Rear Strut / Shock Tower: Service and Repair

Damper
Remove
1. Raise rear of vehicle.

WARNING: Do not work on or under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Always support the vehicle on safety stands.

2. Remove road wheel.
3. Clamp brake hose to prevent fluid loss.
4. Position absorbent cloth to catch spillage.





5. Loosen brake pipe union to hose and release union.

CAUTION: Always fit plugs to open connections to prevent contamination.

6. Remove clip securing brake hose to bracket on damper. Release brake hose from bracket.
7. Release ABS sensor harness and brake hose from damper.
8. Release ABS sensor from hub.





9. Remove nuts and bolts securing hub to damper.
10. Release damper from hub.
11. Remove rear quarter lower casing.





12. Remove 3 nuts from damper top mounting and remove spring and damper assembly.
13. Remove rubber seal from top mounting.





14. Position a suitable spring compressor in vice.

CAUTION: Note alignment of top mounting, spring and damper dust cover.

15. Position spring and damper assembly to spring compressor. Compress spring.
16. Reference mark between top mounting and spring.





17. Remove cover from top mounting.
18. Compress spring by 2 to 3 cm until loose, hold damper shaft with Allen key, remove and discard mounting plate nut.
19. Remove top mounting plate.
20. Remove rebound washer and mounting plate.
21. Remove spring aid and bump plate.
22. Remove spring seat, dust cover and bump stop cup.
23. Remove damper from spring.
24. Release and remove spring from compressor.

Refit
1. Inspect damper, spring mounting rubbers and bearing for deterioration and damage.
2. Clean mating faces of spring, mounting and mounting plate.
3. Clean damper shaft and bump stop plate.
4. Position spring and damper assembly to spring compressor. Compress spring.
5. Fit damper to spring, ensure spring locates in cut recess in damper plate.
6. Fit bump stop, bump stop cup and dust cover to damper.
7. Fit spring aid and bump plate.
8. Fit mounting plate and rebound washer.
9. Using new nut, hold damper shaft with Allen key and tighten nut to 57 Nm (42 ft. lbs.).

CAUTION: Note alignment of top mounting, spring and damper dust cover.

10. Fit top mounting cover.
11. Release and remove spring from compressor.
12. Clean mating face of top mounting plate.
13. Fit rubber seal to top mounting.
14. Position damper assembly and align top mounting to body, fit nuts and tighten to 45 Nm (33 ft. lbs.).
15. Fit rear quarter lower trim casings.
16. Fit hub to damper and tighten bolts to 205 Nm (151 ft. lbs.).
17. Clean ABS sensor, smear sensor with an anti-seize grease and fit sensor to hub.

CAUTION: Ensure ABS sensor is fully located into hub, so that sensor touches pole wheel teeth.

18. Secure brake hose and ABS sensor harness to damper.
19. Secure brake hose with "C" clip.
20. Remove plugs and clean brake pipe male end.
21. Align hose to brake pipe and tighten union to 14 Nm (10 ft. lbs.).
22. Remove clamp from brake hose.
23. Bleed brake system.
24. Fit road wheel(s) and tighten nuts to 115 Nm (85 ft. lbs.).
25. Remove stands and lower vehicle.