New shock absorbers arrived today so will attempt at fitting these over the next few days.

Do I need spring compressors or is there any other way of getting the old off and the new back on without the need to buy compressors.

Got to get the bottom clamp/bolt out also so these could be a pig to shift, but I am armed with some plus gas.

Mick

Definitely need spring compressors for the front ones. I have these Coil Spring Compressor Kit - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys not brilliant but cheap and get the job done. These CHT224 3piece Coil Spring Compressor - Automotive Tools - Machine Mart would probably be easier to use and safer. Or you may be able to just remove the struts, take them to a local friendly garage and get them to swap the shockers for you.

Would also be a good idea to be armed with a breaker bar, a hammer, a blow torch, and replacement nut/bolt for the bottom bolt.

I would also examine the condition of the boot/covers, bump stops, and the plate that holds the top of the spring before you start the job and consider replacing these.

Thanks for the link to Screwfix, never noticed them and I have a catalogue.

Will only know when I have stripped the parts out if I need any bits like bushes and bolts etc....Hope not.

Mick

Did not find a better thread so i am resurrecting this one.

 

Going to replace the strut top bearing on my felly and need a source for the top nut.

I also need a new pinchbolt for the lower ball joint which i am unable to find a supplier for localy.

Does anyone have a good supplier (online) that can get me these?

If your car has over 70k miles you'll definitely need new upper rubber bushings too. No more frog jumping in curves over bumps, no more groaning sounds.

 

Personal request: can you take photos while doing the job then show them to us?

Edited 6 October, 201312 yr by adurer

I did manage to track down a dealer who could get me the parts.

I will try and remember to document as i go. The cas has done about 18000km and the top rubbers surely need replacing, new ones are ordered and should arrive soon. I eill try and get the job done this weekend as it's gettig colder and i only have a month to fix it and redo my MOT.

Ok, so i got to work on the front suspention.

 

Here is the lower part of the leg, oiled up to be removed. There is a screw and nut on the back to remove loosening the clamp.

 

 

Stabiliser undone

 

At the top, i removed the two retaining nuts on both sides of the car and took the brace off, i then reinstalled the nuts loosely. 

 

Back down to the strut, with some help of my faitful persuader aka. hammer it started to move.

 

 

Success!

 

The strut is off the car and i could quickly locate my problem. The top mounting plate is rubbing on the spring seat.

 

Using a pair of cheap spring compressors i started to disasemble the strut. BE CAREFUL doing this so you dont hurt yourself.

To prevent the compressors from slipping on the spring i used some hose clamps for extra safety.

 

 

Taken apart. The big bushing gets replaced and the bearing (still on the damper here) gets cleaned and packed with fresh grease.

 

No signs of leaks.

 

Then the headache started :p

Someone has before i got the car done some work here and broken the pinch bolt, tried to drill it out and failed ending up with a hole partly trough the bolt and partly in the clamp, unable to fit the new original screw and nut i ended up having to use a M8 and a locking nut in 8.8 steel, the same as i removed from there to get the car back together. It seems to do its job though but i will mend this properly when i got the time.

 

 

It came together quite fast as it started to get windy and cold so sadly i did not take any more pictures. The assembly is quite straight forward though. Just do everything in reverse using new parts where needed. The order for the strut to go together is: damper, spring, upper spring seat, bearing, bearing cup, rubber bushing, mounting plate, dished washer and then finally the nut to hold it all together. Simply stick it up and attach the top nuts loosely, then attach the lower end and tighten everything.

Edited 11 October, 201312 yr by bic

Did not find a better thread so i am resurrecting this one.

 

Going to replace the strut top bearing on my felly and need a source for the top nut.

I also need a new pinchbolt for the lower ball joint which i am unable to find a supplier for localy.

Does anyone have a good supplier (online) that can get me these?

Just a shot in dark , but have you asked in VAG TPS . http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/

Just a shot in dark , but have you asked in VAG TPS . http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/

 

Did find a VAG dealer that ordered the parts for me. Quite cheap.

If anyone need to find partnumbers, check this site: http://www.auto-parts.spb.ru/cat/au/au.mycat

I use tps for my skoda parts not let me down....

Good post  ! Will also change mine ( favorit) and make a video of it hopefully.