Rear Shock Absorber Replacement - MK 7 VW Golf & MANY OTHERS

Is your suspension really soft? Does your car have bad handling? Did you have an advisory for slight misting of oil on your shock absorbers? It might be time to change them!
In this video I go through the full process of replacing the rear shock absorbers on the MK7 Golf but the process will be very similar if not identical for MANY other models. This demonstration is on a car with multilink rear suspension.
Interesting article here about a knocking noise from the OE rear shocks:
“If you own a Mk7 VW Golf you may notice your rear suspension has started to get noisy. Drivers have been reporting an annoying knocking noise from the rear of the car. We understand this affects Mk7 Golfs with multilink rear suspension. The cause has been identified as the OE rear shock absorbers. if you tap the damper you will clearly hear the knocking.” continue reading here: www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/blo...
Link to Bilstein B4 rear shock absorbers and full list of vehicles they fit: www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/pro...
Self locking nuts and bolts removed should be replaced with new ones. More information can be found in the Haynes Manual for carrying out this job and many others: amzn.to/3luyVVU
Product links:
Torx bits kit: amzn.to/3G7N2tF
Axel stands: amzn.to/382hwRg
Trolley jack: amzn.to/3ltcksN
Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility for damage caused to yourself or your vehicle from following this video. Carry out this job at your own risk.

[@zubeystinzen540]

You'll never have a garage bill with your skills mate, great job👍

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Cheers mate, hopefully not! 💸

[@game4alaughman]

@@TurnersWorkshop97T25 for inner arch bolts. T20 will cost ya money renewing them after you strip them

[@bakamojojojo]

Great video, very helpful, thanks!

[@user-tx3tv5os7h]

Thanks very much for taking time to share your knowledge, I feel confident now changing the rear shocks on my M7 golf 👍

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

My pleasure, thanks for your comment and best of luck with the job 😊

[@Ppp-kk6hw]

Well done mate and big up from Scotland 👍

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Thanks mate 😁

[@Bilal_458]

Great video, very helpful, keep up the good work! 🙂

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Thank you mate, I’m glad it is helpful 😊

[@wayne1243]

Great job car looks in great condition 👊👊👊

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Cheers Wayne, the car doesn’t get as much love as the van but it’s a good daily 😊👍🏼

[@garyclifton2180]

Nice fix young man

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Cheers Gary 👍🏼😊

[@Greensaleenx7]

Thank you for giving torque specs, VW is such a headache to find them.

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

No problem! 😊

[@Slawall]

Hi, which key size did you use for loosening the screw on top of the absorber?

[@fredhuan7642]

👍✌️

[@danh9225]

Good job but you'll need to go back and replace the 2x16mm bolts at the mount as they are stretch bolts and must be renewed so the correct preload to the mounts can be achieved.

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Hi thank you for your suggestion, I will make a mental note for the next time I do them 😊

[@danh9225]

@@TurnersWorkshop97 doubt the struts will fall off this time. Good job.

[@nsoper19]

Great video dude. Where did you get the torque requirements from? want to check that the MK6 is the same.

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Thanks mate, they’re from the Haynes manual for the mk7

[@pareshgohil9820]

Thank you for video sharing. Very helpful. I have mk7 & same problem. My MOT failed yesterday due to leak. Do you know the part number for the rear S/A.

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

No problem 😊 I used bilstein b4s part no: 19-230542: amzn.to/3PXS82h

[@timakrill]

Very helpful, thank you. Is it a 16mm spanner required for the nut on the mount (under the rubber cap)?

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

No problem, it’s a 16mm offset ring spanner or open socket

[@timakrill]

Thank you. I wish my lower mounting bolts came off as easy as yours did!!

[@missionabandoned]

Great video well done , just a question , where would i find the ride height for an audi q3 1.4 s line 2015

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Thank you, a Haynes manual is invaluable for vehicle specifications and torque settings 😊

[@veruc_w]

Hi and thanks! Is it a must to change both of them at once? Thanks

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Hi yes it’s definitely recommended

[@harrygilbert3738]

Great video. However, I’m confused with how the ride height is set - what mechanically, determines the ride height If there is no physical notch adjustment?

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Good question, I was somewhat confused by this at first. The ride height adjustments are quoted from the Haynes manual. I believe that the ride height is set manually as the bolts are torqued with the wheels off the ground.

