Rear end- refresh
Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2021 11:12 am
Thought I'd write up how to refresh all the old and busted suspension stuff at the back of the car.
This is 'my way' and I am sure others will say there are better ways, or easier routes etc... however if this helps someone then thats good!
Shopping list:
2x shock absorbers
2x top mounts
2x dust covers/bump stops
2x ARB bushes
2x drop links
Check springs if necessary...
2x M8 40mm bolts with washers and nyloc nuts 8.8 high tensile
Remove rear shelf in boot:
If you are heading here you may want to consider relocating your roof motor, as you are halfway there already?
- unclip 4x plastic clips, remove shelf. Be careful of the microswitch not to damage the armature.
- unbolt the two side hinges- usually a T30 and a 10 or 13mm bolt, with a plastic peg grommet- remove from car. This is to access the two tops of the rear suspension turrets.
- the turrets are covered with insulating and sound deadening so worth a dig around to see the two 13mm bolts either side that hold the top of the shock in place
Jack and support the rear of the car- safety first here obviously! Chock the front wheels and remove the rear wheels.
Remove the rear shocks: Support the bottom of the hub with a jack. Undo the 18mm main bolt (pictured) and the two 13mm bolts in the boot- shock will drop away from the car.
Remove the spring for inspection: with the shock off, take the jack away and push down on the wheel hub, the spring will free itself from the top and bottom spigots and you can remove- its easier with two people to do this but possible with one. Check the spring for cracking, rust and to check the condition of the top/bottom rubber pads.
With those out the way, you can now see the top of your drop links- 2x13mm bolts and they should free up. That frees up the ends of your anti roll bar but it still won't budge as the bushes are on. TOP TIP- at this point find a way of remembering/visualising how the ARB sits and is orientated. My method was to use a spray of yellow paint that reminded me of which way it sat.
Undo the bushes by getting 13mm sockets or spanners onto the holding bracket- see pic. These are bolted at the top and at the bottom have a metal tab sitting in a slot. Once undone, pop the metal bracket off and remove the bushes.
Now your ARB bar is free. It will drop with the drop links attached- now time to wrestle it! I've seen guides say drop the rear braces, exhaust and diff to get to the bar- however I find thats not necessary. The drop links come off with circular twisting and pressure, with the bar still under the car. Once off, prepare to pop the new ones on in reverse. Use washing up liquid and direct twisting force to get them fully slid on- note also get the orientation and angle right now to help refitting.
Now the new bushes- with the bar back in position, slide the bushes into place. Grease the inside of the metal brackets and pop them over the bush. Use a pry bar to get the bottom lip into the metal slot, then use your longer M8 bolts to secure- that longer bolt will save you an age of pain and frustration!
Get everything tightened back up.
Build the new shocks- simple enough, but if you strip the old ones down you can repeat the order when building new- getting the top bolt off can be troublesome but either use a cut away bolt and allen key, or vice/monkey grips to stop the shaft turning.
Reinstall is in reverse: springs reseat and back in, shock in and secure from top. 18mm bolt back in the base. I'll post up torques but needless to say RFT is essential!
I also use this time to inspect:
Rear brake lines
Subframe for corrosion
Petrol tank
Trailing arm bushes
Diff bushes
I also drop the aluminium cover off the rear diff and use the opportunity to change the diff oil.
Hope this helps- as always drop me a line if I can help!
This is 'my way' and I am sure others will say there are better ways, or easier routes etc... however if this helps someone then thats good!
Shopping list:
2x shock absorbers
2x top mounts
2x dust covers/bump stops
2x ARB bushes
2x drop links
Check springs if necessary...
2x M8 40mm bolts with washers and nyloc nuts 8.8 high tensile
Remove rear shelf in boot:
If you are heading here you may want to consider relocating your roof motor, as you are halfway there already?
- unclip 4x plastic clips, remove shelf. Be careful of the microswitch not to damage the armature.
- unbolt the two side hinges- usually a T30 and a 10 or 13mm bolt, with a plastic peg grommet- remove from car. This is to access the two tops of the rear suspension turrets.
- the turrets are covered with insulating and sound deadening so worth a dig around to see the two 13mm bolts either side that hold the top of the shock in place
Jack and support the rear of the car- safety first here obviously! Chock the front wheels and remove the rear wheels.
Remove the rear shocks: Support the bottom of the hub with a jack. Undo the 18mm main bolt (pictured) and the two 13mm bolts in the boot- shock will drop away from the car.
Remove the spring for inspection: with the shock off, take the jack away and push down on the wheel hub, the spring will free itself from the top and bottom spigots and you can remove- its easier with two people to do this but possible with one. Check the spring for cracking, rust and to check the condition of the top/bottom rubber pads.
With those out the way, you can now see the top of your drop links- 2x13mm bolts and they should free up. That frees up the ends of your anti roll bar but it still won't budge as the bushes are on. TOP TIP- at this point find a way of remembering/visualising how the ARB sits and is orientated. My method was to use a spray of yellow paint that reminded me of which way it sat.
Undo the bushes by getting 13mm sockets or spanners onto the holding bracket- see pic. These are bolted at the top and at the bottom have a metal tab sitting in a slot. Once undone, pop the metal bracket off and remove the bushes.
Now your ARB bar is free. It will drop with the drop links attached- now time to wrestle it! I've seen guides say drop the rear braces, exhaust and diff to get to the bar- however I find thats not necessary. The drop links come off with circular twisting and pressure, with the bar still under the car. Once off, prepare to pop the new ones on in reverse. Use washing up liquid and direct twisting force to get them fully slid on- note also get the orientation and angle right now to help refitting.
Now the new bushes- with the bar back in position, slide the bushes into place. Grease the inside of the metal brackets and pop them over the bush. Use a pry bar to get the bottom lip into the metal slot, then use your longer M8 bolts to secure- that longer bolt will save you an age of pain and frustration!
Get everything tightened back up.
Build the new shocks- simple enough, but if you strip the old ones down you can repeat the order when building new- getting the top bolt off can be troublesome but either use a cut away bolt and allen key, or vice/monkey grips to stop the shaft turning.
Reinstall is in reverse: springs reseat and back in, shock in and secure from top. 18mm bolt back in the base. I'll post up torques but needless to say RFT is essential!
I also use this time to inspect:
Rear brake lines
Subframe for corrosion
Petrol tank
Trailing arm bushes
Diff bushes
I also drop the aluminium cover off the rear diff and use the opportunity to change the diff oil.
Hope this helps- as always drop me a line if I can help!