Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 1.6, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 1.8, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 2.6, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 2.8, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 1.9 TDI, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 1.9 TDI, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 2.8, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 2.4, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 2.5 TDI, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 1.8 T, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 1.9 TDI, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 1.8, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 2.4, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 1.9 Hybrid, AUDI A4 Avant (8D5, B5) 2.4 … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change rear shock absorbers on AUDI A4 B5 TUTORIAL | AUTODOC

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 Avant. Tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner
                    
                      Copper grease
                    
                      Combination spanner #19
                    
                      Drive socket # 10
                    
                      Drive socket # 17
                    
                      Drive socket # 18
                    
                      Drive socket # 19
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Pin punch
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 Avant. AUTODOC recommends:

Both shock struts of the rear suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the rear suspension.
Warning! Shut down the engine before starting any work – Audi A4 B5 Avant.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 2

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 3

Raise the rear of the car and secure on supports.
Step 4

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Audi A4 B5 Avant
Step 5

Remove the wheel.
Step 6

Clean the shock strut fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 7

Unscrew the lower fastener of the shock absorber strut. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 8

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 9

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 10

Unscrew the fastener connecting the control arm to the rear knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 11

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

Step 12

Unscrew the ABS cable holder. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 13

Remove the ABS wiring harness bracket.

Step 14

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

Step 15

Unscrew the upper arm fastenings. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 16

Remove the fastening bolt.

Step 17

Detach the suspension arm from the rear knuckle.

Step 18

Unscrew the upper fasteners of the shock strut. Use a drive socket #17. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 19

Detach the lower control arm. Use a crowbar.

Step 20

Pull down the suspension control arm.

Step 21

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 22

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 Avant. AUTODOC experts 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 23

Compress the spring.
Step 24

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

Step 25

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 26

Remove the fastening bolt.

Step 27

Remove the upper shock absorber mount assembled with the control arms.
Step 28

Release the coil spring.

Step 29

Remove the spring.
Step 30

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

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 Avant. Tip from AUTODOC:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 31

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

Step 32

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 33

Install the upper shock absorber mount assembled with the control arms.
Step 34

Compress the spring.
Step 35

Install the fastening bolt. Use a crowbar. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.

Step 36

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 70 Nm torque.+90°

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 Avant. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 37

Decompress the spring.

Step 38

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 39

Pull down the suspension control arm.

Step 40

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 41.1

Tighten the upper fasteners of the shock strut.

Step 41.2

Use a crowbar. Use a drive socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 Nm torque.
Step 42

Attach the suspension arm to the rear knuckle.

Step 43

Install the fastening bolt. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.

Step 44

Attach the lower control arm. Use a crowbar.

Step 45

Install the fastening bolt. Use a combination spanner #19.
Step 46

Install the fastening bolt. Use a crowbar. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.

Step 47

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 48

Tighten the lower fastener of the shock absorber. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 80 Nm torque.
Step 49

Tighten the fasteners connecting the control arm to the rear knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 80 Nm torque.
Step 50

Tighten the upper arm fastenings. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 85 Nm torque.
Step 51

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Audi A4 B5 Avant – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 52

Install the ABS wiring harness bracket.

Step 53

Tighten the ABS cable holder. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 54

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

Step 55

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 56

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 Avant. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 57

Install the wheel.

Replacement: suspension strut – Audi A4 B5 Avant. Tip:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 58

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 59

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 nm torque.
Step 60

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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