Table of contents: Removal ↓ Installation ↓
Removal
1. Loosen the wheel nuts. Jack up the rear of the car and place it on stands. Remove the rear wheels.
2. On ABS equipped models, remove the rear wheel speed sensors. Loosen the clamp bolts and release the sensor wiring harnesses from the support brackets.
3. Disconnect the parking brake drive cables and remove the brake calipers and discs (see Chapter Brake system). Tie the calipers to the coil spring rods.
4. If the rear axle is to be replaced, remove the hub assemblies with wheel bearings (see section Removal and installation the rear hub assembly with wheel bearing).
5. Jack up the rear axle with one jack under the middle, or two under the ends.
6. Unbolt the lower ends of the shock absorbers from the bridge (see section Removal, condition check and installation of rear suspension struts).
7. Disconnect the cross-torque rod from the vehicle chassis.
8. Loosen the nuts and remove the axle bolts securing the trailing arms. Using an assistant, carefully remove the rear axle assembly with the torque rod from under the vehicle.
9. Assess the condition of the reaction rod bushings, control rod and trailing arms. Replace defective components.
10. The transverse reaction rod with the control rod can be removed from the rear axle assembly by releasing the corresponding fasteners. When reinstalling the components, ensure that the rod is turned with the arrow marking upwards, and the control rod bushing is facing the side with the smaller diameter hole towards the rod.
Installation
1. Install the components in the reverse order of their removal. Make sure that all fasteners are tightened to the required torque.
Note. The final tightening of the shock absorber and reaction rod fasteners should be done after the suspension elements have been raised to the normal working height - use a jack. Tightening of the nuts of the axle bolts of the longitudinal arms should be done with the suspension unloaded (in the lower position of the components).
2. Tightening forces for threaded fasteners of brake components are given in the Specifications to Chapter Brake system.
3. Replace the wheels, lower the vehicle to the ground and tighten the wheel nuts to the required torque (see Chapter Settings and ongoing maintenance).