Rear axle beam - removal and refitting

Suspension and steering / Rear axle beam - removal and refitting

Removal
Note: If the axle beam is suspected of being distorted it should be checked in position by a VW garage using an optical alignment instrument
1 Remove the rear stub axles as described in Section 9.

2 Support the weight of the trailing arms with axle stands then disconnect the struts/shock absorbers by removing the lower mounting bolts.

3 Remove the tail section of the exhaust system with reference to Chapter 4.

Alternatively release the rear exhaust from the rubber mountings and position it to one side.

4 Disconnect the handbrake cables from the axle beam with reference to Chapter 9.

5 Remove the brake fluid reservoir filler cap and tighten it down onto a piece of polythene sheet in order to reduce the loss of hydraulic fluid. Alternatively fit brake hose clamps to the rear flexible hoses.

6 Lower the axle beam and disconnect the brake hydraulic hoses with reference to Chapter 9.

7 Support the weight of the axle beam with axle stands then unscrew and remove the pivot bolts and lower the axle beam to the ground. Note that the pivot bolt heads face outwards (see illustration).

11.7 Rear axle pivot bolt

8 If the bushes are worn renew them as described in Section 12. If necessary the trunnion brackets can be removed by unscrewing the bolts. Discard the bolts.

Refitting
9 Refit the trunnion brackets if removed, but coat the new bolt threads with locking compound before tightening them to the specified torque.

10 Refitting the rear axle beam is a reversal of removal, but delay tightening the strut/shock absorber lower mounting bolts and the axle beam pivot bolts to the specified torques until the full weight of the car is on the roadwheels. Bleed the brake hydraulic system as described in Chapter 9.