How long will it take to do a complete spring change

[r5gtt]

Hi all, I'd like to know how long it will take to replace front and rear coil springs or should I wait for a set of decent shock first but sadlt that'll be months down the road for those.

Thanks

[stuart-88]

The rears are a doddle, front take longer. Guesstimate around 3-4 hours if working on the floor

[r5gtt]

Thanks for the reply Stuart, yes most likely working off the floor 
I'm quite quick at working on cars but wanted to know an average as I've never replaced golf springs before.
I will have an impact wrench to hand which I've forgotten at work although who knew that I'd have a set of like new Sportlines lowering springs to fit the today

Thanks

[amanda]

Hi all, I'd like to know how long it will take to replace front and rear coil springs or should I wait for a set of decent shock first but sadlt that'll be months down the road for those.

Thanks

My dealer took an hr to change rear springs and bump stops.......if you are changing springs do the bump stops as well as they are only 15 each and it makes sense to do it at the same time

[r5gtt]

Took me a day to do all corners  I'd definitely recommend getting someone to help you! Rears are easy - fronts are a bit of a pain

I'd recommend getting the VW strut spreading tool (amazon special)
coat the hub to suspension leg in penetrating fluid the day before

pissing myself laughing pesky  A whole day ffs I was thinking max three hours and hoping someone would confirm this lol I am a mechanic with a decent set of tools so hoping it won't be that bad although the rust part hmm Thanks I'll try and keep that in mind as I always forget 

Hi all, I'd like to know how long it will take to replace front and rear coil springs or should I wait for a set of decent shock first but sadlt that'll be months down the road for those.

Thanks

My dealer took an hr to change rear springs and bump stops.......if you are changing springs do the bump stops as well as they are only 15 each and it makes sense to do it at the same time

Thanks Amanda, I'll keep thatbim mind as I'm the type of person that will replace everything accociated with the shocks inc springs as I've done in the past as why try save pennies when you'll end up spending £££ 

[lukemk5gti]

I replaced front two in about 3 hours. Got stuck for a while trying to free the bolt as the strut kept turning.

Think to avoid this, you can just barely loosen the bolt in situ from the engine bay. I mean BARELY!

[r5gtt]

Took me a day to do all corners  I'd definitely recommend getting someone to help you! Rears are easy - fronts are a bit of a pain

I'd recommend getting the VW strut spreading tool (amazon special)
coat the hub to suspension leg in penetrating fluid the day before

pissing myself laughing pesky  A whole day ffs I was thinking max three hours and hoping someone would confirm this lol I am a mechanic with a decent set of tools so hoping it won't be that bad although the rust part hmm Thanks I'll try and keep that in mind as I always forget 

haha 3 hours for all four corners? optimistic I'd say :) Took me about 3 hours for fronts and then the rears took 30/45 each. Worth it though, with a nice set of wheels it really completes the look of the car

If I had a ramp it would take me three hours  but thanks for the info 

I replaced front two in about 3 hours. Got stuck for a while trying to free the bolt as the strut kept turning.

Think to avoid this, you can just barely loosen the bolt in situ from the engine bay. I mean BARELY!

Thanks lukemk5gti I'll have to get up at 10am on the weekend and bash it out lol I would like shocks too so not sure what to do so may wait or I'll put up pictures on my thread soon 

[Stupots]

I did this recently and am sure there are plenty of better guides online than my brief description, but for the back one took 40 minutes, the other 15 as I leaned from my mistakes... 

Backs: Wheel off, then lower the car onto a block that sits under the lower arm, just taking the weight, undo the lower arm/hub bolt, jack car up until the spring falls out... insert new, lower car onto block until lower arm lines up, bolt in. The rear shocks don't even need a description as they're a doddle, but remember to put the little dust caps back on before you refit them (I forgot).

Fronts: I leave it to others to write a better guide, as mine didn't go so smoothly, plenty of WD40 the day before is always a good idea, I had one of the 3 top mount bolts snap the captured nut, so that added to my pain (cold chiseled it off in the end), but it's a lot easier if you jack both sides up, so you're not fighting against the ARB as well. I made a wedge to spread the hub, but maybe buy on Amazon as above. Plenty of tapping. Plenty of frustrating bits, but a lot easier with 2 people :) If I was to do this again, I think I could do each front in an hour on my own (just a friend to help assemble shock/springs/topmounts/bumpstops and get the nut on) with limited tools.

Def do bump-stops at the same time as already mentioned, the back ones deteriorate faster than the fronts. Febi parts appear OEM quality.

Have fun

Stu

[Pesky jones]

Thanks lukemk5gti I'll have to get up at 10am on the weekend and bash it out lol I would like shocks too so not sure what to do so may wait or I'll put up pictures on my thread soon 

You say that as if 10am is early 

[r5gtt]

I did this recently and am sure there are plenty of better guides online than my brief description, but for the back one took 40 minutes, the other 15 as I leaned from my mistakes... 

Backs: Wheel off, then lower the car onto a block that sits under the lower arm, just taking the weight, undo the lower arm/hub bolt, jack car up until the spring falls out... insert new, lower car onto block until lower arm lines up, bolt in. The rear shocks don't even need a description as they're a doddle, but remember to put the little dust caps back on before you refit them (I forgot).

Fronts: I leave it to others to write a better guide, as mine didn't go so smoothly, plenty of WD40 the day before is always a good idea, I had one of the 3 top mount bolts snap the captured nut, so that added to my pain (cold chiseled it off in the end), but it's a lot easier if you jack both sides up, so you're not fighting against the ARB as well. I made a wedge to spread the hub, but maybe buy on Amazon as above. Plenty of tapping. Plenty of frustrating bits, but a lot easier with 2 people :) If I was to do this again, I think I could do each front in an hour on my own (just a friend to help assemble shock/springs/topmounts/bumpstops and get the nut on) with limited tools.

Def do bump-stops at the same time as already mentioned, the back ones deteriorate faster than the fronts. Febi parts appear OEM quality.

Have fun

Stu

Cheers Stu, I'll take all that and the rest into consideration thanks guys 

[r5gtt]

Thanks lukemk5gti I'll have to get up at 10am on the weekend and bash it out lol I would like shocks too so not sure what to do so may wait or I'll put up pictures on my thread soon 

You say that as if 10am is early 

lol I wake up for 6am to get to work just before 8  so need a little rest on the weekend.

[Shoduchi]

Febi aren't OEM quality, they last as much. I also fitted the 6R/TT/RS3 front top mounts.

[Stupots]

Febi aren't OEM quality, they last as much

Please clarify this a bit. Are you saying they aren't as good? Quality looks at least as good as OEM if not better and I though the Bilstein parts were well regarded on these forums?

[amanda]

Febi aren't OEM quality, they last as much

Please clarify this a bit. Are you saying they aren't as good? Quality looks at least as good as OEM if not better and I though the Bilstein parts were well regarded on these forums?

Any rubber bush is as good as another really .......if you want lasting you need to go polyurethane but this will give a much harsher ride

[Stupots]

harsher and squeaky