10•8 Suspension and steering
6.3 Remove the four bolts that secure the
hub to the steering swivel member
to the steering swivel member (see
illustration).
4 Lift off the steering swivel member and
brake disc backplate (see illustrations).
Refitting
5 Reassemble the hub and brake disc
backplate to the steering swivel member by
reversing the removal procedure, observing
the specified torque wrench settings. Use the
marks made during removal to ensure that the
hub is aligned correctly.
6 Refer to Section 5 and refit the steering
swivel member to the vehicle.
Warning: To preserve the
handling characteristics of the
vehicle, BOTH rear dampers (left
and right-hand) should be
renewed as a pair.
Removal
1 Park the vehicle on a level surface, chock
the front wheels and select first gear (manual
transmission) or "PARK" (automatic trans-
mission). At the applicable rear roadwheel,
remove the centre cap and slacken the bolts.
2 Raise the rear of the vehicle, rest it securely
on axle stands and remove the roadwheel;
refer to "Jacking, towing and wheel changing".
6.4a Lift off the steering swivel member...
3 Reposition the jack, so that it is positioned
under the joint between the axle tube and the
lower suspension arm. Raise the jack just
enough to relieve the load on the shock
absorbers and anti-roll bar.
4 From within the load space, remove the
spare wheel protective panel, then fold back
the carpet and side trim panel, to expose the
shock absorber top mounting; refer to Chap-
ter 11 for guidance. Remove the nut, locknut,
cup and bush from the damper rod (see
illustration).
5 From underneath the vehicle, remove the
bolt that secures the shock absorber and anti-
roll bar to the mounting bracket on the axle
tube (see illustration).
6 Lower the jack slightly, and separate the
shock absorber bottom mounting from the
axle tube.
7 Withdraw the shock absorber from the
wheelarch, noting the positions of the
remaining bush and washer at the top
mounting.
8 Inspect the shock absorber for signs of fluid
leakage, particularly from the piston rod seal.
Test the action of the shock absorber by
pushing the piston rod firmly through two or
three full length strokes, then rapidly through
several short strokes. Smooth, consistent
resistance should be felt; if the action is at all
uneven, weak or unduly noisy, then the shock
absorber unit should be renewed.
7.4 Remove the nut, locknut, cup and bush
from the damper rod
7.5 From underneath the vehicle, remove
the bolt (arrowed) that secures the shock
absorber and anti-roll bar to the mounting
bracket on the axle tube
6.4b ... and brake disc backplate
9 Check the piston rod for signs of corrosion
or distortion; renew the shock absorber unit if
its condition is unsatisfactory.
Refitting
10 Refit the shock absorber by following the
removal sequence in reverse order, noting the
following:
a) Ensure that the shock absorber top
mounting components are refitted in the
correct order (see illustration).
b) Tighten the lower mounting bolt to the
specified torque.
c) Refit the roadwheel, lower the vehicle to
the ground and tighten the roadwheel
bolts to the specified torque.
Removal
1 Park the vehicle on a level surface, chock
the front wheels and select first gear (manual
transmission) or "PARK" (automatic trans-
mission). At the rear roadwheels, remove the
centre caps and slacken the bolts.
7.10 Correct assembled order of rear
shock absorber top mounting components