31 11 506 Lowering/Raising Front Axle Carrier (Special Tool SWZ00-2040)

Special tools required:

00 2 030 UNIVERSAL HYDRO-LIFTER BASIC UNIT
00 2 040 BASIC TAKE-UP FIXTURE

For the following special tools, refer to FRONT AXLE - SPECIAL TOOLS -- 135I

31 4 051
31 4 100
31 4 170

IMPORTANT: Before lowering front axle carrier:
In order to avoid damage to lifting platform, perform weight compensation on vehicle.
Load spring strut domes with sand bags.

WARNING: Danger to life!
See 11 00 670 SECURING ENGINE IN INSTALLATION POSITION (N52) .

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Secure engine in installation position with special tool . See 11 00 670 SECURING ENGINE IN INSTALLATION POSITION (N52) (N52 engine is shown; N54 is similiar).
Remove front wheels . See 36 10 300 REMOVING OR INSTALLING FRONT OR REAR WHEEL .

IMPORTANT: Use special tool to avoid preliminary damage to ball joint in upper control arm and the necessary removal of the swivel bearing.

Press plug on left and right out of spring strut dome.

Secure swivel bearing (1) on left and right with special tool 31 4 170 in installation position. See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Securing Swivel Bearing On Left And Right With Special Tool (31 4 170)

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Remove underbody protection at front and rear.

Remove steering gear cover at top left and right.

Remove reinforcement plate.

Partially detach front left and right wheel arch covers (rear section) in rear area.

Remove lower control arm from spring strut holder.

Version with active steering:

Disconnect plug connection (1) and unclip line (2) from front axle carrier.

Fig 2: Identifying Plug Connection And Front Axle Carrier Line

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Release nuts and remove screws (1) towards bottom.

Tie up power steering gear (2).

Installation:

Replace screws and nuts.

Tightening torque. Refer to 32 00 1AZ in 32 00 STEERING .

Fig 3: Identifying Steering Gear And Screw

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If necessary, position special tool 00 2 040 with a 2nd person helping on workshop jack 00 2 030. See Fig 4.

Insert special tools 31 4 051 and 31 4 100 into corresponding mountings of special tool 00 2 040. See Fig 4.

Lower special tool 33 3 274. See Fig 4.

Fig 4: Identifying Special Tools (00 2 040), (00 2 030), (31 4 100) And (33 3 274)

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NOTE: The jacking points on the left side are shown.

Align special tools 31 4 051 and 31 4 100 to front axle carrier. See Fig 5.

Support front axle carrier by operating workshop jack 00 2 030. See Fig 5.

Fig 5: Identifying Special Tools (31 4 100) And (00 2 030)

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Release screws (1, 2).

Installation:

Check threads for damage; if necessary, repair with Heli-coil thread inserts . See 31 00... NOTES ON REPAIRING THREADS .

Tighten down first screws (1) and then screws (2).

Tightening torque. See 31 10 FRONT AXLE SUSPENSION ..

Fig 6: Identifying Screws

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IMPORTANT: Risk of damage!
Follow operations must be carried out during lowering:

Remove heat exchanger from front axle carrier and tie up
Remove stabilizer (conventional) from front axle carrier and tie back. See 31 35 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING FRONT STABILIZER .
Remove all hydraulic lines on front axle carrier or stabilizer retaining bracket and tie up
Version with active front steering: Disconnect plug connection and expose connecting line up to power steering gear

Lower front axle carrier by max. 10 cm.

After installation:

Perform chassis alignment check . See 32 00 150 KDS CHASSIS/WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK WITH LOAD UP TO DESIGN POSITION or 32 00 155 KDS CHASSIS/WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK WITH RIDE-HEIGHT MEASUREMENT WITHOUT LOAD .
Carry out steering angle sensor adjustment/adjustment for active front steering . See 32 10 005 ADJUSTMENT FOR ACTIVE FRONT STEERING or 61 31 996 CARRYING OUT STEERING ANGLE SENSOR ADJUSTMENT .

Special tools required:

00 2 030 UNIVERSAL HYDRO-LIFTER BASIC UNIT
00 2 040 BASIC TAKE-UP FIXTURE

For the following special tools, refer to FRONT AXLE - SPECIAL TOOLS

31 4 051
31 4 100
31 4 170

IMPORTANT: Before lowering front axle carrier:
In order to avoid damage to lifting platform, perform weight compensation on vehicle.
Load spring strut domes with sand bags.

WARNING: Danger to life! See 11 00 670 SECURING ENGINE IN INSTALLATION POSITION (N52) .

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Secure engine in installation position with special tool . See 11 00 670 SECURING ENGINE IN INSTALLATION POSITION (N52) . (N52 engine is shown; N54 is similiar).
Remove front assembly underside protection . See 51 47 490 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING FRONT UNDERBODY PROTECTION .
If necessary, remove radiator seal
If necessary, remove steering gear cover on left and right
E88: Remove V-strut on left and right . See 51 61 011 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING V-STRUT, FRONT AXLE CARRIER, LEFT OR RIGHT .
E88: Remove diagonal struts from front axle carrier
Remove lower section of steering spindle from steering gear . See 32 31 070 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING LOWER SECTION OF STEERING SPINDLE .
If necessary, disconnect plug connection from ride-height sensor
If necessary, disconnect vacuum line from electric changeover valve to engine mounts at T-piece

Version with Electric Power Steering (EPS):

Cut open cable tie (1) for connecting line on front axle carrier.

Fig 1: Identifying Cable Tie For Connecting Line On Front Axle Carrier

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WARNING: Risk of injury!
Failure to comply with the following instructions may result in the vehicle slipping off the lifting platform and critically injuring other persons.
When supporting components, make sure that

the vehicle can no longer be raised or lowered
the vehicle does not lift off the locating plates on the lifting platform

If necessary, position special tool 00 2 040 with a 2nd person helping on workshop jack. See Fig 2.

Insert special tools 31 4 051 and 31 4 060 into corresponding mountings of special tool 00 2 040.

Align special tool 00 2 040 to front axle carrier.

NOTE: Make sure when raising that the special tools 31 4 060 are correctly inserted in the rear recesses on the front axle carrier.

If necessary, lower special tool 33 3 274.

Support front axle carrier by raising special tool 00 2 040. See Fig 2.

Fig 2: Supporting Front Axle Carrier By Raising Special Tool (00 2 040)

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IMPORTANT: Pay attention to power steering hoses and lines when lowering and raising. Hoses/lines must not be kinked/tensioned/bent!

Release bolts (1-3).

Lower front axle carrier max. 10 cm; if necessary, disconnect cooler return line/coolant pipe from front axle carrier.

Installation:

Check threads for damage; if necessary, repair with Heli-coil thread inserts . See 41 00... NOTES ON REPAIRING THREADS .

Make sure screws are installed in correct positions.

Screw (1) M12x90
Screw (2) M12x145
Screw (3) M12x53

Tighten down first screws (1) and then screws (2, 3).

Tightening torque. Refer to 31 10 1AZ in 31 10 FRONT AXLE SUSPENSION .

Fig 3: Identifying Cooler Return Line/Coolant Pipe Screws

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After installation:

Carry out steering angle sensor adjustment/adjustment for active front steering . See 32 10 005 ADJUSTMENT FOR ACTIVE FRONT STEERING or 61 31 996 CARRYING OUT STEERING ANGLE SENSOR ADJUSTMENT .