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How to change front suspension strut on Audi A6 C5 Avant – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.4 quattro, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 1.9 TDI, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 1.8, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.8 quattro, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 1.8 T, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.8, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 1.8 T quattro, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.5 TDI, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.5 TDI quattro, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.7 T, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.4, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 1.8 T quattro, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 1.8 T, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.5 TDI, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 1.9 TDI, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 1.8, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.8, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.8, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.4, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.0, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.4, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.5 TDI, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.7 T quattro, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 3.0, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 1.9 TDI, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.4, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.4 quattro, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 2.5 TDI, AUDI A6 Avant (4B5, C5) 3.0 … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on AUDI A6 C5 Avant [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A6 C5 Avant. 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
                    
                      Drive socket # 19
                    
                      Drive socket # 27
                    
                      HEX bit No.H6
                    
                      HEX bit No.H8
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Flat chisel
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A6 C5 Avant. AUTODOC experts recommend:

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 A6 C5 Avant – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Open the hood.
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 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. Audi A6 C5 Avant
Step 11

Remove the wheel.
Step 12

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 13

Unscrew the upper arm fastenings. Use a drive socket #16. Use HEX No.H8. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 14

Loosen the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a drive socket #27. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 16

Clean the lower fastener connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 17

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 18

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 19

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 20

Remove the stabiliser link.
Step 21

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

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A6 C5 Avant. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 22

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 23

Remove the fastening bolt. Use a crowbar.
Step 24

Detach the control arm.
Step 25

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 26

Remove the fastening bolt. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.
Step 27

Remove the control arms. Use a flat metal-working chisel. Use a hammer.
Step 28

Detach the driveshaft from the steering knuckle.
Step 29

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

Step 30

Unscrew the upper fasteners of the shock strut.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Audi A6 C5 Avant
Step 31

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 32

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

AUTODOC recommends:
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 33

Clean the upper fastener of the suspension strut mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 34

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 35

Remove the upper strut mount together with the suspension arms.
Step 36

Compress the spring.

Step 37

Make marks on the upper strut mount and 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 top strut mount. Use a crowbar.
Step 41

Remove the spring.
Step 42

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A6 C5 Avant. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 43

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 44

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A6 C5 Avant. 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 45

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 46

Compress the spring.
Step 47

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 48

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 49

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #19. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A6 C5 Avant. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 50

Decompress the spring.
Step 51

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 52

Install the upper strut mount together with the suspension arms.

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A6 C5 Avant. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Adjust the position of the upper strut mount and the spring according to the marks.
Step 53

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 54

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 55

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 56

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 57

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 58

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

AUTODOC recommends:
Audi A6 C5 Avant – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 59

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

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 61

Install the drive shaft.
Step 62

Clean the control arm fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 63

Install the control arms.
Step 64

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 65

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Audi A6 C5 Avant – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 66

Attach the bottom part of the shock strut.
Step 67

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 68

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 69

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 70

Attach the control arm.
Step 71

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 72

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A6 C5 Avant. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 73

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 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

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 78

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 61 Nm torque.
Step 79

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.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 80

Tighten the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 70 Nm torque.+180°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 81

Tighten the upper arm fastenings. Use a drive socket #16. Use HEX No.H8. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 40 Nm torque.
Step 82

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Audi A6 C5 Avant – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 83

Install and tighten the drive shaft bolt. Use a drive socket #27.
Step 84

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 85

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 86

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A6 C5 Avant. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 87

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. Audi A6 C5 Avant
Step 88

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 89

Lower the car.
Step 90

Tighten the bolt connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use a drive socket #27. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 115 Nm torque.+180°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 91

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 92

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 93

Tighten the upper fasteners of the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 75 Nm torque.
Step 94

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 95

Install and secure the cowl grille.
Step 96

Install the cowl grille seal.
Step 97

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 98

Close the hood.

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