Removal
Raise the rear of the vehicle and secure it on stands.
Disconnect the rear handbrake cable from the cable connector.
Disconnect the flexible brake hoses from the brake supply pipes. Close the hoses with plugs.
On vehicles with ABS, unscrew the nut and disconnect the pressure regulator rod from the rear axle beam.
Hatchback and Saloon Models
Place jacks under the rear axle beam to support its weight and unscrew the bolts securing the beam to the body (see Fig. 10.32).
Unscrew and remove the bolt securing the shock absorber strut to the beam.
Lower the rear beam and remove it from under the vehicle.
Combi Models
Place jacks under the rear suspension arms directly under the coil springs and raise them enough so that the weight of the arms and the force of the springs are supported by the jacks.
Remove the lower shock absorber mounting bolts. Slowly lower the jacks until the coil springs are completely free and remove the springs. Reinstall the jacks to support the weight of the rear beam and remove the rear beam-to-body mounting bolts.
Lower the rear beam and remove it from under the vehicle.
Installation. All models
Installation is carried out in the reverse order of removal, taking into account the following points:
- install the rear beam and tighten the front beam-to-body mounting bolts to the specified torque;
- on hatchback and sedan models, attach the shock absorber strut to the beam and tighten the bolt by hand;
- on combi models, when installing the springs, check that they are correctly positioned in the support cups;
- connect the brake hoses and bleed the brake system;
- lower the vehicle and finally tighten the shock absorber strut to beam mounting bolts.