Audi 80, VW (B3, B4) shock absorber strut support. Diagnostics, replacement

The shock absorber support on Audi 80 B3 and B4 cars, as well as VW Passat B3, B4 (the front suspension is exactly the same), can work for at least 70-80 thousand kilometers. And usually more. However, many drivers complain about the fragility of the Audi shock absorber strut support. We will analyze why this happens, which shock absorber support is better to buy, and how to replace it correctly below.

When to change the upper support of the shock absorber strut Audi 80 B3, B4

Twenty years is a respectable age for any car. But this is hardly the case for cigars and barrels, Audi 80 in B3 and B4 bodies. With minimal but careful and timely maintenance, the service life of these cars is practically unlimited. German reliability;

But even they have their characteristic sores. One of them is the design and implementation of the upper support bearing, a rubber-metal support for the shock absorber itself. Later, engineers revised the design, but the problem remained relevant for cars produced before the beginning of 1997.

The problem was that the diameter of the bearing of the support and the support itself was a little too small for such a load. In addition, the support was not attached to the body in any way, it was held only by the top plate, which pressed the support to the body with a nut.

This design is probably the reason why the service life of the Audi 80 shock absorber support is not very long. Later, VAG engineers revised the strut mounting architecture and began attaching it to the body mudguard with studs, as in most modern cars. This helped to evenly distribute the load from the strut to the body and increase the service life of the strut and bearing.

However, let’s go back to the old version of the shock absorber support from the 90s on VAG cars Audi 80 and VW Passat. The first signs of shock absorber wear look like this:

In fact, the wear of the Audi 80s shock absorber strut support is visually expressed in a large gap between the plate washer and the body when the car is on the ground. When the front end is raised on a jack, the gap disappears. This indicates that it’s time to change the shock absorber support. But it is important to choose the right one, which we will do.

Which shock absorber support is better to buy for Audi 80 B3, B4

Since the front shock absorber for Audi 80 is produced by dozens of companies in a wide variety of versions, it is quite difficult to choose the best one that will last at least 3-4 years. There is also a practice among craftsmen of replacing the original front strut support with completely different spare parts – supports from VW Polo, pieces of supports from Duster or other models.

Of course, no one can guarantee a long service life and correct operation in such cases. Moreover, high-quality and reliable bearing assemblies are now being produced at quite reasonable prices. This will guarantee durability and reliability, but only if you buy a support for Audi 80 B3 from a reputable manufacturer, not cheap junk;

The main parameters of the support assembly with the rack support bearing in height are as follows:

However, confusion is quite possible with the letters at the end of the code, as sellers do not always pay attention to such “trifles”. Therefore, it is worth checking the height (thickness) of the support before buying;

Car owners and craftsmen usually recommend installing original struts, but substitutes are likely to get through with OE numbers. Among them, the most respected is the manufacturer Lemforder. If you want, you can find the original, but it costs from 1500 to 2100 hryvnias. Not exactly democratic for a 30-year-old car.

Therefore, here are the numbers of normal supports of standard size:

The price of reinforced shock absorber strut supports for Audi 80 ranges from 350 to 560 hryvnias, depending on the manufacturer.

What you need to replace the shock absorber support Audi 80 B3, B4

Theoretically, replacing a strut support requires a bunch of special tools, adapters, and bits. However, a driver with the right hands can easily do it with a basic set of tools:

You also need a special wrench to unscrew the nut that holds the support directly to the shock absorber rod. For some reason, VAG engineers decided to use a nut with two slots. It can be unscrewed with bent pliers if you try.

But there is a special adapter like the one in the photo. It is not available in every store, and it is hardly worth buying it for the collection of gizmos in the garage if you are not engaged in professional undercarriage repair;

You can also make it with a grinder in a few minutes using this drawing. Here are the approximate dimensions, but it works 100%.

You will also need a rubber lining under the upper metal plate washer. A 5-7 mm thick plastic gasket was installed here from the factory, but it is unlikely to have survived more than 30 years of operation. Therefore, it will have to be made by hand.

Any reinforced rubber material (from a conveyor belt, an old tire, etc.) will do. And you can cut the gasket with ordinary drywall crowns with the appropriate dimensions. Approximately 78×50 mm.

How to replace the upper support of the shock absorber Audi 80 B3, B4

The replacement follows a standard procedure that requires no further comment and is well known to everyone. However, here is a short report to clarify the details of the replacement.

While the car is on the ground, we remove the wheel bolts and the upper shock absorber strut mount using a 22 mm open-end wrench and a 7 mm hexagon.

Raise the car on a jack, remove the wheel, and apply spray lubricant to the knuckle bolts, stabilizer bar, and steering knuckle tip.

Unscrew the rack from the knuckle, unscrew the tie rod tip, and press out the pin with a puller or other method. It is better to use a puller, but you need to be careful not to damage the anther.

You can take out the entire rack.

Attach the spring ties and compress the spring.

Unscrew the nut that secures the support.

Remove the support and the upper spring plate. If the spring is fine, leave it alone.

It’s important to check the condition of the shock absorber anthers and bumpers. If they have significant scuffs, cracks, or are completely worn out, they should be replaced.

The new covers and dampers are sold under the numbers BOGE 89-042-0, KYB 915415, Monroe pk076.

Remove the old support using a gadget or a standard VAG wrench, thoroughly clean the upper spring plate, and center it with the spring itself.

Now you can install the new support. But before doing so, lubricate the threads with grease.

Tighten the nut and remove the ties from the spring.

Put the rack assembly back in place, keeping in mind the rubber gasket under the upper plate washer.

The tightening torques of the fasteners are indicated in the diagrams above.