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How to change front upper arm on VW Passat B5 Estate (3B5) – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.6, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.8, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.8 T, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 2.3 VR5, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 2.8 V6, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.9 TDI, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.9 TDI, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 2.8 V6 Syncro/4motion, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.8 Syncro/4motion, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.9 TDI Syncro/4motion, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 2.3 VR5 Syncro/4motion, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.9 TDI, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 2.5 TDI, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 2.5 TDI Syncro/4motion, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.9 TDI 4motion, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.9 TDI, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 1.8, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 2.8 V6, VW PASSAT Variant (3B5) 2.8 V6 … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

This video shows the replacement procedure of a similar car part on another vehicle

All the parts you need to replace – Control Arm for PASSAT Variant (3B5) and other VW models

Alternative products

Suspension arm

Replacement: front upper arm – VW PASSAT Variant (3B5). 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 
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Pin punch
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: front upper arm – VW PASSAT Variant (3B5). Tip:

The replacement procedure is identical for the right and left upper control arms.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: front upper arm – VW PASSAT Variant (3B5). Take the following steps:

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 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.

Replacement: front upper arm – VW PASSAT Variant (3B5). AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
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.

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:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts. VW PASSAT Variant (3B5)
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

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 30

Unscrew the fasteners connecting the control arms to the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #16. Use a combination spanner #16.
Step 31

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 32

Remove the arm.
Step 33

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 34

Install a new arm.

Replacement: front upper arm – VW PASSAT Variant (3B5). AUTODOC experts recommend:
During the installation process, use only new bolts and nuts.Do not damage the ball joint cover.Position the control arm according to its mounting holes.
Step 35

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 36

Tighten the fastener connecting the control arms to the shock strut mount. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 50 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 37

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 38

Install the upper shock absorber mount assembled with the control arms.
Step 39

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Do not tighten it.

Replacement: front upper arm – VW PASSAT Variant (3B5). Tip from AUTODOC:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when screwing the fastening bolts in.
Step 40

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 41

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 42

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #15. Do not tighten it.
Step 43

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 44

Attach the suspension control arm to the shock strut.
Step 45

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 46

Screw in the lower fastener of the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18.
Step 47

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 48

Treat all joints of the arm. Use copper grease.
Step 49

Attach the upper control arm to the steering knuckle (2 pieces).
Step 50

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 51

Screw in the fasteners (2 pieces) of the upper control arm. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16.
Step 52

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 53

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 54

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 55

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: front upper arm – VW PASSAT Variant (3B5). Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 56

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

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 58

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 59

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 60

Treat all joints of the arm. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 61

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 62

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 63

Install the wheel.

Replacement: front upper arm – VW PASSAT Variant (3B5). Tip from AUTODOC experts:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 64

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 65

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 nm torque.
Step 66

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 67

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #15. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 nm torque.
Step 68

Install and secure the cowl grille.
Step 69

Install the cowl grille seal.

Step 70

Remove the fender protection cover.

Step 71

Close the hood.

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