Rear Axle Mounting Bushes - Renewal; Leaf Spring Rear Suspension Components (Astramax) - Removal And Refitting - Opel Kadett Owner's Manual

10•10 Suspension and steering
Refitting
11 With the aid of an assistant, offer the new
axle to the vehicle, remembering to pass the
handbrake cable over the exhaust system.
Insert the axle arm mounting bolts, but do not
tighten them yet.
12 Fit the springs and secure the shock
absorbers, as described in Section 14.
13 Reconnect the brake flexible hoses, then
bleed the hydraulic system (Chapter 9).
14 On Estate and Van models, secure the
brake pressure regulating valve spring
bracket, as described in Chapter 9.
15 Secure the exhaust system to its
mountings.
16 Secure the handbrake cable to its guides
and to the yoke.
17 Adjust the rear wheel bearings, as
described in Section 9.
18 Adjust the brakes by making at least 10
applications of the brake pedal, then adjust
the handbrake, as described in Chapter 1.
19 Fit the roadwheels, lower the vehicle and
tighten the wheel bolts.
20 Load the vehicle by having two assistants
sit in the front seats, then tighten the axle arm
mounting bolts to the specified torque.
21 When a level control system is fitted,
inflate it to 0.8 bar.
16 Rear axle mounting bushes
- renewal
1 The mounting bushes must always be
renewed in pairs. Without
opportunity should be taken to renew them if
the axle is removed for some other reason.
They can be renewed with the axle in situ as
follows.
16.8 Cranked link used to support axle arm
2 Depressurise the level control system,
when fitted.
3 Remove the rear springs, as described in
Section 14, then reattach the shock absorber
lower mountings.
4 On Estate and Van models, unbolt the brake
pressure regulating valve spring bracket.
5 Unclip the brake flexible hose from the
brackets on the underbody. If care is taken
there is no need to disconnect the hoses.
6 Support the axle centrally with a hydraulic
jack and a block of wood or a cradle.
7 Remove the axle arm mounting bolts and
carefully lower the axle until the bushes are
accessible. Bend the brake pipes slightly if
necessary to avoid straining the flexible hoses.
8 Cut or chisel the flange from the outboard
face of one bush. In order to restrain the axle
from moving during this operation, the makers
doubt the
specify the use of a cranked link, one end of
which bolts to the axle arm mounting, the
other end carrying a pin which locates in the
inner side of the bush (see illustration). Be
16.10 Correct orientation of rear axle arm
bush
careful not to knock the axle off the jack:
provide additional supports if possible.
9 Draw the old bush out from the inboard
side to the outboard, using suitable tubes,
bolts and washers. (The maker's special tool
set for this job, consisting of the tubes etc
plus the cranked link,
KM-452-A). Removal of the bush will be easier
if the axle arm around it is heated to 50° to
70°C using hot air, steam or a soldering iron.
Do not use a naked flame: the fuel tank is not
far away.
10 Coat the new bush with liquid detergent
and draw it into place, observing the correct
orientation, until the flange rests against the
edge of the axle arm (see illustration).
11 Repeat the operations on the other side of
the vehicle.
12 Raise and secure the axle, but do not
tighten the axle arm bolts yet.
13 Secure the brake flexible hose to their
brackets.
14 Refit the springs (Section 14).
15 On Estate and Van models, refit the
pressure regulating valve spring bracket, as
described in Chapter 9, Section 15.
16 Lower the vehicle onto its wheels, have
two assistants sit in the front seats and
tighten the axle arm mounting bolts to the
specified torque.
17 When fitted, pressurise the level control
system to 0.8 bar.
17 Leaf spring rear suspension
components (Astramax) -
removal and refitting
Rear shock absorber
1 Raise and support the rear of the vehicle
(see "Jacking and Vehicle Support") (see
illustration).
17.1 Exploded view of Astramax rear
suspension
1 Bump stop 5 Leaf spring
2 Bushes 6 U-bolt
3 Shackle 7 Shock absorber
4 Tensioning pin 8 Bump stop cup
is numbered