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How to change front suspension strut on Audi A4 B5 saloon – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.8, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.8 T, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.6, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.8, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.9 TDI, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.8 quattro, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.8 T quattro, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.6 quattro, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.8 quattro, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.9 TDI, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.8, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.8 quattro, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.9 TDI quattro, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.4, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.4 quattro, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.5 TDI, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.5 TDI quattro, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.9 TDI, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.8 T quattro, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.8 T, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.9 TDI quattro, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.9 TDI, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.8, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 1.6, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.4, AUDI A4 Saloon (8D2, B5) 2.4 quattro … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on AUDI A4 B5 Saloon [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 saloon. Tools you might need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Combination spanner #16
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Drive socket # 13
                    
                      Drive socket # 16
                    
                      Drive socket # 18
                    
                      HEX bit No.H6
                    
                      HEX bit No.H14
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 saloon. Tip from AUTODOC:

Both shock struts of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
Please note: all work on the car – Audi A4 B5 saloon – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

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 fasteners of the suspension strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 7

Secure the wheels with chocks.

Step 8

Loosen the fastener of the driveshaft. Use HEX No.H14. Use a tap wrench.
Step 9

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 10

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 11

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Audi A4 B5 saloon
Step 12

Remove the wheel.
Step 13

Clean all joints of the arm. Clean the fastener connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Unscrew the upper arm fastenings. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 16

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the stabilizer bar. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 17

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 18

Remove the stabiliser link.

Step 19

Clean the lower fastener connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 20

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 21

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 22

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

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 saloon. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 23

Unscrew the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a tap wrench.
Step 24

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 25

Detach the control arm. Use a crowbar.
Step 26

Remove the fastening bolt. Use HEX No.H14.
Step 27

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.

Step 28

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 29

Remove the control arms. Use a crowbar. Use a hammer.
Step 30

Detach the driveshaft from the steering knuckle.

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 saloon. AUTODOC recommends:
Make sure that the drive shaft is not unloaded (when the car is jacked).
Step 31

Unscrew the upper fasteners of the shock strut.

AUTODOC recommends:
Audi A4 B5 saloon – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts.
Step 32

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 33

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 saloon. Professionals recommend:
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 34

Clean the upper fastener of the suspension strut mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 35

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 36

Remove the upper strut mount together with the suspension arms.
Step 37

Compress the spring.
Step 38

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 39

Unscrew the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #18. Use HEX No.H6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 40

Remove the shock absorber mount, boot and bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 saloon. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 41

Release the coil spring.
Step 42

Remove the spring.
Step 43

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 saloon. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 44

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 45

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 46

Compress the spring.

Step 47

Install the mount, boot and bump stop onto a new shock absorber.
Step 48

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: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 saloon. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 49

Decompress the spring.
Step 50

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 51

Install the upper strut mount together with the suspension arms.
Step 52

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 20 nm torque.
Step 53

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.

Step 54

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 55

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 56

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 57

Secure the upper fasteners of the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Audi A4 B5 saloon – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 58

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 59

Clean the splines of the drive shaft CV joint. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 60

Install the drive shaft.
Step 61

Install the control arms. Use a crowbar.
Step 62

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 63

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 saloon. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 64

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 65

Attach the control arm.
Step 66

Install the fastening bolt.

Step 67

Screw the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 68

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 69

Screw in the lower fastener of the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 70

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 71

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 72

Tighten the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 80 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 73

Tighten the upper arm fastenings. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 40 Nm torque.
Step 74

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 75

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 76

Tighten the stabiliser link fastener. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 77

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 78

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Audi A4 B5 saloon – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 79

Install and tighten the drive shaft bolt. Use HEX No.H14.
Step 80

Treat the steering knuckle fasteners. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Treat all joints of the stabiliser link. Treat all joints of the arm. Use copper grease.
Step 81

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush.
Step 82

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 83

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 saloon. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 84

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. Audi A4 B5 saloon
Step 85

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 86

Lower the car.
Step 87

Tighten the bolt connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use HEX No.H14. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 115 Nm torque.+180°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 88

Tighten the wheel bolts using a criss-cross pattern. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 Nm torque.
Step 89

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 90

Tighten the upper fasteners of the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 75 Nm torque.
Step 91

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.

Step 92

Install and secure the cowl grille.
Step 93

Install the cowl grille seal.
Step 94

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 95

Close the hood.

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