[Vwdiesel] Damper,brake line, now STRUT !

[slatersfb at aol.com]

You will need spring compressor. Don't try it without. Very dangerous.
Lower end of strut (ball joint) attaches to wheel bearing housing by means of pinch bolt. Remove bolt & lever lower control arm down. I use a big pole or pipe. 
Separate tie rod end. This can be time consuming without the propper tool. Remove nut on bottom of tie rod end & squirt with penetrant. Heat VERY gently where tie rod end enters taper. Place hammer on one side of steering arm & tap on other side with other hammer. The idea being to shock the taper & squish the taper upward. You don't need to beat on it hard, just often, and it may take some time, but this always works. Next, remone big nut where strut attachec to tower & the whole strut comes out. Use spring compressor to disassemble & reassemble in oposite order. Get new strut bearing, rubber bumper, and dust cap. good luck. 
 
Bob in NY
 
************
 
Well, turns out I have a broken (or nearly so) lower strut spring cup.  I
don't know the proper term, but this is the lower roundish metal cup that
hold the spring "up"......Mine's about 80% rusted out.....so the spring is
pushing it apart, allowing the side of the "cup" to rub on the tire, ever so
slightly.

Also, beacause everything is a wee bit more compressed on that side, the
vibration dampener dooe-y was rubbing here and there.  I took the cut-off
wheel to that sucker ! LOL!

Anyways, I stuck a muffler clamp just below the rotted/rusted cup, in case
it completely lets go, but am wondering how hard it is to replace a strut
myself?  Do I need any kind of spring compressors or special tools or is it
straigh forward?

Mike in NB

Mike, Coreen & Corey Smith
699 Rte 616 Keswick Ridge
NB
Canada
E6L 1T1