33 52 131 Replacing Rear Left Or Right Spring Strut Shock Absorber

Special tools required: 

• 31 3 341 
• 31 3 357 

Necessary preliminary tasks: 

• Remove rear spring strut shock absorber  . See 33 52 100 REMOVING AND INSTALLING REAR LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING STRUT SHOCK ABSORBER .

Removing: 

Clamp special tool 31 3 341  in vice.

Fit special tools 31 3 357  from above on special tool 31 3 341  until locking pins (1) can be felt and heard to snap into place.

Check seating of special tools 31 3 357  , correct if necessary.

Fig 1: Identifying Special Tool (31 3 357) And (31 3 341)

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Clean coil spring to remove all coarse dirt and mount on special tools 31 3 357. 

Fig 2: Identifying Special Tool (31 3 357)

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Mark installation position of support bearing to spring strut shock absorber using a stud (arrow).

Compress coil spring until stress on piston rod is relieved.

Fig 3: Identifying Mark Position Of Support Bearing To Spring Strut Shock Absorber

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Release nut (gripping piston rod in the process).

Remove plate and support bearing with upper spring pad.

Remove spring strut shock absorber with support pot, rear auxiliary damper, protective tube and lower spring pad sideways from tensioned coil spring.

Fig 4: Removing Plate And Support Bearing With Upper Spring Pad

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Remove support pot, rear auxiliary damper (1) with protective tube and lower spring pad (2).

Assembly: 

Check lower spring pad (2), if necessary replace and position on spring plate.

Check rear auxiliary damper (1) with protective tube for damage, replace if necessary and attach to piston rod.

Attach support pot to piston rod.

Fig 5: Identifying Rear Auxiliary Damper With Protective Tube And Lower Spring Pad

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Replacement only: Carry over marking from old part to new part.

Insert spring strut shock absorber in tensioned coil spring and align to end of coil spring using lower spring pad.

Fig 6: Inserting Spring Strut Shock Absorber In Tensioned Coil Spring

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Fig 7: Identifying Correctly Seated In Lower Spring Pad

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Check support bearing for damage, replace if necessary.

Attach support bearing to piston rod. Use lower spring pad to align support bearing to end of coil spring.

Fig 8: Identifying Support Bearing For Damage

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Attach plate to piston rod.

Replace self-locking nut and screw on as far as possible to avoid damaging the piston rod when relieving tension on the coil spring.

Align support bearing by way of a stud (arrow) to marking on spring strut shock absorber.

Fig 9: Identifying Mark Position Of Support Bearing To Spring Strut Shock Absorber

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Relieve tension on coil spring slightly.

Tighten down nut (gripping piston rod in the process).

Tightening torque 33 52 2AZ  . See REAR AXLE - TIGHTENING TORQUES .

Fully relieve tension on coil spring.

Fig 10: Removing Plate And Support Bearing With Upper Spring Pad

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After installation: 

• Carry out coding  (dependent on type code number). See 31 00 ... NOTES ON CODING AFTER REPLACING A SPRING STRUT OR SHOCK ABSORBER PAIR (EDC) .