Removing and installing coil spring: Audi A6 C6

🧭 Before you start

Fits: Audi A6 C6 (4F, 2004–2011)

• Special tools named: VAS 6274/4, VAS 6274/1, VAS 6274/6, VAS 6274/9, spring compressor

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• If it is not possible to rotate the thrust plate downwards in the spring, unbolt the locating bracket, rotate the thrust plate into the required position and then reattach the locating bracket.
• Risk of accident! The coil spring is now only held by the hydraulic tensioning deviceVAS 6274/9. — Slacken tensioning device via foot pumpVAS 6179 until guide (1) is level with marking (arrow).
• The flange bolts must not be unscrewed until the spring has been completely slackened. — Remove thrust plate with swivel mountingVAS 6274/2 from coil spring.
• Make sure that the spring seats (top and bottom) are positioned correctly.
• Risk of accident! Do not use compressed-air impact wrenches to compress or release the coil spring. — Now release coil spring by turning socket VAS 6274/6 while holding spring compressor with counterhold toolVAS 6274/7.

🔩 Torque settings

Values can differ between engine variants — check the code stamped on your block.

ℹ️ Always cross-check the exact figure against your vehicle's factory manual before final tightening — a wrong torque can damage the engine. These values are extracted from workshop data and may not cover every variant or revision.

📋 Procedure

1. Remove rear wheel Wheels and tyres44.
2. ⚠ To avoid damaging the brake line, the flat section of the thrust piece on the spreader device (top) must face towards the front of the vehicle. — Insert spreader deviceVAS 6274/8 between body and upper transverse link, as shown in illustration, and apply light pressure.
3. Insert thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 between 2nd and 3rd coils of spring from outside, as shown in illustration.
4. Turn locking lever (1) of thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 in direction of (arrow).
5. Insert plungerVAS 6274/4 with T-barVAS 6274/5 through hole in trapezium link and into thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1.

