Note. It is convenient to perform work on removing, installing, replacing the shock absorber and rear suspension spring in an inspection hole. But if necessary, you can remove and install the spring and shock absorber of the rear suspension by hanging the rear of the car on stands.
Recommendation. If one of the shock absorbers or springs fails, replace them in pairs.
To perform repair work on replacing shock absorbers and rear suspension springs, you will need:
- viewing hole or flyover;
- stand (see point 2 "Special tools and fixtures");
- assistant (desirable).
Removing
1. We prepare the car for work (see items 1, 2b, 3 and 4 "Preparing the car for maintenance and repair").
Note. If you will replace the shock absorber and rear suspension spring on a flat area, remove the rear wheel of the car from the side of the shock absorber being removed and install a reliable stand under the car (see paragraphs 1, 2 a, 3 and 4 "Preparing the car for maintenance and repair").
2. We bend the edge of the side upholstery of the trunk (sedan) or remove the side trim of the trunk from the side of the shock absorber to be removed (hatchback and station wagon).
Recommendation. The following operation is best performed with a special tool for disassembling the suspension strut (see points 5 and 6 "Front suspension strut - disassembly and assembly"), since it is not always possible to keep the stem from turning with an open-end wrench.
3. Holding the shock absorber rod with a 6 mm open-end wrench, unscrew the rod nut with a 17 mm spanner.
4. Remove the support washer and the upper rod mounting pad from the shock absorber rod.
5. Using two 19 mm wrenches, unscrew the nut of the bolt securing the lower end of the shock absorber to the rear axle beam and remove the bolt.
6. We take the lower end of the shock absorber towards the rear of the car and remove the shock absorber.
7. Remove the spring and its gasket from the shock absorber, and also, if necessary, remove the lower cushion and spacer from the shock absorber rod.
Installation
Note. In the rear suspension, springs of the same class should be installed. Class A is marked with white marks, and class B is marked with black (for vehicles supplied for export marking in yellow and green, respectively).
1. Before installing the shock absorber, we fix the rubber gasket on the spring with insulating tape.
2. We install the spring on the shock absorber and fully extend the shock absorber rod, put the spacer sleeve and the bottom cushion on the rod (if they are not on stock).
Warning. We orient the rear shock absorber so that the end of the lower coil of the spring is facing the wheel.
3. We introduce the rear shock absorber rod into the hole of the body cup, at the same time the assistant puts the upper cushion on the rod, a special washer and baits the rod nut for several turns.
Note. In the absence of an assistant, you can first fix the rear shock absorber to the rear suspension beam. Then smoothly lower the car on the wheels on the jack, while controlling that the shock absorber rod enters the hole in the body and after that put on the top cushion with a washer and screw on the nut
4. We install a jack under the beam lever and raise the lever until the holes in the shock absorber and the beam bracket are aligned. Install the shock absorber lower mounting bolt and tighten its nut (without delay).
5. We install the removed wheel on the car (if the work was carried out without a viewing hole) and put the car on wheels. We press the rear of the car several times to self-install the rear suspension elements.
6. Tighten the shock absorber rod mounting nut to a torque of 50-61.7 N·m (5.1-6.3 kgf·m).
7. Tighten the nut of the bolt of the lower mounting of the rear shock absorber with a torque of 66.6-82.3 N·m (6.8-8.4 kgf·m).