Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) 1.2, VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) 1.4, VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) 1.4 TDI, VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) 1.6, VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) 1.0 Total Flex, VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) 1.6 Total Flex … 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

Alternative products

Top strut mount

Replacement: strut mount – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3). Tools you need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 16 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      12-point socket # 36
                    
                      HEX bit No.H5.
                    
                      HEX bit No.H7.
                    
                      Combination spanner #16
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Combination spanner #21
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Pin punch
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: strut mount – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3). Tip from AUTODOC:

All mounts of the front shock struts should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the mounts of the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
Be sure to replace all self-locking nuts and bolts during installation.
Warning! Shut down the engine before starting any work – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3).

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 drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 4

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 5

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 6

Remove the hub bearing protection cap.

Please note!
Some cars are not equipped with wheel hub caps.
Step 7

Unscrew the hub lock nut. Use drive 12-point socket #36.
Step 8

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.

Step 9

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: strut mount – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3). AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 10

Remove the wheel.
Step 11.1

Clean the fasteners connecting the stabiliser link to the shock strut, and those connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle.

Step 11.2

Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 12

Unscrew the nut and remove the stabilizer rod from the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #16. Use HEX No.H5. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 13

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

Detach the brake hose from the shock strut. Use a crowbar.
Step 15

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 16

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a special drive socket to remove the shock absorber. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 17

Clean the ball joint mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 18

Unscrew the fastener connecting the ball joint to the suspension control arm. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 19

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 20

Disconnect the spherical joint from the arm. Use a crowbar.
Step 21

Unscrew the fastener connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use drive 12-point socket #36.
Step 22

Treat the mounting seat of the driveshaft on the steering knuckle. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 23

Pull the drive shaft out of the steering knuckle and lifting it, tie to the body. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.

Replacement: strut mount – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3). AUTODOC experts recommend:
Make sure that the drive shaft is not unloaded (when the car is jacked).
Step 24

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut. Use a pin punch. Use a hammer.
Step 25

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: strut mount – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3). Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.Make sure that the steering knuckle is not released from load.
Step 26

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.

Replacement: strut mount – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3). Tip from AUTODOC experts:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 27

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 28

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: strut mount – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3). 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 29

Compress the spring.
Step 30

Clean the shock absorber rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 31

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a combination spanner #21. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 32

Remove the shock absorber mount, boot and bump stop.

Replacement: strut mount – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3). Tip:
Examine the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop. Replace them if necessary.
Step 33

Install the new mount, boot, and bump stop on the shock absorber.
Step 34

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

Replacement: strut mount – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3). AUTODOC recommends:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 35

Decompress the spring.
Step 36

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 37

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 38

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3)
Step 39

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

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 41

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 42

Clean the splines of the drive shaft CV joint. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 43

Install the drive shaft.
Step 44

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3) – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 45

Install and tighten a new bolt of 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 46

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 47

Attach the ball joint to the control arm.
Step 48

Tighten the ball joint fastener. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 20 Nm torque.+90°

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

Screw the nut of the drive shaft. Use drive 12-point socket #36.
Step 50

Secure the stabilizer link on the suspension strut. Use a combination spanner #16. Use HEX #H5. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 40 Nm torque.
Step 51

Fasten the brake hose on the strut.
Step 52

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Treat the contacting surface. Use copper grease.
Step 53

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

Replacement: strut mount – VW FOX (5Z1, 5Z3). Tip from AUTODOC experts:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 54

Lower the car.

Step 55

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 15 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 56

Screw the wheel hub lock nut. Use drive 12-point socket #36. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 50 Nm torque.+45°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 57

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

Was this manual helpful?

Please rate this manual on a scale from 1 to 5. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us.

Need New Tyres?

Find out which tyre and wheel sizes are compatible with the VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) model

VW Fox 5z1 tyre size

How to change rear wheel bearing on VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) – replacement guide

Free download PDF
1.37 MB
How to change front lower arm on VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) – replacement guide

Free download PDF
2.59 MB
How to change track rod end on VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) – replacement guide

Free download PDF
2.28 MB
How to change front anti roll bar links on VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) – replacement guide

Free download PDF
2.05 MB
How to change front ball joint on VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) – replacement guide

Free download PDF
1.64 MB
How to change rear strut mount on VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) – replacement guide

Free download PDF
1.96 MB

How to change rear strut mount on VW Fox Hatchback (5Z1, 5Z3, 5Z4) – replacement guide

Free download PDF
1.96 MB
How to change strut mount on a car – replacement tutorial

Universal

Free download PDF
1.04 MB
How to change front strut mount on VW Polo 9N – replacement guide

Free download PDF
2.08 MB
How to change front strut mount on VW Golf 6 – replacement guide

Free download PDF
4.01 MB
How to change front strut mount on VW Golf 7 – replacement guide

Free download PDF
3.7 MB
How to change front strut mount on VW Golf 5 – replacement guide

Free download PDF
3.07 MB

Unlock your car maintenance assistant!

Track expenses, manage logs, schedule replacements, and more.

Unveiling the secrets: Detecting vacuum leaks with a Smoke Machine | AUTODOC

19K views

Published on: 23/07/2020
5 mistakes when replacing consumables

6K views

Published on: 06/02/2025
7 signs of faulty fuel injectors | AUTODOC tips

10K views

Published on: 09/01/2025
How to inspect and troubleshoot your car heater when it’s not working

5K views

Published on: 11/02/2021