[@gdoke14450]

I think I figured it out by watching a couple of these DIYs. There must not be much pivoting of the lower end of the shock allowed when that bolt is torqued to the proper level. If the rubber bushing in the lower mount is tightened in a spot too far off from the normal ride height then that bushing may be over torqued with a torsional stress (twisted too much?) when the car is set down on the tire. The twisted rubber piece could cause the car sit slightly higher or lower if the ride height isn't set as in the video.

[@Stenchmaster84]

Can you do a video for the fronts too mate! Thank you for this, mines leaking and I was quoted £700 but Ik now I can do this myself.

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Hello mate, apologies but unfortunately I had to do mine in a bit of a rush to get it through the mot and didn’t get a chance to record them. There’s some good videos out there already for it though 👍🏼

[@Stenchmaster84]

@@TurnersWorkshop97 ah I see no worries mate. Didn’t realise doing the rear ones were this simple anyways👍🏽

[@Stenchmaster84]

@@TurnersWorkshop97 just changed my rear ones to a Bilstein B8s. Mine feels a lot stiffer than before. Did you encounter that with your too?

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Yes for sure, certainly feel the pot holes now!

[@bencehajzer2535]

Hey! Why is it important to torque the bottom screw at the ride height? I have to do this job on my mk7 gtd, I got B4's too :) Cheers! nice video!

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Hi there, I believe it’s so that the strut is pinched in the right position so that it doesn’t stress the components once it’s at the correct ride height :)

[@datlankykid4484]

Hi mate might be a long shot but do you know what degree your offset spanner is, I tried doing this job last night and my offset spanner’s didn’t have enough angle on them. They’re a magnusson set from tool station

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Hey, I can’t say the exact angle but another option would be to use a pass through socket set? Or you could get a cheap socket, grind a couple of flats on either side to hold it steady with an adjustable. Then the Allen key will pass through the top of the socket.

[@anthony6006]

Hello. What shocks should i buy for my mk6 because i want the car to ride a bit softer. My current shocks are excel g

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Hi, I went for Bilstein B4s, they are fairly firm. Sorry I can’t advise as I’m not so sure. Have you considered air suspension kits 😎

[@kingkolt886]

Would this process be the same for my 2014 vw Jetta se 1.8t? I have to replace my two rear shocks.

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Will be very similar for sure, It’s worth getting the Haynes workshop manual so you know all the torque specs and ride height etc specific to your car 👍🏼

[@russelldownesdownes5618]

Is everything the same for the Audi TT mk1 for the torque and hub line up etc

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

I can’t say for sure as I only have the torque specs for the mk7 golf. There might be an Audi forum you could ask or you could get the Haynes manual for your car that has all of them in.

[@mitchpeacock6252]

Hi, great video, thank-you. Can you tell me, is the lower suspension arm ride height the same 370mm on a 1.6tdi version?

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Hi Mitch, I’m pretty sure it’s the same ride height for the standard models but could be different for the GTI/ GTD, R etc as they tend to be slightly lower 👍🏼

[@mitchpeacock6252]

I'd be really interested in seeing the front suspension being done as well. I've just ordered bilstein B4's all round along with a set of H&R 35mm lowering springs to improve handling further

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Very nice, I’m sure that will make a big difference! I will make a video soon for the fronts. I have the shocks now just need some time to get on with it 👍🏼

[@mitchpeacock6252]

@@TurnersWorkshop97 are you any closer to doing the front shocks? I'm kinda waiting for that video before I dare attempt 😅

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

I have the shocks now but I’m working every day next week 🥲 so unfortunately won’t get a chance to do it until week after next. Give it a go mate, you will need spring compressors. I will try and make the video as soon as I can

[@tonypazek8191]

Its not a uk thing that your shocks are leaking .I live in Belgium and my seat leon st from 2019,and 38000 miles has leaking shocks behind.I suppose vw quality with cheap parts.

[@TurnersWorkshop97]

Could be the quality of parts, the Bilsteins seem to be holding up well against the pot holes so far 😁

[@Al3xisAE]

These measurements are bs, a shock is just a damper, if it’s in or out it’s the same level of damping so measuring a gap and tightening makes no sense. I even tested it on my gte and it doesn’t matter what distance you do up the shock bottom bolt as long as it’s under some weight