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How to change front suspension strut on VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6 TDI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 2.0 TDI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.4 TSI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.2 TSI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.4 TSI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.2 TSI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6 TDI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 2.0 TDI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.4 TSI MultiFuel, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.0 TSI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.6 TDI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.0 TSI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.0 TSI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.5 TSI, VW Golf Sportsvan (AM1, AN1) 1.5 TSI … 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

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). Tools you'll 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: suspension strut – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). 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 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: suspension strut – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). Tip from AUTODOC:
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: suspension strut – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). Tip from AUTODOC:
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.

AUTODOC recommends:
VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1) – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts.
Step 29

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 30

Set the suspension strut on the spring compressor tool.

AUTODOC recommends:
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: suspension strut – 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.
Step 38

Remove the rubber spring spacer.
Step 39

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 40

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

AUTODOC recommends:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 41

Install the rubber spring spacer.
Step 42

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 43

Compress the spring.
Step 44

Install the dust boot.
Step 45

Install the upper strut mount together with the bump stop.
Step 46

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 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 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 51

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.

Replacement: suspension strut – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). AUTODOC experts recommend:
Make sure that the suspension strut is installed in the correct position, according to the markings.
Step 52

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 53

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

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 55

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 56

Install the drive shaft.
Step 57

Attach the ball joint to the control arm.
Step 58

Tighten the fasteners that connect the ball joint to the suspension arm. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 59

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 60

Install and tighten the drive shaft bolt. Use 12-point socket No.24. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 61

Clean the sway bar link fastener.
Step 62

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 63

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 64

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 65

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 66

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 67

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 68

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 69

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 70

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 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 ceramic grease.
Step 73

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – VW GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1). 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 GOLF SPORTSVAN (AM1)
Step 75

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

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 77

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 78

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 79

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 80

Install and secure the cowl grille.
Step 81

Install the cowl grille seal.

Step 82

Remove the fender protection cover.

Step 83

Close the hood.

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