R32 Coilover Install Help !!

[NJAY87]

Hey guys, finally found the time today after work to give installing my coilovers a shot. To much dismay after a couple of hours of fiddling, i cant seem to remove the front drivers side strut from the hub.

I can get most of it out but there is about 1cm left to come out before i can seperate the strut away. I used a screwdriver bit instead of a spreader tool but still not helping.

Does anyone know of an easy way to get this last little bit out as ive haven't much room left, unless i was thinking of removing the control arm to allow for more room underneath. Not even sure if that will work but any help/ideas is gladly appreciated as im going to give it another stab saturday morning and hoping for a solution before then

Cheers guys and thanks in advance
Naz

[gareth_oau]

here's a full installation description for a mk4 Jetta

not sure if it will help tho

http://noahlh.com/car/coilover_howto/

[balkanac]

I used a crow bar and i had to undo the 3 bolts on the bottom of the hub. Its a b***h to get them out After everything i took it for a drive and the wheel alighment was out so much that the traction control kept cutting in and trying to brake each wheel independenty. so just make sure you mark those 3 bolts somehow so you know where they were

[ECS tuning]

I've used this method many times to remove Mk4 and Mk5 suspensions, some may agree with it and others may not...

With spring compressors on the springs, it is usually the passenger side (on US cars) that will not have enough clearance. I use a 2nd floor jack with a bar under the lower spring perch on the strut to slightly compress the shock and spring, this usually gives just enough clearance to get the strut out of the knuckle.

[VDUB-BUD]

Did you drench it with WD40

[pansy]

I've recently done my coilovers in my r32 and encountered the same problem. I ended up compressing the strut assembly with the floor jack and using two lengths of fencing wire to hold the spring in compression (I tried spring compressors but there just wasn't enough room) this provided just enough room with Dad standing on the hub to get maximum clearance. Good luck.

[NJAY87]

Gareth - Hey champ, cheers for the link. I referred to it during the install to see if there was any trick to getting it out but doesnt seem to be one. The install itself is one of the easier ones ive done except for this damned stuck strut !! Thanks again though !

Nik - By bottom three bolts do you mean those on the control arm? I cant remember now but im pretty sure there was a ball joint and three bolts surrounding underneath. I was thinking of taking those off to see if i can get more play in the strut. Thanks for the pointer about the alignment, will make note of that mate

Jon - Hey Jon, if its passenger sides on US cars, then its the equivalent to our driver's side i guess. If that's so that could be why im having an issue with it. I tried the floor jack thing you mentioned, not sure if i did it properly or not but was jus a little concerned of damaging the drive shaft.

VDUB-BUD - Hey mate, i find CRC much better than WD40, and i probably went through half a can of it on that strut and also on the lock nuts when try to take a few stubborn ones off I think the CRC is what helped get most of it out but its that just last little bit that wont budge !!

Pansy - Hey pansy that's great to hear. I've heard of so many Mkiv golf owners attempting their own suspension work but other than Nik(balkanac) and Jarred (dainese) im not sure of many others attempting it on their own. Ill also try give your method a shot as well. Thanks for that mate, and since i've only attempted the drivers side, are there any other nasty surprise like this on any of the other struts i should be aware of ? Cheers mate

and thanks so much to all for their imput!! Gives me a little confidence attacking this on Saturday morning

Cheers guys !!
Naz

[fuzion]

Naz, IMHO if you are uncertain you can complete it i would take it to someone and get it professionally installed!

good luck dude!

[gareth_oau]

my method is the best:

1/ give to suspension specialist
2/ hand over $400 (for labour)(including alignment)
3/ collect from suspension specialist

keeps all my knuckles in tact, and blood pressure relatively low (whilst lightening my wallet (for improved fuel efficiency!)

will be getting some coilovers stuck into my S3 in the next week or so, will keep you posted!

[pansy]

Mate the i found both to be almost exactly the same, its just that after doing the first one the second one was a whole lot easier. Once you've done it you'll realise how easy it is.