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Change Car Shock Absorbers

Easy 3h00–6h00 ~300–600£
Estimated time 3h00–6h00
Estimated labour cost ~300–600£
Difficulty Easy
Vehicles
A3 I 1997-2003 25
  • 1.6 Petrol (AEH)
  • 1.6 Petrol (AKL)
  • 1.6 Petrol (APF)
  • 1.6 Petrol (AVU)
  • 1.6 Petrol (BFQ)
  • 1.8 20V Petrol (AGN)
  • 1.8 20V Petrol (APG)
  • 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (AGU)
  • 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (AJQ)
  • 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (APP)
  • 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (AQA)
  • 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (ARX)
  • 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (ARY)
  • 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (ARZ)
  • 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (AUM)
  • 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (AUQ)
  • 1.9 TDI Diesel (AGR)
  • 1.9 TDI Diesel (AHF)
  • 1.9 TDI Diesel (ALH)
  • 1.9 TDI Diesel (ASV)
  • 1.9 TDI Diesel (ASZ)
  • 1.9 TDI Diesel (ATD)
  • 1.9 TDI Diesel (AXR)
  • S3 (1.8 20V Turbo) Petrol (AMK)
  • S3 (1.8 20V Turbo) Petrol (BAM)
A3 II 2003-2013 48
  • 1.2 TFSI Petrol (CBZB)
  • 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CAXC)
  • 1.6 8V E-Power Bioethanol (E85),Petrol (CMXA)
  • 1.6 8V Petrol (BGU)
  • 1.6 8V Petrol (BSE)
  • 1.6 8V Petrol (CCSA)
  • 1.6 FSi 16V Petrol (BAG)
  • 1.6 FSi 16V Petrol (BLF)
  • 1.6 FSi 16V Petrol (BLP)
  • 1.6 TDI Diesel (CAYB)
  • 1.6 TDI Diesel (CAYC)
  • 1.8 TFSI Petrol (BYT)
  • 1.8 TFSI Petrol (BZB)
  • 1.8 TFSI Petrol (CDAA)
  • 1.9 TDI 8V Diesel (BKC)
  • 1.9 TDI 8V Diesel (BXE)
  • 1.9 TDI 8V DPF Diesel (BLS)
  • 2.0 FSi 16V Petrol (AXW)
  • 2.0 FSi 16V Petrol (BLR)
  • 2.0 FSi 16V Petrol (BLX)
  • 2.0 FSi 16V Petrol (BLY)
  • 2.0 FSi 16V Petrol (BMB)
  • 2.0 FSi 16V Petrol (BVY)
  • 2.0 FSi 16V Petrol (BVZ)
  • 2.0 TDI 16V Diesel (AZV)
  • 2.0 TDI 16V Diesel (BKD)
  • 2.0 TDI 16V DPF Diesel (BMN)
  • 2.0 TDI 16V DPF Diesel (BUY)
  • 2.0 TDI 8V DPF Diesel (BMM)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CBAA)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CBAB)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CBBB)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CFFA)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CFFB)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CFGB)
  • 2.0 TFSI Petrol (AXX)
  • 2.0 TFSI Petrol (BPY)
  • 2.0 TFSI Petrol (BWA)
  • 2.0 TFSI Petrol (CAWB)
  • 2.0 TFSI Petrol (CCZA)
  • 3.2 VR6 Petrol (BDB)
  • 3.2 VR6 Petrol (BMJ)
  • 3.2 VR6 Petrol (BUB)
  • RS3 (2.5 TFSI) Petrol (CEPA)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (BHZ)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (BZC)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (CDLA)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (CDLC)
A3 III 2013-2020 51
  • 1.0 TFSI Petrol (CHZD)
  • 1.2 TFSI Petrol (CJZA)
  • 1.2 TFSI Petrol (CYVB)
  • 1.4 TFSI e-tron Electricity,Petrol (CUKB+EAHA)
  • 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CMBA)
  • 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CPTA)
  • 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CXSA)
  • 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CXSB)
  • 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CZCA)
  • 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CZCC)
  • 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CZEA)
  • 1.6 TDI Diesel (CLHA)
  • 1.6 TDI Diesel (CRKB)
  • 1.6 TDI Diesel (CXXB)
  • 1.6 TDI Diesel (DBKA)
  • 1.6 TDI Diesel (DDYA)
  • 1.8 TFSI Petrol (CJSA)
  • 1.8 TFSI Petrol (CJSB)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CRBC)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CRBD)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CRFC)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CRLB)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CRLC)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CRUA)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (CUNA)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (DBGA)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (DCYA)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (DEJA)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (DEJB)
  • 2.0 TDI Diesel (DGCA)
  • 30 g-tron CNG (DHFA)
  • 30 TDI Diesel (DGTE)
  • 30 TFSI Petrol (DKRF)
  • 35 TDI Diesel (DFGA)
  • 35 TFSI Petrol (DADA)
  • 35 TFSI Petrol (DPCA)
  • 40 e-tron Electricity,Petrol (DGEA+EAHA)
  • 40 TDI Diesel (DJGA)
  • 40 TFSI Petrol (CZPB)
  • 40 TFSI Petrol (DKZA)
  • RS3 (2.5 TFSI) Petrol (CZGB)
  • RS3 (2.5 TFSI) Petrol (DAZA)
  • RS3 (2.5 TFSI) Petrol (DNWA)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (CJXB)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (CJXC)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (CJXD)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (CJXF)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (CJXG)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (DJHA)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (DJHB)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (DNUE)
A3 IV 2020-2025 13
  • 30 eTFSI 48V (MHEV),Petrol (DLAA)
  • 30 TDI Diesel (DSUD)
  • 30 TDI Diesel (DTRB)
  • 30 TDI Diesel (DTRD)
  • 35 eTFSI 48V (MHEV),Petrol (DFYA)
  • 35 TDI Diesel (DSRB)
  • 35 TDI Diesel (DTSA)
  • 35 TDI Diesel (DTSB)
  • 35 TFSI Petrol (DPCA)
  • 40 TDI Diesel (DTUA)
  • 40 TFSI e Electricity,Petrol (DGEA+EANA)
  • 45 TFSI e Electricity,Petrol (DGEA+EANA)
  • S3 (2.0 TFSI) Petrol (DNFB)
Renew both front shock absorbers 3h00–6h00
Renew both rear shock absorbers 1h30–3h00
Renew both front shock absorbers Sport suspension 6h00
Renew both front shock absorbers Standard suspension 6h00
Renew both rear shock absorbers (Hatchback, Saloon) 2h30
Renew both front shock absorbers Standard suspension, Without LED headlights 6h00
Renew both front shock absorbers Standard suspension, With LED headlights 6h00
Renew both front shock absorbers Sport suspension, With LED headlights 6h00
Renew both front shock absorbers Sport suspension, Without LED headlights 6h00

