ny recommendations for standard Front Suspension Struts please ?
- Thread starter 66Beetle
- Start date
66Beetle
A2OC Donor
Maybe I could tackle the job myself ?
I can get Meyle Front Shock Absorbers for £34.83 each. Local trusted Garage have quoted £66.33 each + VAT Then 1.5 Hours Labour per side at £60 / Hour + VAT Total Parts and Labour £387 !
Don`t know if I can do it but I do not have any Spring Compressors anyway. Rear Springs and Shock Absorbers are a doddle but Front is a different matter !
Steve U
I can get Meyle Front Shock Absorbers for £34.83 each. Local trusted Garage have quoted £66.33 each + VAT Then 1.5 Hours Labour per side at £60 / Hour + VAT Total Parts and Labour £387 !
Don`t know if I can do it but I do not have any Spring Compressors anyway. Rear Springs and Shock Absorbers are a doddle but Front is a different matter !
Steve U
Bilstein B4 22-105813 front shock absorbers are about £43.60 each including shipping to the UK from Amazon.de (if you purchase two).
On autodoc they work out at over £50 each once you add in the shipping, so the German version of Amazon is cheaper.
On ebay.co.uk they work out at about £45.02 each including shipping, from demontweeksdirect with the current 10% off code as shown on the listing.
Bilstein B4 22-105813 front shock absorbers
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/produ...act_title_1?smid=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&psc=1Bilstein B4
2 x Bilstein B4 Front Suspension Gas Shock Absorbers / Dampers - 22-105813 | eBay
They are ideal for use with the standard ride height springs or can be used with lowered and uprated springs (max suggested lowering approx 40mm) if lowering on a budget. The Bilstein B4 damper is the perfect choice for those wanting sure and stable handling at a great price.
www.ebay.co.uk
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CrispyEdd
Member
In brief the front shocks are two different methods for each side.
The near side is easy enough:
Wheel off wheel arch out.
Undo drop links lower fitting
Remove wires and brackets from strut
Remove brakes and discs
Remove track rod from hub knuckle
Undo wheel hub nut try tap driveshaft loose and Wiggle out
Remove pinch bolt in shock
Insert pry socket in slit in back of hub
Tap hub knuckle down off shock of you can. Then Undo three 13 top mount bolts and it'll all fall out.
If you want you can remove hub still on the shock and drift apart in your garage.
The latter is easier if you have a vice and space. However you'll have to completely remove drive shaft out of the hub for this.
Drivers side is different in that prior to removal you need to remove brake reservoir out the way by undoing the two or three 10mm bolts and moving the cage aside. On a tdi there is the map sensor and air intake and also the scuttle drain to remove first.
Access to the three 13mm top mount nuts is tricky, i used a quarter drive socket set long reach spanner and ratcheting ring spanner. Extensions are handy too!
Allow 4 hours for drivers side first attempt! Passenger will be quicker.
Other parts will be needed, new top mounts and bearings, ideally new hut nuts, also to fit the nut on the new shock shaft you'll need a through socket. Sometimes the bikstein top nuts are different size to audi top nuts! Can range from 19-22mm! Washers under the nut can stop nut sinking too deep intontop mount and negate need for a deep Swan neck spanner.
The near side is easy enough:
Wheel off wheel arch out.
Undo drop links lower fitting
Remove wires and brackets from strut
Remove brakes and discs
Remove track rod from hub knuckle
Undo wheel hub nut try tap driveshaft loose and Wiggle out
Remove pinch bolt in shock
Insert pry socket in slit in back of hub
Tap hub knuckle down off shock of you can. Then Undo three 13 top mount bolts and it'll all fall out.
If you want you can remove hub still on the shock and drift apart in your garage.
The latter is easier if you have a vice and space. However you'll have to completely remove drive shaft out of the hub for this.
Drivers side is different in that prior to removal you need to remove brake reservoir out the way by undoing the two or three 10mm bolts and moving the cage aside. On a tdi there is the map sensor and air intake and also the scuttle drain to remove first.
Access to the three 13mm top mount nuts is tricky, i used a quarter drive socket set long reach spanner and ratcheting ring spanner. Extensions are handy too!
Allow 4 hours for drivers side first attempt! Passenger will be quicker.
Other parts will be needed, new top mounts and bearings, ideally new hut nuts, also to fit the nut on the new shock shaft you'll need a through socket. Sometimes the bikstein top nuts are different size to audi top nuts! Can range from 19-22mm! Washers under the nut can stop nut sinking too deep intontop mount and negate need for a deep Swan neck spanner.
SamT
A2OC Donor
Also available hereBilstein B4 22-105813 front shock absorbers are about £43.60 each including shipping to the UK from Amazon.de (if you purchase two).
On autodoc they work out at over £50 each once you add in the shipping, so the German version of Amazon is cheaper.
On ebay.co.uk they work out at about £45.02 each including shipping, from demontweeksdirect with the current 10% off code as shown on the listing.
Bilstein B4 22-105813 front shock absorbers
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/produ...act_title_1?smid=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&psc=1Bilstein B4
2 x Bilstein B4 Front Suspension Gas Shock Absorbers / Dampers - 22-105813 | eBay
They are ideal for use with the standard ride height springs or can be used with lowered and uprated springs (max suggested lowering approx 40mm) if lowering on a budget. The Bilstein B4 damper is the perfect choice for those wanting sure and stable handling at a great price.www.ebay.co.uk
Bilstein Suspension The Best Suspension in the World | Bilstein Suspension
Is the general consensus now that Bilstein B4s are the best choice (in the price range)? A few years ago it tended to be more the Monroe reflex that were recommended. I am also trying to decide which ones to get - the Reflex (or OESpectrum) seem to suggest an upgrade from the OEM but I also tend to see better opinions in general about Bilstein.
PlasticMac
Admin Team
I think any decent brand is an "upgrade" from the worn out, twenty year old originals!
Mac
lavandism
Member
General A2OC opinion seems to be that front suspension is a pig of a job.
(I am mentally preparing myself for it too)
What model numbers for the Monroe shock absorbers are you referring to?
Depending which models numbers you go for, it can be very hit and miss with Monroe...and usually miss.
For example, one owner fitted rear Monroe shock absorbers that might have been listed against one or more Audi A2 OEM part numbers but they were also listed against OEM part numbers that were used on the Polo MK4 with heavy duty suspension. So with the Audi A2 being a much lighter car these Polo MK4 heavy duty rear shock absorbers had too much damping...and he did complain about the hard ride after fitting them. Note that you shouldn't just bolt on Polo MK4 with standard ride height shock absorbers because the Audi A2 rear shock absorbers are slightly longer. So the Audi A2 rear shock absorbers are actually Audi A2 specific and are unlikely to be correct for any other VAG car.
Another potential problem with the Monroe shock absorbers is that many of them are budget items because the piston rod diameter is smaller than the better quality shock absorbers such as Bilstein and Sachs.
Yet another problem with Monroe is that the specifications that they give for their shock absorbers are often hit and miss, so you often can't tell if the piston rod diameter is undersize.
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