Withdrawal
1. Loosen the rear wheel nuts, raise the rear of the vehicle and secure it on stands.
2. Support the rear axle with a jack (see illustration) and remove the rear wheels.
9.2. Before removing the shock absorber, place a trolley jack under the rear axle; otherwise, when you disconnect the lower shock mounting bolt, the axle, under spring pressure, may drop sharply and cause injury
3. If the vehicle is equipped with an electronic body level control system, it is necessary to disconnect the air lines before removing the shock absorber. The air lines use spring-cage connectors with built-in seals in the retainer and double O-rings in the end of the air line. Before disconnecting the connector, clean it thoroughly, then compress the spring clip (see illustration) and separate the pipe from the shock absorber (the left shock absorber has an inlet line and a bypass pipeline; the right shock absorber has only a bypass pipe).
9.3. On vehicles equipped with body position control, the left shock absorber (shown in the illustration) connected to the compressor and the right shock absorber (the right shock absorber has only one connector for the bypass pipe). To separate the air line, simply compress the spring clip and pull out the connector; to reconnect the line, lubricate the o-rings, then push the connector all the way into the tube until it clicks into place
4. Turn away the top nuts of fastening of the shock-absorber (see illustrations).
9.4a. To get to the top shock absorber nuts, remove this trim strip by hand,... | 9.4b....unhook each of the buttons... |
9.4c.... lift the decorative strip up and disconnect the electrical connector for the lamp, which turns on when the door is opened | 9.4y. This is what it looks like when the trim is removed from the back. Shown here are all snap fasteners |
9.4d. Press this rubber protective cap off the top of the shock absorber... | 9.4e....and unscrew these three nuts (indicated by arrows) |
5. Turn away nuts and bolts of the bottom fastening of the shock-absorber (see illustration).
9.5. Lower shock absorber nut and bolt (indicated by arrows)
6. Remove shock absorbers.
Examination
7. Holding each shock absorber vertically, stretch and compress it. The movement should be smooth, there should be no jamming. Check for fluid leaks. If the shock absorber is leaking, replace it, do the same if you feel jamming during compression. Always replace shock absorbers in pairs.
Installation
8. Install each shock absorber in its original place and insert the bolts. Tighten the top nuts to the torque specified in the specifications in this chapter. Lower the vehicle and tighten the lower bolts to the torque specified in the specifications of this chapter.
9. If the vehicle is equipped with an electronic body level control, connect the air lines. Lubricate the O-rings and slide the air lines and connectors over the entire length of the tube. After pressurizing the system to 100 psi, check for leaks with a soapy water solution.