Fitting a rear shock

I need to fit a new rear shock absorber to my Cabbby. Is this a simple job, or do I need special tools to compress the spring etc?

I'm changing it because it's leaking (again) and the car now sits an inch lower on that side, it also makes a nasty noise over speed bumps.

Cheers

Tian

You'll need:

A trolley jack
Axle stands
Spring compressors
Penetrating spray (WD40)
Ring Spanners (can't remember which sizes)
Haynes manual

And I would recommend fitting new ones to both sides and you may want to consider fitting new top mount donuts and bump stops while you've got it in bits.

It's fairly straight forward, providing the bottom bolts aren't seized up

You don't need spring compressors for the rear. The rear springs and shocks aren't done up that tightly and you can use the weight of the rear of the car as spring compressor. First with the car on the ground undo the strut top nuts inside the boot. Next jack the rear up onto axle stands, obviously supporting the car by the body and not the rear beam as you need this to drop down. Then undo the struts at the bottom and it should all come apart.

Cheers

It's easy as long as the bolt through the bottom of the shock isn't seized.

You'll need a 19mm offset ring spanner for the nuts on the top of the shock, and a 16mm socket for the nut on the bolt through the bottom of the shock.

HTH

Rich

20 min job fella real easy.

I fitted coilovers on my caddy today but the o/s rear bottom bolt has completely siezed on the damper. I've got the nut off but the bolt is solid. I've soaked it in WD40, had heat on it, cut off the bottom of the damper and dug the rubber out but it looks like it is completely solid on the inner ring of the mounting.  I'm wary of grinding off the head of the bolt and other end due to damaging the rear axle and also becuase of sparks when its so close to the filler pipe.

Any ideas?

Stick hacksaw blade through between shock and axle and saw bolt hrough on both sides.

I always advise to check the lower bolts are free 1st and if not get replacments from VW before you start the job proper.

When you replace them use plenty of grease for the next poor sod that has to take them off.