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10
Chapter 10
Suspension and steering
Front suspension
Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear suspension
Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Independent, cross-tube with trailing arms, torsion bars, inclined
shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Steering
Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rack-and-pinion. Power-assistance optional on certain models
Power steering fluid type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . See
“Weekly checks”
Wheel alignment and steering angles
Front wheel toe setting:
All models, except GTI and automatic transmission - up to 1988 . . . 3.0 ± 1.0 mm toe-in
1.6 GTI models - up to 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 ± 1.0 mm toe-in
1.9 GTI models - up to 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 ± 1.0 mm toe-in
Automatic transmission models - up to 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 ± 1.0 mm toe-in
All models from 1988 onward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0 ± 0.5 mm toe-in
Roadwheels
Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pressed-steel or aluminium alloy (depending on model)
Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5 B x 13, 4.5J x 13, 5 B x 13, 5.5J x 14 or 6.6J x 15 (depending on
model)
Tyres
Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 SR 13, 145 SR 13, 165/70 SR 13, 185/60 HR 14 or 185/55 VR 15
(depending on model)
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . See “Weekly checks”
Auxiliary drivebelt check and renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .See Chapter 1
Front anti-roll bar - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Front hub bearings - renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Front lower suspension arm - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Front suspension hub carrier - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Front suspension strut - overhaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Front suspension strut - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Power steering fluid level check . . . . . . . . . . . . . .See “Weekly checks”
Power steering pump - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Power steering system - bleeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Rear hub/drum and bearings - general information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Rear shock absorber - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Rear suspension assembly - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Rear suspension components - general information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Steering and suspension check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .See Chapter 1
Steering column and lock - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Steering gear - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Steering gear rubber bellows - renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Steering wheel - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Track rod - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Track rod end - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Tyre condition and pressure checks . . . . . . . . . .See “Weekly checks”
Vehicle ride height - checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Wheel alignment and steering angles - general information . . . . . . . 21
10•1
Specifications
Contents
Easy, suitable for
novice with little
experience
Fairly easy, suitable
for beginner with
some experience
Fairly difficult,
suitable for competent
DIY mechanic
Difficult, suitable for
experienced DIY
mechanic
Very difficult,
suitable for expert DIY
or professional
Degrees of difficulty
5
4
3
2
1