Is there a Shock/Strut replacement HOW TO?

I have a 2001 Jetta that just turned 212,000 miles. It has the original shocks/struts and I know it way past due for their replacement. Believe it or not it has the original front brakes as well.

I haven't been able to find a HOW TO replacement writeup. Is there one that I've missed when searching?

There are a couple of how-to's at the top of this 101 section under How-To's, and also there is a list of Vortex how-to's which are pretty good for what you want to do. Besides a good, reliable spring compressor, I highly recommend the Metalnerd spreader tool. Then there are numerous threads on the topic with everybody's personal experience in changing struts.

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/a4/struts-replace-VW-Golf.htm

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/a4/strut-install-VW-Jetta.htm

But wait, there's more:

Short form:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?p=836166

Longer Step by Step
http://www.nclh.org/car/coilover_howto/

As always, I recommend the strut spreader tool mentioned in the coilover reference...made the job nice and easy...

-D...