ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE 2010 Workshop Manual

Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Suspension (04.00)
May 2007 Workshop Manual 4-3-1
Suspension (04.00)
Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Description
Movement of each road spring is independently damped by
a telescopic, hydraulically-controlled shock absorber. Each
shock absorber is installed coax ially within the road spring.
Front spring and damper assemblies are located between
the upper suspension arm and attach to the lower
suspension arm and the body structure.
Rear spring and damper assemblies attach to the lower
suspension arm and the rear subframe, via a mounting
bracket, laying to the rear of the upper suspension arm.
Specifications
Maintenance
Front Spring and Damper Assembly-Pair-
Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp.
2. Remove road wheel(s). 3. Disconnect ABS sensor
multiplug (see Fig. 1).
4. Release sensor harness clips (x3) from upper suspension arm and vertical li nk (see Fig. 2).
5. Remove Torx bolts (x4) fr om LH and RH side securing
engine cross brace and remove cross brace.
6. Remove nuts and bolts (x2 each side) from upper suspension arm to body (see Fig. 3).
Torque Figures
DescriptionNmlb. / ft.
Front
Spring and Damper Top Mounts 22.5 17
Spring and Damper Bottom Mount 175 129.5
Upper Suspension Arm 115 85
Rear
Spring and Damper Top Mounting to
Bracket 22.5 17
Spring and Damper Lower Mounting 175 129.5
Vertical Link to Lower Suspension
Arm 175 129.5
Track-rod Arm to Lower Suspension
Arm 115 85
Repair Operation Time (ROT)
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Suspension (04.00)4-3-2 Workshop Manual May 2007
7. Position suspension arm aside (see Fig. 4).
8. Remove nuts (x3 each side) from damper top mounting. and remove engine cross br ace support (see Fig. 5). 9. Remove nuts and bolts each side from damper lower
mountings (see Fig, 6).
10. Remove spring and damper assembly.
Installation
1. Install spring and damper assembly and engine cross brace support.
2. Install top mounting nuts (x3) each side (do not torque tighten).
3. Align damper to lower mounting and install bolts and nuts each side (do not torque tighten).
4. Position upper suspension arm to body and install bolts and nuts (x2) each side (do not torque tighten).
5. Connect ABS sensor multiplug and install harness clips in upper suspension ar m and vertical link.
6. Install road wheel(s).
7. Lower vehicle on ramp.
8. Tighten upper arm nuts and bolts.
9. Torque tighten top mounting nuts (x3) and lower mounting nut and bolt.
10. Install engine cross brace and install and torque tighten
Torx bolts (x4).
Allow the upper suspension ar
m and vertical link to fall
back, giving access to remo ve the spring and damper
assembly.
Caution
Make sure that the brake flex hose is not over stretched.
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
If removing both spring and damper units - the engine bay
cross brace will be released.
Fig. 6
If removed, place the engine ba y cross brace, complete with
mounts, in position.
Caution
Ensure that the brake flex hose is not over stretched.
Caution
Final tightening of suspen sion components must be
carried out with the suspension arms at normal ride
height. Failure to do this wi ll over stress the suspension
bushes when the suspension is deflected to maximum
upward travel.

Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Suspension (04.00)
May 2007 Workshop Manual 4-3-3
Front Spring-Pair-Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp.
2. Remove road wheel(s).
3. Disconnect ABS sensor multiplug (see Fig. 1).
4. Release sensor harness clips (x3) from upper suspension arm and vertical link (see Fig. 2).
5. Remove Torx bolts (x4) from LH and RH side securing engine cross brace and remove cross brace. 6. Remove nuts and bolts (x2 each side) from upper
suspension arm to body (see Fig. 3).
7. Position suspension arm aside (see Fig. 4).
Repair Operation Time (ROT)
Fig. 3
Allow the upper suspension arm and vertical link to fall
back, giving access to remove the spring and damper assembly
Fig. 4
Caution
Ensure that the brake flex hose is not over stretched.

Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Suspension (04.00)4-3-4 Workshop Manual May 2007
8. Remove nuts (x3 each side) from damper top mounting and remove engine cross br ace support (see Fig. 5).
9. Remove nuts and bolts (each side) from damper lower mountings (see Fig. 6).
10. Remove spring and damper assembly.
11. Position spring compressor to spring and compress spring.
12. Hold damper shaft and remove top mounting retaining nut.
13. Remove top mounting and spring assembly.
14. Remove spring compressor from spring.
Installation
1. Clean spring and top mounting.
2. Position spring compressor to new spring and compress spring.
3. Install spring and top mounting and install and torque tighten retaining nut.
4. Remove spring compressor. 5. Install spring and damper assembly and install engine
cross brace support.
6. Install top mounting nuts (x3) each side (do not torque tighten).
7. Align damper to lower mounting and install bolts and nuts each side (do not torque tighten).
8. Position upper suspension arm and install bolts and nuts (x2) each side (do not torque tighten).
9. Connect ABS sensor multiplug and install harness clips in upper suspension ar m and vertical link.
10. Install road wheel(s).
11. Lower vehicle on ramp.
12. Torque tighten upper arm nuts and bolts.
13. Torque tighten top mounting nuts (x3) and lower mounting nut and bolt.
14. Align engine cross brace and install Torx bolts (x2).
15. Tighten Torx bolts (x4) to correct torque.
Front Damper-Pair-Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp.
2. Remove road wheel(s).
3. Disconnect ABS sensor multiplug.
4. Release sensor harness clips (x3) from upper suspension arm and vertical link.
5. Remove Torx bolts (x4) from LH and RH side securing
engine cross brace and remove cross brace.
6. Remove nuts and bolts (x2 each side) from upper suspension arm to body and position suspension arm
aside.
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
If removed, place the engine ba
y cross brace, complete with
mounts, in position.
Caution
Ensure that the brake flex hose is not over stretched.
Caution
Final tightening of suspen sion components must be
carried out with the suspension arms at normal ride
height. Failure to do this wi ll over stress the suspension
bushes when the suspension is deflected to maximum
upward travel.
Repair Operation Time (ROT)
ItemCode
Front Damper-Pair-Renew 04.03.AC
If removing both spring and damper units - the engine bay
cross brace will be released.
Allow the upper suspension arm and vertical link to fall back, giving access to remo ve the spring and damper
assembly.
Caution
Ensure that the brake flex hose is not over stretched.

Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Suspension (04.00)
May 2007 Workshop Manual 4-3-5
7. Remove nuts (x3 each side) from damper top mounting and remove engine cross brace support.
8. Remove nuts and bolts each side from damper lower mountings.
9. Remove spring and damper assembly.
10. Position spring compresso r to spring and compress
spring.
11. Hold damper shaft, and remove top mounting retaining nut.
12. Remove top mounting and spring assembly.
13. Remove dust shield from rebound bumper and spring seat flange.
Installation
1. Clean spring , spring seat flange, bumper, dust shield and top mounting .
2. Install spring seat flange, rebound bumper and dust shield onto damper.
3. Install spring and top mounting and install and tighten retaining nut.
4. Remove spring compressor.
5. Install spring and damper assembly and install engine cross brace support.
6. Install top mounting nuts (x3) each side (do not torque tighten).
7. Align damper to lower mounting and install bolts and nuts each side (do not torque tighten).
8. Position upper suspension arm and install bolts and nuts (x2) each side (do not torque tighten).
9. Connect ABS sensor multiplug and install harness clips in upper suspension arm and vertical link.
10. Install road wheel(s).
11. Lower vehicle on ramp.
12. Tighten upper arm nuts an d bolts to correct torque.
13. Torque tighten top mounting nuts (x3) and lower mounting nut and bolt.
14. Align engine cross brace, install Torx bolts (x2) and
tighten Torx bolts (x4) to correct torque.
Rear Spring and Damper Assembly-Pair-
Renew
Removal
1. Open fuel filler lid and remove fuel filler cap.
2. Raise vehicle on ramp.
3. Remove road wheel(s).
4. Remove LH rear wheel arch liner (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.HB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear -
RH - Renew).
5. Remove RH wheel arch liner (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.JB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear - LH -
Renew).
6. Remove bolt securing fuel filler pipe bracket to shock
absorber mounting bracket.
7. Remove nut securing fuel fille r pipe to body and tie filler
pipe aside (see Fig. 1).
8. Disconnect ABS sensor multiplug (see Fig. 2).
If removed, place the engine
bay cross brace, complete with
mounts, in position.
Caution
Ensure that the brake flex hose is not over stretched.
Caution
Final tightening of suspension components must be
carried out with the suspensi on arms at normal ride
height. Failure to do this wi ll over stress the suspension
bushes when the suspension is deflected to maximum upward travel.
Repair Operation Time (ROT)

Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Suspension (04.00)4-3-6 Workshop Manual May 2007
9. Release sensor harness clips (x2) from toe control arm (see Fig. 3).
10. Remove bolts (x2) each side from handbrake calliper to rear hub and release calliper an d position aside (see Fig.
4)
.
11. Remove nuts and bolts both sides from toe control arms (see Fig. 5). 12. Remove nuts and bolts each side from lower damper
mountings (see Fig. 6).
13. Remove bolts (x4) each side from damper upper mounting (see Fig. 7).
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Suspension (04.00)
May 2007 Workshop Manual 4-3-7
14. Remove spring and damper assembly (see Fig. 8).
15. Remove nuts (x3) each side from damper to mounting plate (see Fig, 9).
Installation
1. Position mounting plate to damper and torque tighten retaining nuts (x3) each side.
2. Install spring and damper assembly and torque tighten upper bolts (x4) each side.
3. Install damper to lower arm each side and torque tighten nuts and bolts.
4. Position fuel filler pipe to body, install and tighten nut.
5. Position fuel filler pipe, install and tighten bolt.
6. Position toe control arm each side, install and torque tighten nuts/bolts.
7. Position handbrake callipers each side, install bolts (x2) each side and tighten bolts to the correct torque.
8. Connect ABS sensor multiplugs each side.
9. Install clips (x2) each side from sensor harness to toe control arms.
10. Install LH wheel arch liner (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.HB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear - RH -
Renew). 11. Install RH wheel arch li
ner (see Workshop Manual
procedure 01.02.JB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear - LH -
Renew)
12. Install road wheel(s).
13. Lower vehicle on ramp.
14. Install fuel filler cap and close fuel filler lid.
Rear Spring-Pair-Renew
Removal
1. Open fuel filler lid and remove fuel filler cap.
2. Raise vehicle on ramp.
3. Remove road wheel(s).
4. Remove LH rear wheel arch liner (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.HB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear -
RH - Renew).
5. Remove RH wheel arch liner (see Workshop Manual procedure01.02.JB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear - LH -
Renew).
6. Remove bolt securing fuel filler pipe bracket to damper
mounting bracket.
7. Remove nut securing fuel fille r pipe to body and tie filler
pipe aside (see Fig. 1).
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Repair Operation Time (ROT)

Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Suspension (04.00)4-3-8 Workshop Manual May 2007
8. Disconnect ABS sensor multiplug (see Fig. 2).
9. Release sensor harness clips (x2) from toe control arm (see Fig. 3).
10. Remove bolts (x2) each side from handbrake calliper to rear hub and release calliper an d position aside (see Fig.
4)
.
11. Remove nuts and bolts both sides from toe control arms (see Fig. 5).
12. Remove nuts and bolts each side from lower damper mountings (see Fig. 6).
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Suspension (04.00)
May 2007 Workshop Manual 4-3-9
13. Remove bolts (x4) each side from damper upper mounting (see Fig. 7).
14. Remove spring and damper assembly (see Fig. 8).
15. Remove nuts (x3) each side from damper to mounting plates and remove mounting plates (see Fig. 9).
16. Position spring compresso r to spring and compress
spring.
17. Hold damper shaft and remove top mounting retaining nut. 18. Remove top mounting and spring assembly.
19. Remove spring compressor from spring.
Installation
1. Clean spring and top mounting .
2. Position spring compressor to new spring and compress
spring.
3. Install spring and top mounting and torque tighten retaining nut.
4. Remove spring compressor.
5. Position mounting plate to damper and torque tighten
retaining nuts (x3) each side.
6. Install spring and damper assembly and torque tighten upper bolts (x4) each side.
7. Install damper assembly to lower arm each side and torque tighten nuts and bolts.
8. Position fuel filler pipe to body and install and tighten nut.
9. Position fuel filler pipe and install and tighten bolt.
10. Position toe control arm each side and install and torque tighten nuts and bolts.
11. Position handbrake callipers each side, install bolts (x2) each side and tighten bolts to the correct torque.
12. Connect ABS sensor multiplugs each side.
13. Install clips (x2) each side from sensor harness to toe control arms.
14. Install LH wheel arch li ner. (see Workshop Manual
procedure 01.02.HB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear - RH -
Renew).
15. Install RH wheelwright li ner (see Workshop Manual
procedure 01.02.JB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear - LH -
Renew).
16. Install road wheel(s).
17. Lower vehicle on ramp.
18. Fit fuel filler cap and close fuel filler lid.
Rear Damper-Pair-Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp.
2. Remove road wheel(s).
3. Remove LH rear wheel arch liner (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.HB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear -
RH - Renew)
4. Remove RH wheel arch liner (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.JB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear - LH -
Renew).
5. Remove bolt securing fuel filler pipe bracket to damper
mounting plate.
6. Remove nut securing fuel fille r pipe to body and tie filler
pipe aside.
7. Disconnect ABS sensor multiplug.
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Repair Operation Time (ROT)

Shock Absorber System (04.03)
Suspension (04.00)4-3-10 Workshop Manual May 2007
8. Release sensor harness clips (x2) from toe control arm.
9. Remove bolts (x2) each side from handbrake calliper to rear hub.
10. Release calliper and position aside.
11. Remove nuts and bolts both sides from toe control arms.
12. Remove nuts and bolts each side from lower damper mountings.
13. Remove bolts (x4) each side from damper upper mounting.
14. Remove spring and damper assembly.
15. Remove nuts (x3) each side from damper to mounting plates and remove mounting plates.
16. Position spring compressor to spring and compress spring.
17. Hold damper shaft and remove top mounting retaining nut.
18. Remove top mounting and spring assembly.
19. Remove dust shield, rebound bumper and spring seat flange.
Installation
1. Clean spring, spring seat flange, rebound bumper, dust
shield and top mounting .
2. Install spring seat flange, rebound bumper and dust shield onto damper.
3. Install spring and top mounting and fit and tighten retaining nut.
4. Remove spring compressor.
5. Position mounting plate to damper and torque tighten retaining nuts (x3).
6. Install spring and damper assembly and torque tighten upper bolts (x4) each side.
7. Install damper assembly to lower arm each side and torque tighten nuts and bolts.
8. Position fuel filler pipe to body and install and tighten nut.
9. Position fuel filler pipe and install and tighten bolt.
10. Position toe control arm each side and install and torque tighten nuts and bolts.
11. Position handbrake callipers each side, install bolts (x2) each side and tighten bolts to the correct torque.
12. Connect ABS sensor multiplugs each side.
13. Install clips (x2) each side from sensor harness to toe control arms.
14. Install LH wheel arch liner (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.HB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear - RH -
Renew).
15. Install RH wheel arch liner (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.JB Wheel Arch Liner - Rear - LH -
Renew)
16. Install road wheel(s).
17. Lower vehicle on ramp.