Complete rear axle assembly

Never support the rear axle with a lifting device.

REMOVAL

• Position the vehicle on a two-post lift.

• During this operation, secure the vehicle to the lift with a strap to prevent imbalance.
• For the strap fitting procedure, see Chapter Lifting Equipment.

• Fit the brake pedal depressor tool on the brake pedal to limit brake fluid flow.
• Remove the rear wheels.
• Unclip the parking brake cables.
• Note the routing of the parking brake cables for refitting.

• Unscrew the brake hose nuts (1).
• Disconnect the wheel speed sensor connectors at each side member.
• Remove:

• the rear underbody protection cover clips using a clip removal pliers,
• the rear underbody cover.

1 - Left side

• Place the component jack tool in contact with a wedge, under the left spring seat.
• Mark the installed position of the left spring.
• Remove the left lower shock absorber mounting (2) using a long socket.
• Free the left shock absorber lower mounting.
• Remove the component spring compressor.

• Remove the left spring with its lower seat.

If the upper spring pad is unclipped, replace the upper spring pad.

2 - Right side

• Repeat the operations on the right-hand side of the vehicle.

• Place the tool (Mot. 1390) on the rear axle lifting points.

• Adjust the height of the pads to obtain a shock absorber mounting point centre distance (body mounting (4), axle mounting (5)) of 402 mm.

• Loosen the bearing bolts (3).
• Place the pads of the tool (Mot. 1390) in contact with the rear axle.
• Strap the rear axle.
• Remove the bearing bolts (3).
• lift the vehicle.

• Remove the rear axle components.

INSTALLATION

• Refit the rear axle components.
• Strap the rear axle to the tool (Mot. 1390).
• Position the axle under the vehicle.

• Lower the lift.
• Position the bearing locating dowels opposite the centring holes.
• Refit the bolts, starting with the left bearing.
• Position the brake pipes in their housings.
• Remove the strap.
• Raise the lift.
• Remove the tool (Mot. 1390).
• Tighten to torque:

• the bearing mounting bolts (6.2 daN.m),
• the brake hose bolts (1.4 daN.m).

• Reconnect the wheel anti-lock brake connectors.
• Reconnect the parking brake cables.

• Check that the parking brake cable stops are correctly engaged in their housings.
• Refit the spring pads.
• Refit the springs into their housings.
• Position the bump stops on the axle, marking facing rearward and aligned with the vehicle's longitudinal axis.

3 - Left side

• Place the component jack tool in contact with a wedge under the spring seat.
• Compress the rear suspension.
• Refit the lower shock absorber mounting.

The shock absorber mountings are tightened only with the wheels of the vehicle on the ground.

• Remove the component spring compressor.

4 - Right side

• Place the component jack tool in contact with a wedge under the spring seat.
• Check the position of the bump stop on the axle.
• Compress the rear suspension.
• Refit the lower shock absorber mounting.
• Remove the component spring compressor.
• Lower the lift.
• Tighten the lower shock absorber mountings to torque (10.5 daN.m).
• Raise the lift.
• Refit the rear underbody cover, replacing any damaged plastic clips.
• Tighten the rear underbody cover mounting bolts to torque (0.8 daN.m).
• Refit the rear wheels.
• Tighten the wheel bolts to torque (11 daN.m).