How to Replace the Shocks and Struts in a VW Jetta

The Volkswagen Jetta is a popular, small car that gets good gas mileage, handles well and has a smooth and comfortable ride. Part of keeping all these features intact is replacing suspension parts that get old or worn so you can keep having a safe, economic and smooth ride. The general guideline is to replace struts after 60,000 miles under normal driving conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Floor jack
• Jack stand
• Tire iron
• Adjustable wrench
• Ratchet set
• Permanent marker
• Wire
• Torque wrench

Instructions

Replace the Front Struts in a Jetta

1. Lift the front end of the Jetta with a floor jack and support it by the frame with jack stands. Loosen and remove the nuts holding on the front wheels with a tire iron and set the front wheels aside. Locate the struts under the front of the car. They look like springs with hardware running through them. They're mounted on one end to the frame through a bracket and on the other end to the steering knuckle, which is the piece that turns the wheel hub right and left.

2. Follow the brake hose back from the wheel hub to the strut and remove the bracket holding it and the anti-lock brake sensor from the strut. Unbolt the caliper from the wheel hub where it grips the rotor, but don't let it hang from the brake hose. Use some wire to hold it up from the body.

3. Unbolt the strut-to-knuckle bolt and push the steering knuckle away, but don't let it hang by the joint. Support it with wire, too. Mark the orientation of the strut and the lower bolt on the steering knuckle with a permanent marker. Grip the strut with a wrench and use a ratchet to remove the upper mounting nut. Pull the strut out and repeat Steps 2 and 3 on the other side of the Jetta.

4. Position the new strut and install a new upper mounting nut. Set the dial on the torque wrench to 44 foot lb. and tighten the nut until the wrench slips. Attach the steering knuckle to the lower end of the strut and align the bolt with the marks made earlier with the permanent marker. Torque it to 70 foot lb. Reattach the brake caliper, and torque the bolts to 44 foot lb. Repeat this step on the other side of the car.

5. Mount the front wheels and lower the front end of the Jetta. Have a professional align the wheels.

Replace the Rear Struts in a Jetta

1. Open the trunk and remove the spare tire cover. Remove the cap, the top nut, washer and the bearing from the top nut. Remove the lower nut. Lift the rear end of the Jetta and support it by the frame, but don't put a jack stand under the axle. Remove one rear wheel and unbolt the strut from the axle and slowly pull out the strut.

2. Install and hand-tighten the strut to the axle. Inside the trunk, install the lower mounting nut, and torque it to 11 foot lb. Install the upper bearing, washer and nut and torque it to 18 foot lb. Mount the rear wheel and lower the rear end of the Jetta. Torque the lower bolt to 52 foot lb.

3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 on the other side of the Jetta.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't remove both struts at the same time from the rear of the Jetta or the axle beam hangs from the brake lines. Replace one and then replace the other.