What is the function of Audi A3 shock absorbers?

The shock absorber controls the relative movement between the wheel and the vehicle body. This control is essential for good road holding, preventing loss of grip between the tyres and the road surface, and ensuring passenger comfort.

When should you change the Audi A3 shock absorbers?

Shock absorber wear is gradual. Warning symptoms include: vehicle sensitive to crosswinds, increased braking distance, difficulty maintaining trajectory in curves, vehicle bouncing excessively over bumps, uneven tyre wear. Replace between 80,000 and 150,000 km. Always replace in pairs.

Is it difficult to change Audi A3 shock absorbers?

Difficulty level 2/5: technically easy but requires specific tools (spring compressors for McPherson struts, torque wrench). A wheel alignment is recommended after the work.

4 models covered

Model Year Range Engines covered Fuel
A3 I 1997-2003 1997-2003 1.6 Petrol (AEH), 1.6 Petrol (AKL), 1.6 Petrol (APF), 1.6 Petrol (AVU), 1.6 Petrol (BFQ), 1.8 20V Petrol (AGN), 1.8 20V Petrol (APG), 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (AGU), 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (AJQ), 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (APP), 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (AQA), 1.8 20V Turbo Petrol (ARX), 1.8 2… Diesel, Petrol
A3 II 2003-2013 2003-2013 1.2 TFSI Petrol (CBZB), 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CAXC), 1.6 8V E-Power Bioethanol (E85),Petrol (CMXA), 1.6 8V Petrol (BGU), 1.6 8V Petrol (BSE), 1.6 8V Petrol (CCSA), 1.6 FSi 16V Petrol (BAG), 1.6 FSi 16V Petrol (BLF), 1.6 FSi 16V Petrol (BLP), 1.6 TDI Diesel (CAYB), 1.6 TDI Diesel (CAY… Bioethanol (E85), Diesel, Petrol
A3 III 2013-2020 2013-2020 1.0 TFSI Petrol (CHZD), 1.2 TFSI Petrol (CJZA), 1.2 TFSI Petrol (CYVB), 1.4 TFSI CNG CNG,Petrol (CPWA), 1.4 TFSI e-tron Electricity,Petrol (CUKB+EAHA), 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CMBA), 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CPTA), 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CXSA), 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CXSB), 1.4 TFSI Petrol (CZCA), 1.4 TFS… CNG, Diesel, Electricity, Petrol
A3 IV 2020-2025 2020-2025 30 eTFSI 48V (MHEV),Petrol (DLAA), 30 TDI Diesel (DSUD), 30 TDI Diesel (DTRB), 30 TDI Diesel (DTRD), 35 eTFSI 48V (MHEV),Petrol (DFYA), 35 TDI Diesel (DSRB), 35 TDI Diesel (DTSA), 35 TDI Diesel (DTSB), 35 TFSI Petrol (DPCA), 40 TDI Diesel (DTUA), 40 TFSI e Electricity,Petrol (DG… 48V (MHEV), Diesel, Electricity, Petrol