Shock absorber replacement - assistance please?!?!

[njbuchan]

Can I call on your collective knowledge please? I've sourced a used set of shocks for my 6N2 GTi from Tom_G_SGF and am going to have a crack at fitting them myself. I'm only going to do the rears first as I think my front ones are OK. How difficult is it to swap out the rears? Do I need any specific tools? I'm swapping standard for standard so hopefully not too complicated.... Cheers folks!

[bradley1983]

It's an easy job.

You need some sockets 17mm for the bottom bolts. And 13mm for the top mounts. And a 13mm spanner from memory.

It's an quick job . 30 mins each side max.

[njbuchan]

cheers, should I jack it up or can it be done with wheels on ground?

[bradley1983]

Sorry dude, jack it up. Remove wheels too. Well that's what I did when I changed mine last year.

[njbuchan]

cheers Brad, I'll let you know how I get on....

[njbuchan]

Done! One of the bottom bolts sheared so had to replace but handling transformed......

[bradley1983]

So it was the same as mine?

[njbuchan]

must have been. I had a tinker with the old ones and one was OK but the other had no damping at all. Now it handles like I hoped it would! Just a shame that the one with the bottom bolt seized into it was the OK one. Never mind, both done now and like you said, very straightforward.

[Mart!n-GTI-DK]

Nice to hear that it went relatively painless. BUT I couldn't help but notice your question:

cheers, should I jack it up or can it be done with wheels on ground?

An was wondering... If the car is resting on the shocks (which is all that holds the car up of the ground). How would you change them without jacking up the car?
I asume you can see the irony in my question now that you have done the job.

[njbuchan]

absolutely Martin! I did chuckle to myself when I read the thread yesterday! Can't believe how simple the job is though. Are the fronts much harder?

[Mart!n-GTI-DK]

absolutely Martin! I did chuckle to myself when I read the thread yesterday! Can't believe how simple the job is though. Are the fronts much harder?

Actually they are easier to remove and install. BUT Then there's the allignment you have to get done prof. after installation. Because it is impossible to get right without there laser epuipment.

[njbuchan]

thanks man, reckon my front ones are OK for the time being!