Contents: Removal ⇊ Installation ⇊
Removal
1. Loosen the wheel nuts, lift the front of the car and place it on stands.
Models produced between 1984 and 1987.
2. Place a jack under the lower control arm. Raise the jack to take the load off the upper lug nuts.
Fig. 2.2 Installing a jack under the lower arm
3. Remove the brake hoses from the strut brackets.
Fig. 2.3 Rack details (1984 - 1987.):
1 - Brake hose bracket;
2 - rack mounting nuts;
3 - clamping bolt of the strut on the steering knuckle.
4. Remove the parking bolt from the strut clamp, slowly lower the jack and remove the strut from the steering knuckle, if necessary, separate the parts with a light hammer blow.
Note: the lower arm must be securely supported by a jack: the lower arm is loaded with a torsion bar, which will react when the arm slips.
5. Remove the strut mounting nuts in the engine compartment
6. Remove the stand.
Models since 1987
7. Unscrew the brake hose bracket from the shock absorber and steering knuckle.
8. Remove the pinch bolt at the top of the shock absorber fork (see fig. 1.5).
9. Remove the through bolt securing the shock absorber fork to the lower arm (see fig. 1.5).
10 Loosen the nuts securing the shock absorber to the strut tunnel in the engine compartment (see fig. 1.5) and remove the shock absorber.
Caution: Do not remove the large nut at the top of the shock absorber, it secures the spring.
Installation
11. Insert the shock absorber and secure the nuts from the engine compartment side.
Note: Tighten the nuts fully when the vehicle is on the ground.
12. On pre-1988 models, attach the lower end of the strut to the steering knuckle, if necessary, carefully raise the steering knuckle with a jack. On 1988 and later models, install the shock absorber fork (do not tighten the bolt nut). On all models, orient the strut so that the tab on the strut aligns with the slot in the fork or knuckle. Install the pinch bolt and tighten it to specification.
13. On 1988 and later models, place a jack under the steering knuckle. Raise the vehicle onto the knuckle until the vehicle is lifted off the stand.
14. Tighten the shock absorber fork clamp bolt and the nut of the fork-to-lower arm mounting bolt (the nut must be new). The tightening torque is specified in the specification.
15. Install the brake hose in place.
16. Remove the jack.
17. Install the wheels and tighten the lug nuts, lower the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts.
18. Tighten the engine compartment side strut mounting nuts to the specified torque.