Passat 3B Rear Shock Absorber Torque Specs

Good day.

The rear shock absorbers and springs need to be replaced.

I wasn't able to find out the torque specifications (in Nm) for the three screws on the shock absorber and the one screw on the spring perch (or whatever that mounting point is called).

I hope you can help me.

Certainly. Here's the translation:

"Thank you very much."
Patrick.

Please provide the exact vehicle details!

Volkswagen Passat 3B Variant, year 1999, TDI, 115 horsepower.

I'm going to assume that you don't have all-wheel drive.

The two screws that go into the wheel well (also known as hex bolts for the wheel well) should be tightened to 36 Nm, and the center damper screw should be tightened to 25 Nm.

Shock absorber on the axle receives Nm + 90 degrees.

Best regards,
Basti.

Thank you for your reply. No, I don't have 4Motion.
What do you mean by Nm + 90°?
I will also replace the spring, but unfortunately, I don't know exactly what the part is called where the spring sits. It probably has something to do with the "femur" .
Well, there's also a screw there, what's its torque rating?

He mentions tightening the lower bolt to 50 Nm and then turning it 90 degrees further. Specifically, you should first mount the shock absorber with the bellows kit and the strut mount outside of the vehicle. Then, tighten the top bolt with 36 Nm. Clean the knurled washers on these bolts with a wire brush beforehand. Personally, I use a small amount of medium-strength thread locker at this point, but it is not required. Then, insert the bolt (on both sides) and thread on the nuts. Next, bring the axle to its unloaded position (using a transmission jack or by lowering it) and then tighten it to 50 Nm + 90 degrees. No thread locker is needed here, as there are lock nuts.
You will need to replace the lower shock absorber nut and the upper shock absorber nut on the strut mount.
The rubber part that the spring sits on is called the "spring seat." You can find these from Febi for a reasonable price. The top and bottom are the same. Before installing the new spring, check the position of the old one. Specifically, note which position the end of the spring coil is in at the bottom. Install the new spring in the same way. The installation guide for this job specifies an installation position.

Thank you for your reply.

Sorry for asking again, but I just want to make sure I understand this correctly.

Okay, so I'll loosen the damper at the top and bottom and then remove it. Then I should be able to lower the shock absorber assembly enough to easily remove the spring, right?

If so, I'll remove the old spring and insert the new one, making sure it's positioned exactly like the old one was.

Then reinsert the damper and screw it tightly in place at the top. Afterwards, use a jack or similar tool to push the spring strut upwards and secure the damper at the bottom.

Of course, I will follow your instructions.

Would that be roughly the workflow?

Can someone tell me if this is correct???

Thank you!

I would say you're on the right track. It should be possible to remove it from the rear without a spring compressor.

Very well, thank you!

I just need to figure out the details myself and see what works best. I was mainly interested in the general workflow, and I now know that I don't actually need a spring compressor!

No guarantee. I think it will work. Are we talking about the rear axle? With the front axle, it's possible that without a spring compressor, important millimeters might be missing, in which case more needs to be unscrewed as an alternative.

Yes, this is only about the rear axle.

Sorry, I wasn't online for a few days.
If both shock absorbers are removed, you can push the axle down until you can remove the spring. Then you can also remove the spring retainers. This can be done alone, without a second person. However, it cannot be done using a jack. You need a lift or two jack stands for that.
Reverse assembly: Insert both springs and shims. Attach the shock absorbers to the top of the strut mounts on the body. Then, using a jack or transmission jack, lift the axle until you can thread in the lower bolt. Do one side first, then the other. Finally, set the rear axle to its unloaded position and tighten the lower bolt.
The spring compressor is not needed at the rear. For vehicles with (factory-installed) xenon headlights, you may need to adjust the headlight leveling mechanism for each model before removing the shock absorbers from the axle. Otherwise, it may be damaged.
(I don't know if that's possible at the 3B program, but I know it's possible at the 3BG program.)

This suspension strut is known as Febi 37428 on the open market. You need 4 of them for one axle.

That's a very clear statement!

Thank you very much for now. That's exactly how I had imagined it. I wasn't entirely sure if it would work that way.

Thank you very much .

Hi, have you made any progress?
Hexagon bolt, wheel arch, 36Nm. Middle damper bolt, 25Nm.
Have fun! X

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