I have a 2001 a6 2.7t. I'm replacing my rear shocks since I've finally figured out the cause of the wierd rattling I was getting (see my thread "rattling rear suspension - VERY elusive... solved? )

However, it is impossible to disassemble the thing with std tools... you can see why below.

the factory manual calls for "shock absorber wrench 3017 A" ... but I have checked B&B auto, napa, and schucks, as well as google, with zero luck... Glenn Elder, the local snap-on rep did know exactly what I was talking about, even so far as to know it is an 17mm nut in there, but after calling snapon hq the tool is no longer available.

As you can see from the pics you have to get at the nut while still being able to get pliers or a custom socket over the shaft of the shock. The nut is 18 mm. I can't discern any reason for it to be recessed except that it makes it hard for a non-vag employee to work on

I was able to find similar tools by KD and lisle, but they are made for 9/16" 15mm stuff (many domestics). At some specialty vw/audi houses I found a tool that, by name, was right for the job, but does not resemble the vag special tool. It looks like a spanner.

If I can't find the right tool, i may by a cheep deep 17mm socket, bore out the middle so I can get another socket inside, and grind the outside into a hex head to be gripped by a wrench. I'd really like to get the correct tool, though.

any thoughts? This is an easy job, I know many diy-inclined ppl would do it themselves... they would have obviously run into this same prob.

Thanks!


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this is what vag special tool 3017 A is supposed to look like. and I found a Hazet model for sale... but at $90 I think i'll build my own...

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this is what the lisle tool looks like ( it is LIS20390 lisle 20390 ). the KD tool looks like what I need, but as I mentioned it is for 15mm, not 17mm...

but after seeing pic2 below, i think the solution is obvious... I'll just scrap an old 17mm socket and simply cut half of the middle out. Simplicity is golden... I had originally dismissed this sort of possiblity as weakening the socket too much, but according to these designs it works fine...

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