Technical Rear Axle Replacement ?

[PuntoHowTo]

It would just be to clean out the spring pans and check the shocks

you could probably do that without even removing anything from the car, just undo the bottom bolts on the shocks, drop the rear beam down and the springs will pop out easily. bolt it back up when you're done

 

[Baglady1990]

you could probably do that without even removing anything from the car, just undo the bottom bolts on the shocks, drop the rear beam down and the springs will pop out easily. bolt it back up when you're done

How easy you forget…. When you changed all that a few years ago

 

[steveras57]

How easy you forget…. When you changed all that a few years ago

Thats a safety device for yer brain! kinda OH NO NOT AGAIN!"

 

[rmjbn1]

It would just be to clean out the spring pans and check the shocks

Make sure the car is back on the ground (suspension loaded) before final tightening of shocker bolts (same applies to front wishbones).

Also, the lower shocker bolts have a looooong thread on them, if you have an electric drill I find this 3/8 adapter a really useful tool, saves a lot of spanner-waggling

 

[JD2023]

Made a start yesterday on replacing the rear axle beam
Old beam is out
New beam is on
brake pipe union's did not want to play ball despite removing rear wheels last week and soaking in releasing oil as well as another dose yesterday before I attempted to remove :-(
As soon as I attempted to undo the join I could see the pipe start to twist so change of plan
I cut the flexi pipe as close as possible to the crimp end and used a deep socket over the crimped part of the flexi
Then while holding the brake pipe nut steady to stop the pipe twisting I undone the flexi pipe end instead

 

[John202020]

I recommend replacing all the brake parts and pipes, check the condition of the front to rear pipes and clean protect them as one of ours has rusted through with all the issues of how to fix. Do you have new star lock washers for the brake cables? Which I'd also replace noting they are different lengths by only 20mm easy to mix up.
Lower shock mounts might need washers , cable/pipe mounting/securing points maybe slightly out cable ties and extra protection, you may need to add extra padding where the brake cables run under the suspension legs.
If replacing the brake cables, only adjust the hand brake free play after fully adjusting the drums auto adjusters takes some playing around and it's quite possible the auto adjusters won't work as expected for some time afterwards use a new fitting kit which may actually say for non abs cars even though it has abs
So I now see you disconnect the hand brake at the other end
Have you checked the bleed valves open?

 

[JD2023]

Managed to pull one of the handbrake cables out of the rear of the drum
Luckily I had got 2X the inserts that hold the end of the handbrake cable in to the drum
But while removing the drum I did not notice the threaded hole to insert a bolt an push the drum off was 10mm
I of course screwed an 8mm bolt in to the hole for the wheel locating dowels and managed to bend the handbrake adjuster :-(

Have not seen any star lock washers
The Brake bleeder screws are shot and I will pick some up at work tomorrow
Brake pipe itself seems in good condition despite that It seemed stuck fast on the nut which is why I left the nut alone and removed from the flexI as I had got new ones any way
I replaced the pipework from the other end of the flexi out to the drum's with original replacement pipes
I also managed to recover the plastic pipe retaining clips from the old axle without breaking them
New shocks & springs
New Original shock and Axle bolts

Used a piece of wood jammed between the driver seat and the brake pedal to apply so pressure to the pedal and this stopped the brake fluid leaking out
Overnight
Thanks for the reminder to bleed and sort the brakes before adjusting the handbrake when I get the new adjuster hopefully get a new one tomorrow
Cheers

 

[John202020]

If the bleed valves are shot new cylinders ? But then you might find you twist the original pipework?
The star lock washers hold the cables in the drum back plate
Bosch do a complete shoes, adjuster springs etc, ready to fit but might not be cheap
Rack round the auto adjusters to take up the free play popping the drum on and off

 

[JD2023]

If the bleed valves are shot new cylinders ? But then you might find you twist the original pipework?
The star lock washers hold the cables in the drum back plate
Bosch do a complete shoes, adjuster springs etc, ready to fit but might not be cheap
Rack round the auto adjusters to take up the free play popping the drum on and off

I did manage to remove the bleed screws but the 7mm hex has badly damaged by previous owner so I can get new bleed screws in work tomorrow
Few benefits of working for a large automotive supplier
the handbrake cable on this are held in to the drum with a clip that fits on the end of the handbrake cable then pushed in to lock in place
Opposite end has a plastic clip that pushes in to the hole in the bodywork to the handbrake so as yet I haven't seen any star washers ( yet )