I'm thinking about putting a set of lowering springs in my TT. The manual indicates we need to remove the entire front suspension (strut/knuckle/spindle/and front drive axle! Can you simply unbolt the strut from the sterring knuckle to remove the strut? thanks kenny

 

You can, but will need to compress the spring or it will hit the inner fender liner. You will have to remove the tie rod, but I did it without removing the knuckle. You may also need to remove the drive shaft from either the hub or the diff. I did it from the diff side since they just snap in, etc. But have to be careful not to damage the seal.

 

Pop the lower spring off its perch and down the strut. now you can compress the strut by hand. tape up your fender lip and some of the fender. You can compress the strut and pull it outside the fender. Remove the old spring and check your upper bearing and rubber mount. put new spring on and re install. Make sure you disconnect your sway bar or you will not be able to push down the lower control arm. Do not try this if you do not understand what is going on here or have good knowledge of suspension. I can put lowering spring on in no time for real.. rears take longer for me.

 

Tim, I've replaced struts on my bmw (but not awd). So I know some about front suspensions. Got sway bar link disconnect, and maybe caliper if I need to push way down to clear the upper strut mount from my fender opening. But could you clarify the "Pop the lower spring off its perch and down the strut". thanks kenny

 

Ok, The stock spring is very wide at the strut body (spring is just cut off not flat wound back into itself) and can be rolled over the edge easily and "unscrewed" down the strut body. You do not need to remove the caliper at all.



Make more sense now?

 

Right on, so with the weight of the vehicle off the strut, I can pry the lower coil section out from the lower mount and unscrew it taking all of the tension off the upper mount, then remove the upper mount and compress the strut to get it out from the fender.
If only changing springs is there enough room under the fender well to simply unscrew the spring, remove the upper mount and then remove and replace the spring without even using a spring compressor or removing the strut from the car?

 

Wish I knew that 2 years ago! :-)

 

Yes you do not need to remove the strut at all if it is only springs you are doing. You remove the top mount with a impact gun, remove spring and put it back on in reverse.

 

Tim you're the man. This is huge to be able to change out our strut springs without even using a spring compression. This and replacing TT brake pads are about the easiest to do compared to other vehicles. So who said our TTs were hard to get at and work on.. Of course we're not talking about anything to do with the engine and the inaccessible tight compartment.

 

Take a couple of pics and post along the way. I'll be doing this soon as I slow down at work and would like to refer to it. TIA!

 

I've been holding off changing springs since I didn't want to have to pop off the ball joints. Tim's method seems WAAAAY too easy.

Is there any issue torquing the strut nut while everything is still on the car? I still need to compress the spring to get it back on the spring perch right? Where's the ah-ha step?