Trailing Arms

Removal

1) Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove wheel assembly. Support trailing arm with a floor jack.

2) Remove nuts attaching brake drum and axle hub assembly to trailing arm. Using hex wrench, remove hex screws at axle shaft-to-transaxle joint.

3) Pull axle shaft and brake drum assembly through trailing arm and remove from vehicle. Remove shock absorber lower retaining bolt and slowly lower floor jack.

4) Remove coil spring and spring seats. Note relative position of trailing arm in mounting brackets. Remove pivot bolts. Remove trailing arm from vehicle.

Fig 1: Exploded View of Rear Suspension

Bushing Replacement

1) Using Bushing Remover (VW 442) and Adapter (30-14), pull bushing out of trailing arm. Coat washer with oil and place between nut and tool.

2) Coat hole in trailing arm, Installer Tool (3053), and bushing with soapy solution. Pull bushing in until sleeve contacts tool. Wait about 30 seconds before removing tool. Bushing should seat itself. If necessary, press edge of bushing out.

Installation

1) To install, reverse removal procedure. Depressions in spring seats must be aligned with ends of coil spring.

2) Align depression in lower spring seat with depression in trailing arm. Install trailing arm at noted position in bracket. Check wheel alignment.