How to Replace the front shocks on an Audi/VW

This video demonstrates replacing the front shocks on an Audi TT Mk 1. This video will work for plenty of late 90's and early 2000's Audis and Volkswagens. Here are the highlights I mention in the video:
Suspension Kit: amzn.to/2sKXcy2
Spring compressor: amzn.to/2tMTZxA
Tie rod and sway link video: • How to Replace a Tie R...
You can also use this video to learn how to remove the lower ball joint.
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#howto #diy #auto

[@Intransversable]

Jesus, this is a lot of extra work. Using the right tools make a hell of a difference.

[@melvinpugh4686]

Beautiful illustration. Thanks for people like you. Very knowledgeable.

[@Rythecarguy]

🤘🏻👍🏻💪🏻

[@royharding2437]

Thank you Ry that was extremely helpful i have the exact same job to do , but on a 2007 Mk 2 Audi TT.

[@Rythecarguy]

So glad to help out! Have fun.

[@kasmr9718]

great helpfull videos mate and well presented

[@annette.schweiss]

Thank you!!! I need to replace broken spring on my TT, too.

[@laurencewaters]

Very informative video...... Clearly spoken and precise.

[@Rythecarguy]

Glad you like it! Thank you for watching.

[@fazerjohn]

Thanks for a really clear video, I have to replace my broken TT Mk2 front spring this weekend and this has been a great help. I am going to replace both springs and dampers at the same time, but plan to leave the hub in place so expect some swearing!

[@Rythecarguy]

best of luck! Let me know how it goes.

[@fazerjohn]

It was a complete and utter swine! On the Mk2 TT to get at the top nut you need to remove the plenum cover. To do that you have to remove the wiper arms. And after 11 years they did not want to budge. Having read Zen and the Art... I did not reach for the lump hammer, but bought a puller. 2 days later still no luck so it's butcher the cover time. Then I could not undo the top nut; too tight!. So I decided to undo the 3x 8mm screws securing the top mount. 1st 2 no problems, the on the last one the clinch nut broke free and just spins. So I can't get at the underside to hold the spinning clinch nut due to the spring. I have to angle grind the spring off (2 cutters!). Then I still can't stop it spinning so I try to drill the screw out of the nut. This takes 2 hours and 5 broken drill bits but finally it is off! All in all 8 hours to do both sides (much quicker on the other side as I just butcher a larger hole in the plenum cover and use a nut-runner/impact gun to loosed the top nut. Now on interweb looking for 55mm grommets to tidy-up the plenum cover. All the very best for the UK. John

[@clintblakely2415]

Great video. I had a broken spring I replaced on the front of my TT and this would've helped immensely.

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks man!

[@jeremymiles2601]

is that a good brand to get of shocks?

[@johnmar1622]

thanks bro. Now I can do my S3. 10/10

[@user-bt3hb4vg7b]

Great demo. Removing the hub, disc & caliper made it look a lot easier. Did you mention new bolts for the strut?

[@5tu7fwm]

The more I watch this video the more I become a chicken. Damn VW

[@Rythecarguy]

Agreed. I'll never own one again.

[@yvanarmanet8884]

I don't speak and right england. because I'm France man. I don't stand all your speak but i like your video because your video help me to repare my Audi tt. Thank you very much.

[@Rythecarguy]

I’m glad it helped! 👍🏻

[@anthonyinitrebla4672]

good movie man. I have not the audi tools in order to remove the front shock absorber's nut. Do you have the link in order to buy the socket you used ? thanks you

[@dennisfossey4312]

Good job! You make it look easy..

[@Rythecarguy]

Thank you. 👍🏻💪🏻

[@barbrafay9417]

Exellent video thank you very much

[@Rythecarguy]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@robertwalling5972]

Would you recommend replacing spindle nuts after removal? I was told these are a one-time use nut. Granted, there's no end to tips and opinions, they're relatively cheap and probably a good idea. Excellent video b.t.w.👍👍👍

[@craighudson2016]

I just undone the lower suspension from the swing arm on my mk1 TT 2002. When I put it back together there sounds like a grinding on turning and the steering / tracking is now of. The track rod was not adjusted in the job. Could the suspension be misaligned or twisted in the large socket?

[@kolbietafoya1672]

Is the process much different for a Nissan Xterra? I understand the compression of the spring is always the same but as far as bushing and bearing disassembly?

[@azliatalib]

i like it

[@MarkRehorst]

Thanks! Very useful information, but what about the torque specs on the bolts that hold everything together?

[@MarkRehorst]

Nevermind, I found it... Here's the suspension service manual for the TT Mk2: www.lz7w.com/audi/mk2ttwiki/pdf/erwin/D3E80075730-Suspension__Wheels__Steering.pdf

[@HagakureJunkie]

Might as well upgrade the strut tops to Powerflex tops. They're $65 shipped and make a world of difference in handling.

[@MediaEasier]

good lad, decent video

[@crazycrawford]

Sorry but what are the torque specs for both a knuckle bolt as well as the strut tower. And are you even able to torque the strut tower without the special AUDI tool

[@kevinl.295]

Great video. Going to do my VW Passat front springs. After doing this, do you need to have the car aligned ?

[@Rythecarguy]

If you’re not removing the knuckle, bushing, or the tire rod ends you shouldn’t need to.

[@kevinl.295]

Ry the car guy perfect. Thanks for the reply. And look forward to more good videos!

[@ianroberts5745]

great thanks :)

[@Rythecarguy]

You're welcome!

