Note. At installation it is necessary to use new nuts of fastening of shock-absorbers.
Removing
1. «Drive» rear of the vehicle onto the overpass, then apply the parking brake and chock the front wheels.
2. Do not place stands under the vehicle when its trailing arms are hanging loose.
3. Hold the bolts and unscrew the upper and lower shock absorber mounting nuts (pic. 14.3, a, b). Remove washers.
Pic. 14.3, a. Loosen the top nut (marked with an arrow)
Pic. 14.3, b.... and the bottom nut (nut and bolt are marked with arrows) shock absorber mounts
4. Knock out the bolts from the supports to release the shock absorber, and then remove the shock absorber from under the car.
Examination
5. Inspect the shock absorber for signs of fluid leakage or damage. Check shock absorber operation. While holding the shock absorber in a vertical position, check its operation by moving the rod to the full stroke and then making short strokes of 50-100 mm. In both cases, the resistance should feel smooth and constant. If you feel uneven resistance or jerking, or there are visible signs of wear or damage to the shock absorber, it is necessary to replace it.
6. Also check the rubber bushings for damage and deterioration. New bushings can be installed using a long bolt, nut and spacers to retract the bushing into its original position. For ease of installation, lubricate the new bushing with soapy water.
7. Inspect the bolts for signs of wear or damage and replace if necessary.
Installation
8. Before installing the shock absorber, clamp it in a vise in a vertical position and move the piston to full stroke several times to prime it. Apply a small amount of multipurpose grease to both shock mounting bolts.
9. Set the shock absorber in place and insert the bolts (with washers). Keep in mind that the bolts must be inserted from the inside of the vehicle, i.e. the nuts must be screwed on from the side of the wheel.
10. Install the washers and screw new nuts onto the bolts, but do not tighten the nuts at this stage.
11. Measure the distance between the centers of the shock absorber bolts and load the car (add cargo to the luggage compartment) until the distance between the centers of the bolts is approximately 315.0 mm (models «van») or 340.0 mm (Multispace and Combi models). Tighten the shock absorber mounting nuts and bolts to the specified torque.
12. Remove the car from the overpass.