Owners Forums for Ford and Volkswagen MPVs / SUVs

The strut usually needs to come out which involves disconnecting the strut from the wheel knuckle and the anti-roll bar link arm, and unbolting the top plate where the strut sits in the suspension turret on the chassis (see parts diagram), the spring will likely need compressing as well so you'll need spring compressors.

Ah, sorry, I see what you mean. I can't help further as I haven't worked on the Mk3 Galaxy, though unfortunately because of the design of this sort of shape of MPV, the front strut tops are quite often almost 'underneath and behind' the windscreen so that access isn't as good as it is on standard cars with a longer bonnet and more accessible engine bay.

ok - I took my front driver side strut off yesterday to access the top strut mount bearing. What a nightmare. Wipers off, plastic skirt at bottom of windscreen off to reveal wiper motors. Wiper motors off. Wheel off, I also took the under arch plastic skirt off - although you could probably leave it on. I also disconnected the track rod end to give me more movement, and the drop link. remove the bolt at the back of the knuckle - holding the strut to the knuckle, and then the fun really starts. There must be a better way of doing this - but levering with a big 4" * 2" piece of wood, and then jacking up the strut to compress it, and bashing the knuckle with a big hammer - eventually managed - but what a nightmare.

Strut off - compress the spring, top plate off, replace bearing, and reverse of above to get it all back together.

Can anyone get me a diagram of the components please.  I have Monroe shock absorbers, springs, bellows, a firm white polystyrene bit that just sits on the piston part of my Monroe shock, the top mount bearing, and the top plate. I've got a hunch that there is something missing...