CV Boot and Shock Install

[jbthompson]

Hey everyone! I think i need a new CV boot in my beetle. I found the kit online and it's about 35 dollars--CHEAP! Is this possible to do yourself? Has anyone done it? Also, the ride on my bug is harsh and I was thinking about replacing the shocks, any ideas on what to get, how much and how to change them out??

[vdubbugman53]

hey yea i did both my boots. you will need a to to clamp them back on. you can get it at checkers or autozone for cheap. it will be the messiest job you docuz you have to pack them with grease. hardest part is seperating the CV joint....just hit it with a hammer where it goes together. on the suspension part how much are you looking to spend? this is the time to ask your self if maybe you what to lower it. you will want an impact gun for the top nut on the shock tower up front. yea and the passenger side front is a batch cus you basicly have to dissconnedt the hub from the lower controle arm to get the strut to drop far enough. you might also wnt to get your self a Bently manuel or a chiltons or something like that.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

You will of course need to remove the axle from the vehicle in order to re-boot it, before doing this though, you may want to make sure that the axle is in good shape and not worn out, you'd hate to go through all that trouble just to have the axle fail a month or so later.

You do not have to separate the hub from the control arm in order to remove the strut from the knuckle, separate the anti-sway bar links on both sides from the control arm and use a strut spring compressor and compress the spring/strut assembly until you have obtained the necessary clearance to remove the units from the vehicle.

I have used many of the best suspension systems out there but like vdubbugman53 says, recommendations depend on how much you're willing to spend.

I currently use Bilstein's PSS9 coilvers, this is the finest system I have ever use bar none and it allows complete four corner height adjustment as well as totally accessible on the ground bound/rebound adjustments.

[vdubbugman53]

i promise you on the passenger front that the spring and strus will not drop far enough to get them off. the lower controle arm gets stuck on something i belive you can 1) remove drive axle or dissconnect hub from lower controle arm.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

I've changed complete suspension kits three times on my Beetle and once or twice on a friends Beetle and the problem you mentioned has never been an issue, this job is a piece of cake.

I'm not sure what it is you are missing during the process but I have never had to disconnect the hub from the lower control arms when removing the stock suspension, with coilover/adjustable height systems and lowered systems it's even easier because you don't have to use a strut spring compressor to R&R the system.