I have had a front drivers side spring snap on my 2006 tdi polo. I have replaced the spring but now can not get the shock back into to the hub. It will not go low enough to insert the shock. I have removed the trackrod end but the drivesshaft is still connected. I have previously replaced the passengers side with no issues, just needed to put slight pressure on the hub to allow it to slip in. 

 

Please can anyone help? 

Edited 1 January, 20188 yr by malpolo

I normally take the strut, hub and ball joint out as one unit by undoing the hubnut and the three bolts that hold the ball joint into the end of the wishbone.

 

If you're working by yourself, and haven't got a buzzgun, the easiest way to undo the hub nut is to drop an old screwdriver into the vents on the brake disc so it rests against the caliper.

 

The pikeytech suggestion would be to recompress the spring on the strut as far as you can so you can push the shock down, then tie some decent string / paracord round it so it stays compressed when you take the clamps off. Fit it, then carefully cut the string once everything is back together.