front suspension stiff after oil change

My 96 passat is suddenly riding very stiff in the front after I did an oil change. I raised the whole front end of the car with a jack with a 18" 2x4 under the cross member. I put stands at the jack points and changed the oil. I lowered it with the jack in the same manner. When I drove it, it was like I had really stiff springs. I took it to a shop and all they said was I had a slightly loose inner tie rod end but that would not cause my issue. So that was money wasted.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Probably a bound up/rusted strut would be my guess. I had a Mazda 626 do that once. Had a Corolla strut come completely apart when I lifted it!

ditto what oilhammer said, especially if your front struts are really old.

Steve