I'd like to think I'm mechanically competent and have a decent collection of tools, but I definitely dont want to start something I can't finish! Has anyone done this themselves? If so, how complex is it? I'd probably need to buy or borrow a spring compression tool, but what else would I need?

4 wheel laser alignment rig?

Steve

Seriously, I would expect that if you were fairly handy with a spanner and could raise the car safely to an easy working height, it wouldn't be too bad. None of the fasteners should be too rusty which is the bane of the amateur mechanic.

Although I would get the car properly set up afterwards (see post 2 )

Steve

Do halfords do these "laser rig" things then?

...point taken! I probably could get set up to do the fitting myself but I hadn't really factored in full geometry afterwards so maybe it's better to let the professionals do it all in one go. On that note, any recommended fitters in the south west, Bristol area?

The fitting should be fairly straightforward and then drive it to a wheel-alignment facility afterwards. The geometry will not be that far out that it won't be safe to drive.

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... On that note, any recommended fitters in the south west, Bristol area?

Yes, try these guys:

SJ Curtis Auto Services

Southway Drive

North Common

Warmley

BRISTOL

Tel: 0117 960 3073

They did my mate's car (geometry setup only) Cost about 60squid plus the dreaded. Gave him great service and transformed his car after the new bushes were fitted on his Fabia.

Yes it's DiY if you are reasonably competent, I've done quite a few.

Harry has recently done his so I'm sure he can comment.

I would throughly recomend the VAG hub tool, it's quite cheap and will save soooo much aggro.

I would throughly recomend the VAG hub tool, it's quite cheap and will save soooo much aggro.

Any info on this? (i.e. part no. etc.).

Cheers.

why the vag hub tool? lowered at least 20 octavias and never needed a vag hub tool, please tell me what it is and what it does.

Unless I've misunderstood, it's just a small socket bit with an oval protrusion which can be tapped into the opening at the back of the hub (once pinch bolt is removed), and then rotated 90 degrees to force the "prongs" apart, loosening its grip on the strut

EDIT: ..which is why you could also use a chisel, but if there's one thing i've learnt this far (and spent a lot of money learning!), the right tools pay for themselves!

ahh that makes sense, cos getting the strut out from the hub is the most awkward part of the job. cheers for that.

Anyone know if that pinch bolt is 14mm spline like the fabia, save me looking? Of course, my spline kit only goes to a 12 :thumbdwn:

I've posted pics of the special tool before but here's another. It's VW part number 3424 and should be around £10. Laser do make a similar tool which can be ordered from Halfrauds but is more expensive I think.

The spline tool I use is part of a set from Halfrauds on a rail, quite cheap and the usual lifetime wty - I had one replaced recently.

I think you can make your own if you file a 6mm (i think) allen key on 2 sides,but for the money just get the laser part!

So it's just a spline set, a socket set+torque wrench, a spring compressor and one of those tools.

For some reason it just looks like it should be really simple, but scares the hell out of me.

For some reason it just looks like it should be really simple, but scares the hell out of me.

Snap!

So it's just a spline set, a socket set+torque wrench, a spring compressor and one of those tools.

For some reason it just looks like it should be really simple, but scares the hell out of me.

There is a little more to it than that Mark but it isn't rocket science,

There is a little more to it than that Mark but it isn't rocket science,

So approximately:

Remove wheel,

Compress spring,

Remove bottom end of strut from hub assembly

Remove top of strut from mount

Swap out the strut and spring leaving it compressed and put it back in the reverse of the other order.

Get it all geo checked?

Is that really about it or am i missing something large or obvious.

You've been reading too many Fabia guides!!

I prefer to undo the hub nut and remove the hub complete with the strut, makes it easier to handle but does mean you need to undo the two bolts holding the caliper on.

Xenon equiped cars have the level sensors to disconnect.

Rears are multilink so slightly different to a beam setup. You'll need something under the track control arm to support it as you undo the bottom bolt, the spring can then be removed and the shock absorber changed.

Do you have to drop the lower control arm away from the hub

(separate ball joint) to get the strut out?

If you are leaving the hubs in then probably not but as I said above I always take the hub off so you would need to undo the three nuts underneath.

New to forum and in a similar vane to previous ,needing to replace rear dampers on 4x4 1.8T and don't fancy dealer labour rates reasonably competent mechanic is it simply remove wheel ,inner wheel arch and undo the fasteners at each end of the dampers. Would I be right in thinking that you need to jack the rear end separately to avoid rear anti roll bar ? going boing as it looks as if it shares same mounting bolt.

Not sure that you'll have an ARB on the back.

Just stumbled across the following guide, which I expect is gonna be very similar if not the same as the octavia.

Suspension Installation - 2006 2007 MKV VW GTI / Jetta GLI GTI 2.0T FSI

Yeah forgot all about that one, used to have that in my faves.

I don't like his idea of leaving the hub still attached on the bottom ball joint, you can see tension on the ABS wiring.