Owners Forums for Ford and Volkswagen MPVs / SUVs

Hi all, i´m new on this forum having found your very helpful advice on strut bearing/mount replacement. I have a few questions though and would really appreciate some help. My car failed the German MOT (i´m based in Germany by the way!), one of the problems, too much movement on strut. On removing the top rubber mount ( what a job!! i have a few tips to pass on ref. rusted top nut/thread etc. if anyone´s interested!) i see the difference in size between the old and new rubbers is only about 3mm!! Doesn´t seem a lot.  i´ve also come across UK MOT advisory info on the Galaxy/Sharan suspension check and allowances being made for movement in the front struts. I´m getting concerned i might be doing this work when it´s not actually necessary. Any ideas??

Lastly, on tightening the top nut, the one inside the metal cup, do i need to tighten to a torque specification, and if so how do you do that without the strut turning? It´s ok tightening with a ring spanner and allen key but how do you stop the strut turning when using a torque wrench?
Any help greatly appreciated.

Greetings!

I expect there is a torque specification for the strut top nut but I don't know off the top of my head what it is, I'd suspect it would be in the range of 60-80nm. Usually, assuming space permits I've tended to hold the locknut steady with a ring spanner and then reverse turn (i.e, anticlockwise) the damper rod using either an internal torx or hex socket (depending on what the damper rod is machined to accept) on a torque wrench to achieve the same result. I know access is poor on the Galaxy but I think there's enough room there to do this.

Yes that could work, it makes sense. Thanks for your help.