Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
VW Golf IV Hatchback (1J1) 1.6, VW Golf IV Hatchback (1J1) 1.4 16V, VW Golf IV Hatchback (1J1) 1.8, VW Golf IV Hatchback (1J1) 1.8 T, VW Golf IV Hatchback (1J1) 1.6 16V, VW Golf IV Hatchback (1J1) 1.8 T GTI, VW Golf IV Hatchback (1J1) 1.6 … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change front springs / front coil springs on VW GOLF 4 (1J1) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Springs for Golf IV Hatchback (1J1) and other VW models

Alternative products

Coil spring

Replacement: coil springs – VW Golf 4. Tools you might need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Combination spanner #22
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Drive socket # 21 
                    
                      HEX bit no.H7
                    
                      12-point socket # 30
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Flat Screwdriver
                    
                      Pin punch
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: coil springs – VW Golf 4. Professionals recommend:

Both coil springs of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right coil springs of the front suspension.
Please note: all work on the car – VW Golf 4 – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.

Step 3

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a combination spanner #22. Use HEX No.H7.
Step 4

Clean the wheel hub fastener. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 5

Loosen the fastener of the driveshaft. Use 12-point socket No.30. Use a tap wrench.
Step 6

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 7

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 8

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 9

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. VW Golf 4
Step 10

Remove the wheel.
Step 11

Disconnect the fastener of the ABS sensor cable from the shock absorber strut. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 12.1

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle.

Step 12.2

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 13

Unscrew the fastener connecting the ball joint to the suspension control arm. Use a drive socket #13. Use a tap wrench.
Step 14

Unscrew the fastener connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use 12-point socket No.30.
Step 15

Treat the splines of the driveshaft CV joint. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 16

Remove the drive shaft. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.
Step 17

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 18

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench. Use a tap wrench.
Step 19

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 20

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a special drive socket to remove the shock absorber.
Step 21

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – VW Golf 4. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 22

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 23

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

AUTODOC recommends:
VW Golf 4 – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts.
Step 24

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 25

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: coil springs – VW Golf 4. Professionals recommend:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 26

Compress the spring.
Step 27

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 28

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 29

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 30

Release the coil spring.
Step 31

Remove the spring.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – VW Golf 4. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 32

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 33

Compress the spring.
Step 34

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 35

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H7. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.

AUTODOC recommends:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 36

Decompress the spring.
Step 37

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 38

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 39

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. VW Golf 4
Step 40

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 41

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 42

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 43

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
VW Golf 4 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 44

Clean the splines of the drive shaft CV joint. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 45

Treat the splines of the driveshaft CV joint. Use copper grease.

Step 46

Mount the drive shaft into the wheel hub.
Step 47

Screw the fasteners of the ball joint. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 48

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 49

Connect the fastener of the ABS sensor cable to the shock absorber strut.
Step 50

Screw the nut of the drive shaft. Use 12-point socket No.30. Use a tap wrench.
Step 51

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Treat all joints of the arm. Use copper grease.
Step 52

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 53

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – VW Golf 4. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 54

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. VW Golf 4
Step 55

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 56

Lower the car.
Step 57

Tighten the drive shaft nut. Use 12-point socket No.30. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 200 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 58

Tighten the wheel bolts using a criss-cross pattern. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 Nm torque.
Step 59

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a combination spanner #22. Use HEX No.H7. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 nm torque.
Step 60

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 61

Remove the fender protection cover.

Step 62

Close the hood.

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