Removing and installing air spring strut: VW Touareg II

🧭 Before you start

Fits: VW Touareg II (7P, 2010–2018)

🔩 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. Activate car jacking mode and place vehicle on lifting platform .
2. Bleed air from rear air spring struts with the Vehicle diagnosis, testing and information systemVAS 5051B.
3. Loosen wheel bolts.
4. Raise vehicle.
5. Remove wheel.

6. Remove luggage compartment floor 70.
7. Remove mounting plate for luggage compartment floor 70.
8. Remove plugs above bolted connections of air spring strut.
9. Unscrew and remove bolted connections (arrows) of air spring strut.
10. Unscrew union nut (1) of air line from air spring strut and seal both connections.
11. Release connector (1) for valve for shock-absorption adjustment and pull off..
12. Undo bolted connection (arrow) between air spring strut (1) and coupling rod at wheel bearing housing.
13. Remove bolt.
14. Remove steel spring strut.
15. Insert air spring strut with guide bolts (arrows A) into upper holes (arrows B) in body.
16. Hand-tighten bolts (arrows) at strut support.
17. Insert air line until end of shrink-fit hose (2) is touching union nut (1).
18. Bolt air line with union nut (1) on air spring strut.
19. Plug in connector (1) for valve for shock-absorption adjustment .
20. Insert bolt (arrow) between air spring strut (1) and coupling rod at wheel bearing housing. [Note: If the holes of the wheel bearing housing and air spring strut for inserting the bolt are not in line with each other, the air spring strut must be re-aligned. To do this, loosen the bellows and hold the spring plunger in position. Now, turn the shock absorber opposite the spring plunger until the holes are in line. When doing this, make sure the spring plunger is not twisted. Observe the fitting instructions .]
21. Hand-tighten bolt.
22. Tighten bolts (1) to (4) to 50 Nm in sequence shown. — 50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
23. Then tighten bolts (1) to (4) 180° further in sequence shown.
24. Tighten bolts (1) to (4) to 50 Nm in sequence shown. — 50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
25. Then tighten bolts (1) to (4) 180° further in sequence shown.
26. Tighten bolts at air spring strut.
27. Fill rear air spring strut with the Vehicle diagnosis, testing and information systemVAS 5051B.
28. Install wheel and tighten bolts or nuts .

Other VW procedures

• Removing engine · 41 torque figures
• Removing and installing camshaft – VW Golf Cabriolet · 47 torque figures
• Adjusting valve timing – VW Passat B5 · 83 torque figures
• Removing and installing camshafts – VW Passat B6 · 39 torque figures
• Removing and installing coolant pump · 53 torque figures
• Testing the shock absorber on the shock tester
• Removing and installing longitudinal link
• Removing magnetic coupling from compressor and refitting again
• Removing and installing refrigerant lines to air conditioner compressor
• Removing and installing coil connector with slip ring