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How to change front suspension strut on VW Caddy 3 van – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.9 TDI 4motion, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.6 BiFuel, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 2.0 TDI 4motion, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 2.0 TDI, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 2.0 TDI 16V 4motion, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 2.0 TDI, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 2.0 TDI, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.4, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.6, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.9 TDI, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 2.0 EcoFuel, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.4, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.9 TDI, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 2.0 TDI, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.2 TSI, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.2 TSI, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.6 TDI, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 2.0 TDI 4motion, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 2.0 TDI 16V, VW Caddy III Van (2KA, 2KH, 2CA, 2CH) 1.6 TDI … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on VW CADDY 3 Van [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – VW Caddy 3 van. Tools you might need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Combination spanner #10
                    
                      Drive socket # 10
                    
                      Drive socket # 13
                    
                      Drive socket # 16
                    
                      Drive socket # 18
                    
                      Drive socket # 19
                    
                      Drive socket # 21
                    
                      Drive socket # 27
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      XZN bit # 14
                    
                      HEX bit No.H6
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – VW Caddy 3 van. Tip from AUTODOC:

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 – VW Caddy 3 van – 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 seal of the windscreen wiper scuttle tray.
Step 4

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

Unscrew the fasteners of the windscreen wiper scuttle tray. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 6

Remove the windscreen wiper scuttle tray.
Step 7

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 8

Loosen the upper fasteners of the suspension strut. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 9

Secure the wheels with chocks.

Step 10

Loosen the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a drive socket #27. Use a tap wrench.
Step 11

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 12

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 13

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. VW Caddy 3 van
Step 14

Remove the wheel.
Step 15

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 16

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 17

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 18

Clean the brake hose bracket fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 19

Disconnect the brake hose mounting bracket. Detach the ABS wiring harness bracket. Use a combination spanner #10.
Step 20

Clean the lower fastener connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 21

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use XZN #14. Use a tap wrench.
Step 22

Unscrew the fastener connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use a drive socket #27. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 23

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 24

Clean the fasteners connecting the ball joint to the suspension control arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 25

Unscrew the fastener connecting the ball joint to the suspension control arm. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 26

Disconnect the spherical joint from the arm.
Step 27

Detach the driveshaft from the steering knuckle.

Replacement: suspension strut – VW Caddy 3 van. Tip from AUTODOC:
Make sure that the drive shaft is not unloaded (when the car is jacked).
Step 28

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

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 30

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 31

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 32

Unscrew the upper fasteners of the shock strut.

AUTODOC recommends:
VW Caddy 3 van – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts.
Step 33

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 34

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – VW Caddy 3 van. 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 35

Compress the spring.
Step 36

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 37

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 38

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 39

Release the coil spring.
Step 40

Remove the spring.
Step 41

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – VW Caddy 3 van. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 42

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

Replacement: suspension strut – VW Caddy 3 van. Tip:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 43

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 44

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 45

Compress the spring.
Step 46

Install the mount, boot and bump stop onto a new shock absorber.
Step 47

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – VW Caddy 3 van. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 48

Decompress the spring.
Step 49

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 50

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 51

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 52

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.

Step 53

Screw in the top fasteners of the suspension strut mount. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
VW Caddy 3 van – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 54

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 55

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 56

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 57

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – VW Caddy 3 van. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 58

Clean the splines of the drive shaft CV joint. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 59

Clean the ball joint mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 60

Install the drive shaft.
Step 61

Attach the ball joint to the control arm.
Step 62

Screw in the fastener connecting the ball joint to the control arm. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 63

Install and tighten the drive shaft bolt. Use a drive socket #27. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 64

Tighten the lower fastening of the shock absorber. Use a drive socket #18. Use XZN #14. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 70 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
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 60 Nm torque.
Step 66

Secure the brake hose fastening bracket. Fasten the ABS wiring harness bracket. Use a combination spanner #10.
Step 67

Clean the mounting seats of the stabiliser link. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 68

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.

Step 69

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 70

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Treat all joints of the arm. Treat all joints of the stabiliser link. Use copper grease.
Step 71

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush.
Step 72

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 73

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – VW Caddy 3 van. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 74

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. VW Caddy 3 van
Step 75

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 76

Lower the car.
Step 77

Tighten the bolt connecting the drive shaft to the wheel hub. Use a drive socket #27. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 200 Nm torque.+180°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 78

Tighten the wheel bolts using a criss-cross pattern. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 Nm torque.
Step 79

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 80

Tighten the upper fasteners of the shock strut. 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 81

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 82

Install the windscreen wiper scuttle tray.
Step 83

Screw in the fasteners of the windscreen wiper scuttle tray. Use a drive socket #10. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 4 Nm torque.
Step 84

Install the seal of the windscreen wiper scuttle tray.
Step 85

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 86

Close the hood.

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