Contents - Volkspage

Suspension and steering 10.7
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.
10.11 Grease the lips of the seal, and
press it into the rear of the hub
11 Smear the lips of the new seal with a little
grease. Using a block of wood drive the seal
squarely into the drum/hub with the lips facing
inwards (see illustration).
12 Refit the drum and locate the outer
bearing on the stub axle.
13 Fit the thrustwasher and hub nut, and
tighten the nut hand tight.
14 Refit the wheel.
15 With the hub cap, split pin, and locking
ring removed, tighten the hub nut firmly while
turning the wheel in order to settle the
bearings.
16 Back off the nut then tighten it until it is
just possible to move the thrustwasher
laterally with a screwdriver under finger
pressure. Do not twist the screwdriver or lever
it (see illustration).
17 Fit the locking ring together with a new
split pin, then tap the hub cap into the drum
with a mallet.
18 Lower the car to the ground.
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.
10.16 Checking the rear wheel bearing
adjustment with a screwdriver (see text)
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).
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
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.
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.
Removal
1 Set the front wheels in the straight-ahead
position.
2 Prise the cover from the centre of the
steering wheel, note the location of the wires
and disconnect them from the terminals on
the cover.
3 Mark the steering wheel, inner column and
adapter sleeve in relation to each other, then
unscrew the nut, remove the washer and
withdraw the steering wheel. If it is tight, try
rocking it slowly but firmly. Remove the
washer (see illustrations).
12.5 Use a puller to remove the rear axle
beam pivot bushes