Volkswagen Golf mk4 front strut removal and install 

This was a great video .I have an 01 beetle with the same issues .You took your time and showed how the bearing sits on the strut , your camera wasn't moving all around , you gave the name of the tool to separate the strut mount. I feel very confident about doing my own .thanks and once again great video.

I watched your video and changed my rear shocks with no problems. I appreciate it.

Mate best complete video I have seen. Cheers from the UK 👍

great video and I am glad that I subscribed. Thanks

Thanks! This is a great job and show your DIY detail. 👍

Cory - Hopefully this is a useful tip for anyone watching the strut replacement video in regards to extreme difficulties I had getting the end of the new assembly into the socket at the top of the hub. I noticed at disassembly stage I just managed to get enough space to get the old strut which had a broken spring like yours out of the socket in the hub, after levering the bottom wishbone downwards (even after expanding the pinch point and knowing the strut end could move). However no way in a 100 years could I get sufficient space to get the new assembly back in to the socket, without perhaps taking the hub off the drive shaft and taking things from there. The perfect solution for me (as crude as it may sound), was firstly to secure the strut up into the car at the top mount (not torque tight though at this stage). Then just below the lower cup ring on the strut where the bottom of the spring is retained (actually just below the hose brackets located there to be precise), I fitted a 2" exhaust "U" clamp around the strut with the bulky part of the "U" clamp facing the rear of the car and just pinched the two nuts up (no need to be too tight). The plan was for this "U" clamp to act as good horizontal ledge/lip to then allow me jack the whole strut upwards and compress it a bit. I then got a piece to timber about 3/4" x 1 &1/2" (that's what worked for me.....if too big you cannot manoeuvre the strut when you compress it slightly.........and too small the wood will just simply break), I then lashed the piece of timber to the strut using 3 nylon tie wraps with the timber top located just below the bulky part of the "U" clamp created ledge/lip and then down between the gap next to the steering control arm towards the ground. I then used a trolley jack positioned in such a way to push the bottom of the timber upwards as vertically as possible to gently compress the strut and then guide the hub under the now compressed strut end and into the socket. I managed it incredibly easily first time, perhaps with some luck to get it first time, but a few trial and error adjustments and even perhaps a second pair of hands may work better for some others.

Excellent and clear video stage by stage thanks.

j'ai changé ceux de l'arrière le Week end dernier, ce Week end je change les 2 de devant =) excellente vidéo merci

Real nice job on the video

I just installed the very same quick struts in my mk4 golf (2007 city, a Canadian golf) I removed the axel (a 1 3/16” 12point socket and an impact popped it out), the tie rod, brake rotor and sway bar link. This let me remove the strut with the hub assembly attached, way easier to knock the old one out and hammer in the new strut. It sound like a lot of wrenching to get it out but it much easier this way, I think. BTW my spring was broken too. Sound pretty horrible with it broken

Thanks for taking the time to make this video…it’s good timing, as this just happened to my Golf. Once you got the strut separated from the knuckle (with it still attached up top), was the spring fully decompressed at that stage, or was the strut spring still lodged at all against the underside of the wheel well? Also, how are the Moog springs working out?

Interesting, bought the exact same strut but mine is only "MONROE 171525 Quick-Strut" no "ST" like yours. it needed some hammering but went in good with the spreader in place.

I wonder what the manufacturers are thinking. How can one tighten the strut top nut to corrent torque when there is no way to keep the rod in place like the original hex socket.... I was trying to get our MK4 front suspension strut changed. 2 checked 2 models from TRW and one was missing the plastic holder for the rubber bellow and the other had rod top like your quick strut. Useless parts manufacturers :(

I've never seen a spreader bit before, interesting! I've always used a chisel or an old flat screwdriver. I just jam it in the gap and tap it in with a hammer to spread it open. The bit is a cool idea but I wonder how long it holds up before snapping off?

Great video. Best one I've seen. How did you hold the strut to torque the nut to 44 ft lbs at about 15:35?

Hey Cory, I need to replace the front struts on my '02 Jetta and was wondering if you could give an update on how the Moog Quick Struts are doing? Like you said, there are so many choices out there. Your reply will help me make my decision. Thank you!

Like David McDow below, I’m wondering how you’re supposed to torque the top nut to 44 ft lbs, since the hex bit goes through the socket, preventing the use of a torque wrench. Can’t seem to find an explanation anywhere...

Looking for two of these all in one kits for my VW Bora 2005 1.9tdi 130bhp for sale in the United Kingdom but only finding the parts seperate.

8:21 What's the name of this type of socket? Sockets that have the hex feature on the outside that allows a person to put an open end wrench on the socket.

Suplex is the worst springs ever. Both sides of mine broke in the exact same place after less than six months.

Hello I was wonder my friend ordered new struts for a 2005 golf and I’m not sure if the struts are not meant for the car, they look a little long and slightly stick out the bottom. Is that normal?

Cory, the springs you're replacing are at least the second set on the vehicle based on what's stated in the video. I'm interested in understanding why the OEM springs were initially replaced. Also, approximately how many miles and years did the car have at that time? Finally, were the OEM springs or even the springs that failed (the ones featured in this video), paired with a set of aftermarket shocks? The shocks on my '04 GTI will be replaced with Bilstein B4 shocks (fit/function like OEM) but I'm unsure if the springs should be replaced at that time or if it's okay to reuse the OEM springs with 130K miles. People have different opinions and rationale for either keeping the originals or replacing them with new springs. The easy answer is to replace them, but the few who suggested that, did not have good rationale for why they should be replaced. I'm interested in your opinion. If the OEM springs have not failed, would you replace them, and why or why not?

Whole strut was assembled in the USA, the piston was probably assembled in Mexico.

uses standard socket on German car..... hmmmmm.