Rear Axle, Removing And Installing: Removing

-- Loosen the drive axle threaded connection. Refer to Drive Axle Threaded Connection, Loosening and Tightening  .

-- Remove the rear wheels. Refer to Wheel, Removing .

-- Remove the motor. Refer to REAR MOTOR, REMOVING .

-- Remove the springs. Refer to Spring, Removing and Installing  .

-- Remove the rear wheel housing liners. Refer to REAR WHEEL HOUSING LINER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .

-- Disconnect the connector -2- from the Left Parking Brake Motor -V282- and form the Right Parking Brake Motor -V283- -1-.

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Vehicles with adaptive ride control 

-- Disconnect the connector -3- from the Left Rear Damping Adjustment Valve -N338- and from the Right Rear Damping Adjustment Valve -N339-.

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-- Detach the wire from the bracket at the shock absorber -2- on both sides of the vehicle -arrow-.

Continuation for all vehicles 

-- Detach the wire -3- from the Left Rear Level Control System Sensor -G76- -4-.

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-- Detach the wire -2- from the rear axle -1- -arrow-.

-- Detach the wire -4- from the bracket -2-.

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-- Unclip the bracket -1- for the wire -2- at the lower control arm -3-.

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-- Press together the bracket locking tabs -1- on the inside of the lower control arm -3-.

-- Detach the wire -3- from the bracket -4- on both sides of the vehicle.

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-- Unclip the wire -3- from the rear axle -1- on both sides of the vehicle -2-.

-- Disconnect the connector -2- from the Left Rear ABS Wheel Speed Sensor -G46- and from the Right Rear ABS Wheel Speed Sensor -G44- -3-.

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-- Remove the retainer -3- from the brake hose -4- on both sides of the vehicle.

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-- Remove the brake line -1- on both sides of the vehicle.

-- Remove the brake hose -4- out of the bracket -2- on both sides of the vehicle.

-- Unclip the wire -3- from the bracket -1- on the right side of the vehicle -arrows-.

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-- Unclip the wire -6- from the bracket -4- on the left side of the vehicle -arrow-.

For clarity, the rear axle is shown from above in the illustration.

-- Completely loosen the wire -3- on the rear axle -1- and free it up.

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-- Unclip the brake lines -5- on the rear axle -1- from the brackets -arrows-.

-- Remove the cable guide -4- on the rear axle -1- upward.

-- Secure the wire and the brake lines on the vehicle with suitable service equipment.

-- Refer to Subframe, Securing  .

-- Remove the bolts -3- for the shock absorber -4- and -5-.

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-- Refer to SUBFRAME, LIFTING WITH SCISSOR LIFT TABLE  .

-- Lower the subframe with the attachments using the Scissor Lift Table: VAS 6131B  .

-- Secure the subframe to the Scissor Lift Table: VAS 6131B  using the Tensioning Strap: T10038  .

-- Further lower the subframe with the attachments using the Scissor Lift Table: VAS 6131B  .