[@GENERALDAWG]

How do I tighten the nut to the spec when using a torque wrench and without the Allen wrench from causing the strut to continuously spin as I tightened it

[@Rythecarguy]

Tighten it down with the Allen wrench until it stops spinning freely. Then grab to torque wrench to bring it to finally spec.

[@MrNext2000]

Hey thanks for your video but i have an issue with the passager side i just replaced the strut but now i cant put the exle back it seen that is to large it does not fit into my lower arm when i try to put the ball joint the cv axle dont fit. Im doing you process put the strut in place then put the axle and ball joint but my does not fit do you know what can be wrong

[@ivantem86]

I guess the nature hanging angle of struct is far from axle, if you move struct forward/ backward/ left or right a bit, axle might be join again.

[@billveder1071]

It would have been nice if you changed out a coil over spring on an actual Nissan Xterra. Similar yes but not the same. Torque spec for the coil over spring nut for example.

[@Rythecarguy]

What? I've done that like 30 times

[@aklthachem]

Hi have 2008 audi tt quatfro 3.2 can i buy the same part from Amazon ? As far as i know i need the part with electric

[@Rythecarguy]

If you have adjustable shocks then you can't use these.

[@nordicparanormal4775]

how did you remove the axel nut without the axel rotating?

[@Rythecarguy]

Using an impact gun. It will hit it fast enough that it should not spin. Also, put it in gear.

[@nordicparanormal4775]

okey thanks this video helped me a lot :D

[@websterchinyenze9914]

Ry the car guy Putting in gear wont help on an automatic transmission.

[@jamesritter9806]

Great job! Just done mine. Originally went to replace the bearing and hub. Instead i bought a loaded knuckle to save me a hassle. Lol balljoint was shot, tierod end shot, hammered my knuckle on strut that broke strut spring. Took all of it back off replaced strut. ..... my question to you RY the car guy is, when mounting your new strut i assume it did not have a allen key insert right? Just had what i call a little shaft or a nipple. How did you tighten it all the way with out the middle shaft spinning? I can only get it so far then the middle spins even with it securely mounted to the knuckle... now it clunks like a mutha f@#$

[@aqib2000]

James Ritter why would he reply to tr main question about this whole video lol. Without tightening that strut bolt without an impact makes this whole video is useless

[@SpyderBiscuit]

Hey Ry I’ve got 2 questions: 1. Putting everything back on, should I tighten down the top strut nut with the car on or off the ground? 2. How can I tighten the top strut nut without the whole piston spinning? My new suspension only has 22mm nut, but does not have the 7mm Allen wrench key to keep it from rotating.

[@Rythecarguy]

If it does not have the hole then it must be notched right? It should have two flat sides to slip a open ended wrench on.

[@websterchinyenze9914]

You could have removed just the shock without removing the whole hub.

[@stuartwinstanley4949]

I couldn't understand why he removed the hub to remove the strut 👎

[@RafaelBelo14]

@@stuartwinstanley4949 i had to replace mine shocks too, i have a A3 8P and i couldnt remove the shock without removing everything, was a pain in the ass. even the "rubber" thing in the top of the shock (im portuguese i dont know the right name of it), it was needeed 2 guys to swap it, without removing anything, even though i had to remove some bolts in the suspension arm.

[@stuartwinstanley4949]

Yes but you can remove the strut without the hub because I have done it many times before myself

[@RafaelBelo14]

@@stuartwinstanley4949 8:19 the hub is attached to the strut , you can see it with the abs ring sensor at least in portuguese thats an hub, if its translated xD

[@stuartwinstanley4949]

@@RafaelBelo14 like I said the strut can be removed without taking the brake caliper off and the hub carrier,as you call it the knuckle,just wedge a chisel in the gap and the strut will pop straight out

[@AngelR1987]

Audi made everything 15X more complicated than any other german car manufacturer.

[@Rythecarguy]

Ehhhhhhh I don't know about that. Mercedes is a nightmare too, depending on the model.

[@AngelR1987]

@@Rythecarguy we happen to own an audi and a bmw both newer models... bmw is a piece of cake but audi ☹️

[@carltonsproston9378]

Fitted a new strut without fitting a new spring aswell you know that's just going to snap doesn't make sense.

[@Rythecarguy]

What? Why would it snap?

[@carltonsproston9378]

Chances are it will snap as it's an old spring, I would have replaced the lot you know it's right then.

[@Rythecarguy]

@@carltonsproston9378 👍🏻

[@gplusgplus2286]

You don't need to remove the bottom knuckle with the bearing and axle to do this job!!! Why remove it?

[@Rythecarguy]

Because right after this video I took the axel out.

[@dennisthemenace7776]

Its not necessary to take all the axle out man......u could compress the spring since u loosed the mount nut on the top

[@Rythecarguy]

I was replacing the axel as well.

[@1jettin1]

WTF? You removed the whole hub assembly to change out a strut? SMH

[@Rythecarguy]

No, I was replacing the axel too.

[@wesdeyton6370]

Stopped watching when he said 13/16 nut.

[@Rythecarguy]

Stopped reading your comment when you wrote “stopped watching”

[@robertwalling5972]

@@Rythecarguy LMAO!!! Home-garage repairs occasionally require use of unconventional tools. I say "If it works, doesnt damage anything, and doesnt endanger anybody, DO IT" 👍👍👍

[@billgarner5384]

Macpherson Spring Compression, 13/16in Socket 1/2in Drive