Mark JK's Mechanic shows us how to change a shock absorber on a VW T6 - T6.1 Transporter. To find out more about Front Transporter Shock Absorbers visit our Front T6 - T6.1 Shock Absorbers page.

How to Replace the Front Shock Absorber on Your VW T6

We’ve put together this guide on how to replace the front shock absorber on your Volkswagen T6 or T6.1 Transporter.

It’s not as daunting as it may seem, if you’ve got the space, tools, and experience needed to take the task on.

We’ll walk you through the process of replacing your front shock absorbers, just like Steve the chippy did for his trusty van.

Step 1: Getting everything ready

Start by removing the wiper blades and scuttle underneath the windscreen to access the top mounts for the suspension strut.

Secure the wiper blades' positions so you can make sure they go back into the right place.

Step 2: Removing Components

Next you’ll need to remove the wiper linkage and motor, and then gently pry away the scuttle so that you can fully access the suspension strut's top mounts.

Step 3: Loosening the strut assembly

Now you can remove the cover for the top of the strut and loosen the top nut with a suitable tool.

Clean the area around the strut to make sure that it’s easy to get everything apart and back together again.

Step 4: Removing the brake components

It's now time to remove the brake caliper and carrier, the brake backing plate, and brake disc. All of this needs to come out so that you can access everything you need to.

At this point you can use some grime penetrating spray and a wire brush to clean components, too.

Step 6: Removing and replacing the shock absorber

You’ll need to disconnect the ball joints, track rod end, and hub nut to free the shock. Carefully take the shock absorber assembly out, and then line up the replacement unit. Take the time to check that everything is properly seated and aligned before you continue.

From here it’s really just a cause of following the previous steps but in reverse, until you’ve replaced all of the parts and components which you’ve removed. Take your time, and make sure that everything you’re putting back on is in good condition, properly secured to manufacturer’s specifications, and working correctly.

Make sure you clean and degrease the brake components before you reinstall them, to make sure that everything is working correctly. Once you’ve reattached the brake components, put the strut cover back in place, and fitted the wiper motor, linkage, and other parts, you’re basically done!

Congratulations! You've successfully replaced the front shock absorbers on your Transporter! That wasn’t so bad, was it?

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