Removing
1. Raise the rear of the car and place on stands.
2. Remove the wheel.
3. Loosen the stabilizer link nut on the strut.
4. Disconnect the ABS harness from the rack.
5. Remove the bracket and disconnect the brake hose from the rack.
6. Remove two nuts (indicated by arrows) attaching the strut to the hub housing and disconnect the strut.
7. To access the top mount of the rack, disassemble the back of the rear seat (see subsection 13.23).
8. On sedan vehicles, remove the rear shelf.
9. Remove the carpet pad.
10. Pry up and remove the plastic rack mount cover (the arrows indicate the nuts of the upper mounting of the rear rack).
11. Ask an assistant to support the rack from below, unscrew the three nuts securing the rack, lower and remove the rack.
Disassembly
1. Clamp the bottom of the rack in a vise through the spacers.
2. Screw the nuts onto the studs, resting on the studs with a lever, release the upper nut of the shock absorber rod. Do not loosen the nut completely.
3. Compress the spring with the tool so that the top cymbal can be rotated by hand.
4. Loosen the stem nut while holding the stem from turning.
5. Remove the washers, gasket, top cap and spring plate.
6. Take out the spring, dust cover and rubber buffer.
7. Check the condition of parts, replace worn and damaged parts.
8. Check for leaks from the shock absorber and the condition of the rod along the entire length.
9. Check the housing for cracks and damage.
10. Check the operation of the rack by first extending the stem to its full length, and then pushing the stem in and out 50–100 mm. You should feel a smooth resistance to the movement of the rod.
11. If there are traces of leakage, mechanical damage, and the movement of the rod is accompanied by "jerkily", then the stand needs to be replaced. The spring and all parts can be installed on a new rack.
12. Examine the spring.
13. If severe corrosion of the spring, coil cracks, deformation, or any sign of questionable condition is found, replace the spring.
14. Clamp the stand in a vise and install the rubber buffer and dust cover.
15. Compress and install the spring with the color markings facing down. The end of the coil of the spring should go into the recess of the plate.
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16. Install the upper buffer and poppet, correctly positioning the coil of the spring in the poppet. When installing the rack, the arrow on the top plate must point transversely outward (A - transverse direction, B - towards the front).
17. Assemble the strut top mount in the order of the parts and install the new stem nut.
18. Tighten the nut to the specified torque while holding the stem.
19. Remove the spring compressor tool.
Installation
1. Install a new top strut mount gasket.
2. Install the strut so that the studs fit into the holes in the body, and the groove on the top plate faces transversely outward.
3. Replace and tighten nuts to specified torque.
4. Align the holes in the strut and in the hub housing, tighten the new nuts and bolts to the specified torque (nuts must face the direction of the vehicle).
5. Attach the stabilizer link and tighten the new nut to the specified torque.
6. The stabilizer link hinge must be located in the center of the arc described by the link when it is displaced. In this position, the hinge must be completely unloaded.
7. Install the wheel and lower the car.