Touareg V10 TDI Stabilizer bar link R & R
Tools needed:
18mm open end wrenches
Torx bit or vice grips
The stabilizer bar connects the left and right side rear suspension together to reduce body roll and tighten handling. In this 2004 V10 Touareg the stabilizer bar is the non-separable type. European models had the option of a separable stabilizer bar but the link is the same.
At 100K miles, the customer had a complaint of a "loose feeling" in the rear of the car when going around tighter curves, and a distinct clunk when going through a short but tight s-curve. The pictures tell the story and show the old upper ball joint had separated.
Upper link lock nut (M12 x 1.5) torque is 100 Nm.
Lower link lock nut (M12 x 1.5) torque is 100 Nm.
The manufacturer recommends the locknuts be replaced.
First, an over view of the area. The link is colored and while the picture shows it as straight, it is actually curved:
The new part is on the left and is a different design. It's much larger and seems more appropriate for the vehicle. There was a rubber boot that sealed over the joint on the old design and was held on with a wire to the link. The boot was torn open and may have contributed to the failure.
Here is a picture of the old stabilizer bar link on the right side. The upper end mounts to the stabilizer and the lower end curves around and mounts using the lower air shock mounting bolt. Simply remove the nut from the bolt and slip the lower link end off the bolt. The lower bolt should not be removed!
Here's the new link installed on the left side.
Installation is really nothing more than unbolting the old top and bottom and installing the new one. If the ball joint has separated, a vice grips pliers can be used to hold the threaded ball joint in order to remove the locknut. If it has not separated, use the torx bit in the threaded end of the ball joint to keep it from turning as the lock nut is loosened.