6. Secure plunger VAS 6274/4 by turning locking lever (1) in direction of (arrow).
7. Unscrew and remove T-barVAS 6274/5.
8. Rotate thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 upwards until it is still just free inside spring.
9. Insert thrust plate with swivel mountingVAS 6274/2 into spring as shown in illustration, and rotate downwards until it is still just free inside spring. [Note: If it is not possible to rotate the thrust plate downwards in the spring, unbolt the locating bracket, rotate the thrust plate into the required position and then reattach the locating bracket.]
10. ⚠ Before removing and installing any of the springs, always lubricate the front of the spindle lightly with the grease supplied.Lubricate the spindle only with the grease supplied. If other greases are used the spindle will be damaged. — Lubricate the front of the spindleVAS 6274/3 lightly with the grease supplied.
11. Insert socketVAS 6274/6 in spindleVAS 6274/3 and screw upwards through hole in trapezium link.
12. Hand-tighten spindleVAS 6274/3 using socketVAS 6274/6. [Note: In order to be able to compress the different types of spring as far as possible, the two thrust plates should be positioned so there are 41/4 to 43/4 spring coils between them.If necessary, move round the upper locating bracket 180° and rotate VAS 6274/1 180° further (from 41/4 to 43/4 spring coils).]
13. Align thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 and thrust plate with swivel mountingVAS 6274/2 with each other so that the two locating brackets can be bolted together.
14. Screw in flange bolts (arrows) hand-tight.
15. ⚠ The coil spring must be compressed or released only when the two locating brackets are joined together by the flange bolts (arrows). — Now compress coil spring by turning socket VAS 6274/6 while holding spring compressor with counterhold toolVAS 6274/7.
16. ⚠ When compressing the spring, make sure the flange bolts do not make contact with the stop on the thrust plate.The locating bracket of the thrust plate must not make contact with the stop on the thrust plate. — Carefully take out compressed coil spring.
17. ⚠ The coil spring may only be compressed or released when it is in the vehicle or in the hydraulic tensioning device VAS 6274/9.The coil spring must on no account be released by turning the spindleVAS 6274/3 because the spindle is too short. In the compressed condition the spring is under very high pressure. — Insert compressed coil spring in correct position in hydraulic tensioning deviceVAS 6274/9 and compress spring slightly further by operating hydraulic pump.
18. Unscrew spindleVAS 6274/3 from plungerVAS 6274/4 using socketVAS 6274/6 and remove from spring.
19. ⚠ Risk of accident! The coil spring is now only held by the hydraulic tensioning deviceVAS 6274/9. — Slacken tensioning device via foot pumpVAS 6179 until guide (1) is level with marking (arrow).
20. Remove both flange bolts (arrows).
21. ⚠ The flange bolts must not be unscrewed until the spring has been completely slackened. — Remove thrust plate with swivel mountingVAS 6274/2 from coil spring.
22. Screw T-barVAS 6274/5 into plungerVAS 6274/4.
23. Turn locking lever (1) of thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 in direction of (arrow).
24. Take plungerVAS 6274/4 out of locking mechanism.
25. Remove thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 from coil spring.
26. Release spring compressor via foot pump and take coil spring out of hydraulic tensioning device VAS 6274/9.
27. Insert coil spring in correct position in hydraulic tensioning deviceVAS 6274/9 and compress spring slightly on push rod by operating hydraulic pump.
28. Insert thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 into coil spring.
29. Insert plungerVAS 6274/4 with T-barVAS 6274/5 into thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1.
30. Secure plungerVAS 6274/4 with locking lever (1)(arrow).
31. Unscrew and remove T-barVAS 6274/5.
32. Insert thrust plate with swivel mountingVAS 6274/2 into coil spring as shown in illustration.
33. Fit spindleVAS 6274/3 onto socketVAS 6274/6 and screw spindle into thread of plunger VAS 6274/4.
34. Without using force, rotate thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 and thrust plate with swivel mountingVAS 6274/2 to a position where they can compress the spring to the maximum extent. [Note: In order to be able to compress the different types of spring as far as possible, the two thrust plates should be positioned so there are 41/4 to 43/4 spring coils between them.If necessary, move round the upper locating bracket 180° and rotate VAS 6274/1 180° further (from 41/4 to 43/4 spring coils).]
35. Take out socket.
36. Align thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 and thrust plate with swivel mountingVAS 6274/2 with each other so that the two locating brackets can be bolted together.
37. Screw in flange bolts (arrows) hand-tight.
38. ⚠ The coil spring must be compressed or released only when the two locating brackets are joined together by the flange bolts (arrows). — Insert guide bush (arrow) for centring spindleVAS 6274/3 in hydraulic tensioning deviceVAS 6274/9.
39. Slowly compress coil spring by operating hydraulic pump and at the same time take up travel on spindleVAS 6274/3 by turning spindle with socketVAS 6274/6.
40. Slowly open valve on hydraulic pump and take compressed coil spring out of hydraulic tensioning device VAS 6274/9.
41. Locate compressed coil spring in correct position in vehicle. [Note: Make sure that the spring seats (top and bottom) are positioned correctly.]
42. ⚠ Risk of accident! Do not use compressed-air impact wrenches to compress or release the coil spring. — Now release coil spring by turning socket VAS 6274/6 while holding spring compressor with counterhold toolVAS 6274/7.
43. Unscrew spindleVAS 6274/3 from plungerVAS 6274/4 using socketVAS 6274/6 and remove. [Note: The spindle is easier to remove if the opening on thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 is facing outwards.]
44. Remove flange bolts (arrows) from locating brackets.
45. Rotate thrust plate with swivel mountingVAS 6274/2 upwards slightly and remove from coil spring. [Note: If it is not possible to remove the thrust plate from the spring, unbolt the locating bracket, take the thrust plate out of the spring and then reattach the locating bracket.]
46. Rotate thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 downwards slightly.
47. Screw T-barVAS 6274/5 into plungerVAS 6274/4.
48. Turn locking lever (1) of thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 in direction of (arrow).
49. Take plungerVAS 6274/4 out of locking mechanism and remove through hole in bottom link.
50. Remove thrust plate with locking mechanismVAS 6274/1 from coil spring.
51. Slacken and remove spreader deviceVAS 6274/8.

🎬 Video walkthrough

Independent video tutorial by AUTODOC (YouTube) — a helpful visual companion to the steps above.

How to change front springs / front coil springs on AUDI A6 2 (C6)

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