passat B5 Variant. Recommended sequence of steps:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 3

Remove the cowl grille seal.
Step 4

Raise up and remove the cowl grille.
Step 5

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 6

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 7

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 8

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 9

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 10

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. VW Passat B5 Variant
Step 11

Remove the wheel.
Step 12

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 13

Unscrew the upper control arm fasteners (2 pieces). Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16.
Step 14

Remove the fastening bolt. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.
Step 15

Detach the upper control arm from the steering knuckle (2 pieces). Use a crowbar.
Step 16

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 17

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the stabilizer bar. Use a combination spanner #16 (2 pieces).
Step 18

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer bar with the control arm. Use a combination spanner #16 (2 pieces).
Step 19

Remove the stabilizer rod.

Replacement: coil springs – VW Passat B5 Variant. Tip:
Examine stabiliser bushes. Replace them if needed.
Step 20

Clean the shock strut fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 21

Unscrew the lower fastener of the shock absorber strut. Use a drive socket #18. Use a combination spanner #18.
Step 22

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 23

Detach the bottom part of the shock strut. Use a crowbar.
Step 24

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

AUTODOC recommends:
VW Passat B5 Variant – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 25

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 26

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 27

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13.
Step 28

Remove the upper shock absorber mount assembled with the control arms.
Step 29

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: coil springs – VW Passat B5 Variant. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 30

Compress the spring.
Step 31

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 32

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use HEX No.H6. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 33

Remove the top strut mount. Use a crowbar.
Step 34

Release the coil spring.
Step 35

Remove the spring.
Step 36

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – VW Passat B5 Variant. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 37

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 38

Compress the spring.
Step 39

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 40

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 41

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use HEX No.H6. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 50 nm torque.

Replacement: coil springs – VW Passat B5 Variant. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 42

Decompress the spring. Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 43

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 44

Install the upper shock absorber mount assembled with the control arms.
Step 45

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 22 nm torque.
Step 46

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 47

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #15. Use a ratchet wrench. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
VW Passat B5 Variant – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 48

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 49

Attach the suspension control arm to the shock strut.
Step 50

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 51

Screw in the lower fastener of the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18.
Step 52

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 53

Treat all joints of the arm. Use copper grease.
Step 54

Attach the upper control arm to the steering knuckle (2 pieces).
Step 55

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 56

Screw in the fasteners (2 pieces) of the upper control arm. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16.
Step 57

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 58

Tighten the lower fastening of the shock absorber. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 90 Nm torque.
Step 59

Tighten the upper control arm fasteners (2 pieces). Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 40 Nm torque.
Step 60

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – VW Passat B5 Variant. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 61

Clean the mounting seats of the stabiliser link. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 62

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 63

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer bar with the control arm. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 40 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 64

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the stabilizer bar. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 40 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 65

Treat all joints of the arm. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 66

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 67

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – VW Passat B5 Variant. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 68

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. VW Passat B5 Variant
Step 69

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 70

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 nm torque.
Step 71

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 72

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 nm torque.
Step 73

Install and secure the cowl grille.
Step 74

Install the cowl grille seal.
Step 75

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 76

Close the hood.

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