Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6 TDI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.4 TSI MultiFuel, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 2.0 TDI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6 TDI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.4 TSI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.4 TSI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 2.0 TDI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6 TDI … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

This video shows the replacement procedure of a similar car part on another vehicle

All the parts you need to replace – Springs for Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) and other VW models

Coil spring

Supplementary Spring

Coil spring buffer

        Coil spring for VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6 TDI Diesel (110 hp)
      
        Coil spring for VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 2.0 TDI Diesel (150 hp)
      
        Coil spring for VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.4 TSI Petrol (150 hp)
      
        Coil spring for VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.4 TSI Petrol (125 hp)
      
        Coil spring for VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6 TDI Diesel (90 hp)
      
        Coil spring for VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 2.0 TDI Diesel (110 hp)
      
        Coil spring for VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6 Petrol (110 hp)
      
        Coil spring for VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.4 TSI MultiFuel Petrol/Ethanol (125 hp)
      
        Coil spring for VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6 TDI Diesel (115 hp)

Replacement: coil springs – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). Tools you might need:

                        Wire brush
                      
                        WD-40 spray
                      
                        Brake cleaner 
                      
                        Ceramic grease
                      
                        Copper grease 
                      
                        Torque wrench
                      
                        Combination spanner #18
                      
                        Drive socket # 13
                      
                        Drive socket # 16
                      
                        Drive socket # 18
                      
                        12-point socket # 24
                      
                        21-mm strut nut socket
                      
                        Shock absorber socket
                      
                        HEX bit no.H7
                      
                        XZN bit # 6
                      
                        XZN bit # 14
                      
                        Wheel impact socket #17
                      
                        Ratchet wrench
                      
                        Tap wrench
                      
                        Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                      
                        Crow bar
                      
                        Hydraulic transmission jack
                      
                        Fender cover
                      
                        Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: coil springs – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). Tip from AUTODOC:

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 SPORTSVAN (AM1) – 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

Remove the cowl grille seal.
Step 4

Remove the clips of the plastic cowl grille. Use a crowbar.
Step 5

Move the cowl grille aside to access the fasteners of the suspension strut mount.
Step 6

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 7

Loosen the upper fasteners of the suspension strut. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 8

Secure the wheels with chocks.

Step 9

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 10

Raise the car.

Replacement: coil springs – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). AUTODOC experts recommend:
If you are using a jack, make sure it rests on a flat surface without any unevenness.Be sure to additionally secure the car with jack stands.
Step 11

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1)
Step 12

Remove the wheel.
Step 13

Clean the fastener that connects the sway bar link to the suspension strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #18. Use XZN #6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 16

Clean the lower fastener connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 17

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use XZN #14. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 18

Unscrew the fastener connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use 12-point socket No.24. Use a tap wrench.
Step 19

Remove the fastening bolt.

Step 20

Clean the fasteners connecting the ball joint to the suspension control arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 21

Unscrew the fasteners connecting the ball joint to the control arm. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 22

Disconnect the ball joint from the control arm.
Step 23

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

Step 24

Detach the driveshaft from the steering knuckle.

Replacement: coil springs – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Make sure that the drive shaft is not unloaded (when the car is jacked).
Step 25

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 26

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a special drive socket to remove the shock absorber.
Step 27

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 28

Unscrew the upper fasteners of the shock strut.

Replacement: coil springs – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). Tip from AUTODOC:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 29

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 30

Set the suspension strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: coil springs – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). 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 31

Compress the spring.
Step 32

Clean the strut piston rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 33

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a 21-mm strut nut socket. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 34

Remove the upper strut mount together with the bump stop.
Step 35

Remove the dust boot.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 36

Release the coil spring.
Step 37

Remove the spring.

AUTODOC recommends:
Inspect the rubber mounts of the suspension spring. Replace if necessary.
Step 38

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 39

Compress the spring.
Step 40

Install the dust boot.
Step 41

Install the upper strut mount together with the bump stop.
Step 42

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a 21-mm strut nut socket. Use HEX No.H7. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 43

Decompress the spring.
Step 44

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 45

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 46

Clean the suspension strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Clean the splines of the drive shaft CV joint. Clean the CV axle mounting seat. Clean the ball joint mounting seat. Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 47

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.

AUTODOC recommends:
Make sure that the suspension strut is installed in the correct position, according to the markings.
Step 48

Secure the upper fasteners of the shock strut. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1) – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 49

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 50

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 51

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 52

Install the drive shaft.
Step 53

Attach the ball joint to the control arm.
Step 54

Tighten the fasteners that connect the ball joint to the suspension arm. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 55

Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use XZN #14. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 56

Install and tighten the drive shaft bolt. Use 12-point socket No.24. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 57

Clean the sway bar link fastener.
Step 58

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 59

Screw in the fastener connecting the sway bar link to the suspension strut. Use a combination spanner #18. Use XZN #6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 60

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 61

Tighten the bolt connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use 12-point socket No.24. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 200 Nm torque.
Step 62

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 63

Tighten the lower fasteners of the suspension strut. Use a drive socket #18. Use XZN #14. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 70 Nm torque.+90°
Step 64

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #18. Use XZN #6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 Nm torque.
Step 65

Tighten the fasteners connecting the ball joint to the control arm. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 40 Nm torque.+45°
Step 66

Treat the fastener that connects the sway bar link to the suspension strut. Treat the fastener that connects the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Treat the ball joint fastener. Use copper grease.
Step 67

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush.
Step 68

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use ceramic grease.
Step 69

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 70

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1)
Step 71

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 72

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 Nm torque.
Step 73

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 74

Tighten the upper fasteners of the shock strut. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 15 Nm torque.+90°
Step 75

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 76

Install and secure the cowl grille.
Step 77

Install the cowl grille seal.

Step 78

Remove the fender protection cover.

Step 79

Close the hood.

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