Removing and installing the front axle assembly

Note. All self-locking bolts and nuts must be replaced without fail!

1. Details of the installation of the front axle assembly are shown in the illustrations, which include all references in the text.

2. Remove the front wheels.

3. Remove the front shock absorbers (see Section Removing, checking and installing front shock absorbers).

4. Disunite contact sockets of electroconducting of wheel gauges (L6/1x1 and L6/2x1).

5. Disconnect the brake lines from the flexible brake hoses (see chapter Brake and auxiliary systems).

6. Disconnect the propeller shaft from the input flange of the front differential (see chapter transmission line).

7. Remove the front suspension torsion springs (see Section Removal and installation of torsion springs).

8. Remove the crankcase protection.

9. Disconnect the torsion hose (28) from the car frame.

10. Disconnect the upper transverse suspension arm from the frame (6).

11. If equipped, remove the support brackets of the ATF cooling path lines from the subframe.


12. Release from the clips on the back side of the subframe (1) brake lines.

13. On models equipped with xenon headlights, disconnect the link from the right lower transverse arm (95b) landing level regulator.

14. Pump out the hydraulic fluid from the power steering reservoir.

15. Turn the steering wheel to the position corresponding to the rectilinear movement and block it by removing the key from the ignition - turning the steering wheel with the steering column disconnected is fraught with damage to the spiral contact drum of the horn circuit and the driver's airbag.

16. If equipped, disconnect from the cylinder head cover the wiring connector of the speed-sensitive power steering system (SPS).

17. Loosen nuts (25d), remove the bolt and carefully release the lower shaft of the steering column (80a) from the input node of the steering mechanism (25), - if necessary, loosen the latch slightly with a screwdriver.

Attention! Pull the shaft in a direction strictly parallel to its axis!

Note. Self-locking nuts (25d) must be replaced without fail.

18. Having loosened the nipple nuts / having unscrewed the hollow bolts of the nipple connections, remove the pressure (30i) and return (30f) hydraulic lines of the power steering tract, - plug the open ends of the nipple connectors immediately.

19. Disconnect the ventilation hose from the differential housing.

20. Support the front axle subframe (1) and unscrew the self-locking bolts (1f), - bolts must be replaced without fail.


21. With all hoses out of the way, lower the bridge assembly.

22. If necessary, remove the subframe and replace the rubber pads of the transmission suspension mounts; the bushings are removed / installed using a special extractor.

23. Installation is carried out in the reverse order - the final tightening of the fastening elements of the transverse levers is carried out only after lowering the vehicle to the ground. When connecting the steering shaft, the rack and pinion must be brought into neutral (rectilinear) position. Do not forget about the need to replace the sealing elements of the nipple connectors of the hydraulic lines.

24. In conclusion, correct the levels of working fluids of the brake system and power steering, remove air from the hydraulic paths.

25. Correct the direction of the optical axes of the headlights and adjust the geometry of the suspension.