Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
OPEL Meriva A (X03) 1.4 16V Twinport LPG (E75), OPEL Meriva A (X03) 1.8 (E75), OPEL Meriva A (X03) 1.7 DTI (E75), OPEL Meriva A (X03) 1.6 (E75), OPEL Meriva A (X03) 1.7 CDTI (E75), OPEL Meriva A (X03) 1.4 16V Twinport (E75), OPEL Meriva A (X03) 1.6 (E75), OPEL Meriva A (X03) 1.3 CDTI (E75), OPEL Meriva A (X03) 1.7 CDTI (E75), OPEL Meriva A (X03) 1.3 CDTI (E75) … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on OPEL MERIVA A [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Shock Absorber for Meriva A (X03) and other OPEL models

Shock absorber

        Shock absorber for Meriva A (X03) Petrol/Petroleum Gas (LPG) (90 hp)
      
        Shock absorber for Meriva A (X03) Petrol (125 hp)
      
        Shock absorber for Meriva A (X03) Diesel (75 hp)
      
        Shock absorber for Meriva A (X03) Petrol (87 hp)
      
        Shock absorber for Meriva A (X03) Diesel (100 hp)
      
        Shock absorber for Meriva A (X03) Petrol (90 hp)
      
        Shock absorber for Meriva A (X03) Petrol (105 hp)
      
        Shock absorber for Meriva A (X03) Diesel (75 hp)
      
        Shock absorber for Meriva A (X03) Diesel (125 hp)

Replacement: suspension strut – Opel Meriva X03. Tools you'll need:

                        Wire brush
                      
                        WD-40 spray
                      
                        Brake cleaner 
                      
                        Copper grease 
                      
                        Torque wrench
                      
                        Combination spanner #18
                      
                        Drive socket # 8 
                      
                        Drive socket # 9 
                      
                        Drive socket # 13 
                      
                        Drive socket # 18 
                      
                        Drive socket # 19 
                      
                        Wheel impact socket #17
                      
                        Shock absorber socket # DD9
                      
                        Ratchet wrench
                      
                        Tap wrench
                      
                        Flat Screwdriver
                      
                        Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                      
                        Hydraulic transmission jack
                      
                        Fender cover
                      
                        Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Opel Meriva X03. AUTODOC experts recommend:

Both shock struts of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
Please note: all work on the car – Opel Meriva X03 – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Open the hood.
Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 3

Remove the windscreen wiper arm nut covers. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 4

Clean the fasteners of the wiper arms. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 5

Unscrew the fasteners of the windscreen wiper arms. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 6

Remove the wiper arms.
Step 7

Unscrew the fasteners of the cowl grille. Use a drive socket #8. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 8

Remove the cowl grille seal.
Step 9

Unscrew the fasteners of the windscreen wiper scuttle tray. Use a drive socket #8. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 10

Release the engine bulkhead panel clips.
Step 11

Raise up and remove the cowl grille.
Step 12

Unscrew the fasteners of the windscreen wiper scuttle tray. Use a drive socket #8. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 13

Remove the windscreen wiper scuttle tray.
Step 14

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 15

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #9. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 16

Secure the wheels with chocks.

Step 17

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 18

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 19

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Opel Meriva X03
Step 20

Remove the wheel.
Step 21

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 22

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 23

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 24

Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 25

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 26

Unscrew the fasteners connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a tap wrench.
Step 27

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 28

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 29

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 30

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 31

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

AUTODOC recommends:
Opel Meriva X03 – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts.
Step 32

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 33

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Opel Meriva X03. Tip from AUTODOC:
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 34

Compress the spring.
Step 35

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 36

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a shock absorber socket №DD9. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 37

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 38

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Opel Meriva X03. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 39

Release the coil spring.
Step 40

Remove the spring.
Step 41

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – Opel Meriva X03. AUTODOC recommends:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 42

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 43

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 44

Compress the spring.
Step 45

Install the mount, boot and bump stop onto a new shock absorber.
Step 46

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a shock absorber socket №DD9. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 50 Nm torque.
Step 47

Decompress the spring.
Step 48

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 49

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 50

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 51

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 52

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. Opel Meriva X03
Step 53

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 54

Install the fastening bolts.
Step 55

Screw in the fasteners connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 56

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Opel Meriva X03. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 57

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 80 Nm torque.+60°

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

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 59

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 60

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 55 Nm torque.
Step 61

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 62

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 63

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Opel Meriva X03. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 64

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. Opel Meriva X03
Step 65

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 66

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 110 Nm torque.
Step 67

Remove the jacks and chocks.

Step 68

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a shock absorber socket №DD9. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 50 Nm torque.
Step 69

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 70

Install the windscreen wiper scuttle tray.
Step 71

Screw in the fasteners of the windscreen wiper scuttle tray. Use a drive socket #8. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 72

Attach the cabin filter cover clips.
Step 73

Install and secure the cowl grille. Use a drive socket #8. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 74

Install the cowl grille seal.
Step 75

Reinstall the wiper arms.

Replacement: suspension strut – Opel Meriva X03. AUTODOC recommends:
Make sure not to mix up the wiper arms on the driver's and passenger's sides.
Step 76

Tighten the wiper arm fasteners. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 22 nm torque.
Step 77

Install the nut covers of the windscreen wiper arms.
Step 78

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 79

Close the hood.

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