Replacing the rear axle beam (VW Golf 2)

The diagram of the rear suspension device is shown in figure 408 and 409. It should be noted that both brackets 10 and 11 of the rear axle beam should be disconnected from the body, and not from the beam, since the installation angle of the correcting support 5 must be maintained. If this is not possible, the relative positions of the brackets and the axle should be marked in order to maintain the geometry during installation.

Loosen the wheel nuts on both sides of the vehicle.

Raise the rear of the vehicle and support it on stands.

Disconnect the parking brake cable from the lever and the brake hose from the brake line.

From the trunk side, remove the caps covering the upper shock absorber mounting nuts.

Unscrew the nuts of the upper mount of both shock absorbers. At the same time, lift the rear axle beam with a jack and hold it for about a minute. Remove the rubber cushions and gaskets from each shock absorber.

If the beam is dismantled with brackets, the shape of the bracket should be outlined on the floor plate and the bolts that secure the bracket to the bottom should be unscrewed. If the beam is removed without brackets, the position of the brackets should be marked on the supporting beam.

This can be done with a scriber. Unscrew the self-locking nuts accessible from the outside of the bracket. Carefully insert the bolts into the middle.

Disconnect the exhaust system components from the body or remove the rear muffler.

Slowly lower the beam with the jack and push it back.

The rear axle is installed in the reverse order, observing the following rules:



Raise the rear beam slowly, simultaneously inserting the ends of the shock absorbers into the body holes. The lower rubber cushions and pads should already be placed on the spring struts. Insert the upper rubber cushions and pads and tighten the nuts to 15 Nm.

When attaching the beam to the body, the order of actions depends on whether the brackets will be removed or not:

• a) If brackets 1 O, 11 remain on the beam, you need to bring the beam to the body, align the holes in the beam for the bolts and install the bolts (tightening torque 85 Nm)..
• b) If the brackets remain on the body, insert the beam with the bushings of the correcting supports into them and install them according to the marks applied earlier. The beam should form an angle of 12°±2° with the brackets, ensuring the preload of the correcting supports. Insert the bolts with their heads towards the middle of the body bottom, screw on new self-locking nuts (with reinforced washers), tighten to a torque of 60 Nm.
• c) If the brackets have been disconnected from both the beam and the body, then they should first be attached to the beam to maintain the previously established angle. Both bolts are tightened to the beam with a torque of 60 Nm (with new nuts). Then screw in the bracket mounting bolts by hand and install the right bracket so that the bolts are in the middle of the oblong holes. In this position, tighten the bolts to a torque of 85 Nm. Now, on the left side of the car, insert a crowbar between the bracket and the beam and push the bracket to the correction support. In this position, tighten the bracket bolts to a torque of 85 Nm. To perform these operations, two people are required, one of whom works with a crowbar, and the other tightens the nuts.

Connect the parking brake cable and brake hose. Adjust the parking brake cable tension and bleed the brake hydraulic system.