Rear axle beam pivot bushes - renewal

Suspension and steering / Rear axle beam pivot bushes - renewal

1 Chock the front wheels then jack up the rear of the car and support on axle stands (see “Jacking and vehicle support”). Release the handbrake and remove the rear wheels.

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

3 Disconnect the handbrake cables from the underbody brackets and axle beam with reference to Chapter 9.

4 Unscrew and remove the pivot bolts and lower the axle beam onto axle stands making sure the flexible brake hoses are not strained.

5 Using a two-arm puller, force the bushes from the axle beam (see illustration). Dip the new bushes in soapy water before pressing them in from the outside with the puller.

12.5 Use a puller to remove the rear axle beam pivot bushes

6 Refit the pivot bolts, handbrake cables, exhaust and rear wheels using a reversal of the removal procedure, but delay tightening the pivot bolt nuts to the specified torque until the full weight of the car is on the roadwheels.