Hello,
I'm trying to remove the drivers' side lower control arm on my wife's 2000 Jetta (with an 01M). However, the ATF pan is blocking access to the front bolt. I searched on the TDI forums and people were talking about disconnecting the dog bone mount, and then rotating the engine with the VW jack. Unfortunately none of the posts said where to actually put the jack. I removed the two 13mm dog bone bolts and I tried using my floor jack and a block of wood against the side of the oil pan and the bottom of the block, but it didn't go up enough. Then I tried jacking up the metal shield below the ATF pan. The engine moved some, but after a bit of jacking, the car started to lift off the jack stands so I lowered it back down. I was able to loosen the front bolt so it spins freely and wants to come out, but with the pan in the way it's not going to be coming out. Should I just drain the fluid and drop the pan? Looks like NAPA carries a Meyle kit and Pentosin fluid and they're both in stock so I can easily do that if needed. I really don't want to play with the sub frame bolts if I can help it. Thanks for any assistance or insight.
I'm trying to remove the drivers' side lower control arm on my wife's 2000 Jetta (with an 01M). However, the ATF pan is blocking access to the front bolt. I searched on the TDI forums and people were talking about disconnecting the dog bone mount, and then rotating the engine with the VW jack. Unfortunately none of the posts said where to actually put the jack. I removed the two 13mm dog bone bolts and I tried using my floor jack and a block of wood against the side of the oil pan and the bottom of the block, but it didn't go up enough. Then I tried jacking up the metal shield below the ATF pan. The engine moved some, but after a bit of jacking, the car started to lift off the jack stands so I lowered it back down. I was able to loosen the front bolt so it spins freely and wants to come out, but with the pan in the way it's not going to be coming out. Should I just drain the fluid and drop the pan? Looks like NAPA carries a Meyle kit and Pentosin fluid and they're both in stock so I can easily do that if needed. I really don't want to play with the sub frame bolts if I can help it. Thanks for any assistance or insight.