[Vwdiesel] Strut service w/o alignment

[Hayden Chasteen]

I have changed the strut bearing on my A3 Jetta and an A2 Jetta without
removing them from the car.  It takes some work to get the spring
compressors in there but it can be done.  The hard part is being able to
push down far enough on the A-frame to get the  bearing clear from the car
body to remove it and replace it  with the new one.  I discovered with my
Pickup that, unlike my A2&3, there really is only one nut holding everything
together.  First time I started to replace the struts, I shot the whole
thing half way across the yard.  Hayden
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Hansen" <jhsg at sasktel.net>
To: "Vwdiesel" <vwdiesel at audifans.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 11:07 AM
Subject: RE: [Vwdiesel] Strut service w/o alignment


> cool deal Nate.
>
> Can't you just use a spring compressor and shrink the spring enough with
the
> car on jackstands to R&R the bearings?
> I know when I have had mine out to do the struts, I was only out a fine
hair
> after cleaning and marking everything well enough to do the reassembly as
> close to the way it was as possible.  I never really paid any attention to
> whether or not you could do the bearings without dropping the strut
off....
> Even so, it should be possible to get it all back the way it was with
enough
> center punch marks and wire brush things clean, give a light coat of
> contrasting fresh paint so you have paint shadows to reassemble to.
> -James
>
esel