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Front suspension
Driveshaft/hub nut:
Non-GTI models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 185
GTI models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 192
Automatic transmission models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 196
Strut top mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 9
Shock absorber piston rod nut:
Self-locking type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 33
Crimped type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 52
Strut clamp bolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 43
Anti-roll bar clamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 26
Anti-roll bar end (non-GTI models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 55
Lower balljoint clamp bolt:
Manual transmission models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 26
Automatic transmission models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 33
Anti-roll bar guide bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 22
Lower suspension arm pivot bolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 26
Anti-roll bar end (GTI models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 43
Lower suspension arm rear pivot bolt (GTI models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 58
Rear suspension
Shock absorber upper mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 55
Shock absorber lower mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 87
Anti-roll bar arm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 26
Torsion bar plug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 15
Suspension top mountings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 33
Suspension front mounting pivot bolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 59
Steering
Steering gear mounting bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 26
Power steering fluid pipe unions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 17
Column-to-pinion clamp bolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 11
Track rod end balljoint nut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 26
Track rod inner joint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 37
Steering wheel nut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 22
Roadwheels
Roadwheel bolts (all wheel types)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 63
*On alloy wheels, oil the ends of the bolt threads over a maximum length of 10 mm before fitting.
1 General information
The front suspension is of independent
type; incorporating MacPherson struts with
coil springs and integral shock absorbers. On
non-GTI models the lower suspension arm
movement is controlled by the anti-roll bar,
but on GTI models the arm has two inner pivot
points and the anti-roll bar operates
separately on the struts.
The rear suspension is also of independent
type; incorporating a cross-tube with trailing
arms set in each end and supported on
needle or plain bearings. Torsion bars are
fitted to the trailing arms and, on certain
models, an anti-roll bar located inside the
cross-tube stabilises the car when cornering.
The telescopic shock absorbers are inclined
with their top mountings attached to the
suspension side-members.
The steering system is of rack and pinion
type with side track rods connected to the
hub carriers by track rod end balljoints.
Further balljoints on the inner ends of the
track rods are screwed into the rack. Power-
assisted steering is available as an option on
later models. Power assistance is derived
from a hydraulic pump, belt-driven from the
crankshaft pulley.
The steering column incorporates a single
universal joint at its lower end connected to
an intermediate shaft which also incorporates
a universal joint at its connection to the pinion
on the steering gear. The steering column is
angled to prevent direct movement into the
passenger compartment in the event of a front
end impact.
2 Front suspension hub carrier
- removal and refitting
4
Removal
1 Fully apply the handbrake then, where
possible, remove the front wheel centre trim.
Tap up the staking securing the hub nut to the
driveshaft groove or, on later models, extract
the R-clip and withdraw the locking collar
(see illustration). Using a socket and a long
extension bar, slacken the hub nut. On
models without a centre trim, the hub nut
must be loosened after removing the front
wheel. Do not apply the footbrake when
loosening the nut as damage can occur to the
brake disc retaining screws.
2 Chock the rear wheels then jack up the
front of the car and support it on axle stands
(see “Jacking and vehicle support”). Remove
the front roadwheel.
10•2 Suspension and steering
2.1 R-clip and locking collar fitted to hub
nut on later models