Removing the spring strut

Preliminary work 

• Refer to REMOVING THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL .
• Refer to LOOSENING THE OUTPUT SHAFT FROM THE WHEEL BEARING .
• Refer to DETACHING THE BRAKE HOSE AT THE FRONT .
• Refer to RELEASING THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER .
• Refer to REMOVING FRONT BRAKE DISC .
• Refer to DISCONNECTING THE CABLE OF THE VERTICAL DYNAMIC PLATFORM (VDP) FROM THE SPRING STRUT .
• Refer to PARTIALLY REMOVING THE FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR .
• Refer to DETACHING THE ANTI-ROLL BAR LINK FROM THE SPRING STRUT .
• Refer to LOOSENING THE TIE ROD FROM THE SWIVEL BEARING .
• Refer to RELEASING THE RIDE HEIGHT SENSOR FROM THE LOWER WISHBONE .
• Refer to RELEASING THE WISHBONE FROM THE SWIVEL BEARING .
• Refer to RELEASING TENSION STRUT FROM SWIVEL BEARING .
• Refer to REMOVING THE COVER OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT THE REAR LEFT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE LATERAL HOOD SEAL .
• Refer to REMOVING SPRING STRUT .
• Refer to REMOVING THE DAMPER WEIGHT FROM THE SPRING STRUT .
• Refer to RELEASING THE SPRING STRUT FROM THE SWIVEL BEARING .
• Refer to PREPARING THE SPRING TENSIONER .

Tensioning the coil spring (basic version) 

• Clean coil spring to remove heavy contamination.
• Insert the spring strut into the spring tensioner and position spring strut support bearing (1) on special tool 2 458 483  in the arrow direction.

  The spring strut support bearing (1) must make full contact with special tool 2 458 483  .

  The lower coil of the coil spring must rest completely in the recess of special tool 2 213 039 (31 3 382)  .

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  NOTE: RISK OF DAMAGE 
  Damage of the coil spring. 
  Any use of faulty protective inserts leads to coil spring damage. Faulty protective inserts may lead to a cracked coil spring (corrosion). 

  • Check the protective insert for wear or damage and if necessary, replace the protective inserts.

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• Mount special tool 2 412 607 on special tool 2 240 487 in the arrow direction. 
• Position special tool 2 240 487  with the special tool 2 240 490  .

  The rubberized side of the special tool 2 240 487  must be in contact with the upper coil of the coil spring.

• Position the spring strut in such a way that coil spring end (1) protrudes special tool 2 240 487  by dimension (A).

  Dimension (A) = 40 mm

• Tighten special tool 2 240 490  evenly.

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  TIGHTENING TORQUE SPECIFICATION
  
  

  Special tool to pressure plate
  	Tightening torque	8 Nm

• Make sure that the special tool 2 240 487  is parallel (1) to the upper coil of the coil spring.

  The clamping process must be aborted immediately if the coil spring end begins to twist relative to special tool 2 240 487. 

• Check position of the special tool 2 240 487  and correct if necessary.

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• Tension the coil spring until dimension (A) is reached at the special tool 2 213 022 (31 3 340)  .

  Dimension (A) = 95 mm to 70 mm

  The dimension (A) must not be undershot. 

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• Unscrew the nut (1) with special tools 0 496 515 (33 0 041) and 0 496 516 (33 0 042)  .

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• Remove spring strut from tensioned coil spring. 
• Remove the auxiliary damper (1) and the spring pad (2) from the spring strut, check it and replace if necessary.
• Replace the spring strut.

  Parts:  Spring strut

• Mount auxiliary damper (1) and spring pad (2) on the spring strut. 
• Ensure that the position of spring pad (2) is correct. 
• Slide the spring strut with the auxiliary damper (1) and the spring pad (2) into the tensioned coil spring. 

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  NOTE: TECHNICAL INFORMATION 
  Releasing and tightening the nut on the support bearing or spring strut support bearing with an impact screwdriver is prohibited.
• Replace nut (1).

  Parts:  Nut

• Tighten the nut (1) with the special tools 0 496 515 (33 0 041) and 0 496 516 (33 0 042)  .

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Relieving tension on coil spring 

• Align the spring strut with the spring pad to the lower coil spring end (2).
• Release coil spring using special tool 2 213 022 (31 3 340)  .
• Check the position at the top of coil spring end (1) and at the bottom of coil spring end (2), correct if necessary.

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• Release the special tool 2 240 490  .
• Remove special tool 2 240 487  .
• Take out the spring strut from spring tensioner.

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