[Steering & Suspension] REAR AXLE WARNING.

[THE BADGE]

Hi everyone,
on my last MOT  I had an advisory of offside rear suspension arm bearing rusting, this was last August,
for the last couple of weeks I've been getting a squeaking from this area, on inspection the whole rear axle does look quite rusty everywhere, I have sprayed all bushes/bearings with WD, & then generously covered with grease, this has not cured the noise though, I suppose I'm looking at a replacement axle, does anyone know a garage/mechanic who could supply & fit a reconditioned one ? 
I've a feeling this is going to be an expensive job !
Any info appreciated,

First generation 1.9 Diesel, Non ABS, Drum Brakes,  600 kg payload.

I live South East London, Kent area    ( Dartford )

                   Thanks.   

[mrgreencar]

Hi everyone,
on my last MOT  I had an advisory of offside rear suspension arm bearing rusting, this was last August,
for the last couple of weeks I've been getting a squeaking from this area, on inspection the whole rear axle does look quite rusty everywhere, I have sprayed all bushes/bearings with WD, & then generously covered with grease, this has not cured the noise though, I suppose I'm looking at a replacement axle, does anyone know a garage/mechanic who could supply & fit a reconditioned one ? 
I've a feeling this is going to be an expensive job !
Any info appreciated,

First generation 1.9 Diesel, Non ABS, Drum Brakes,  600 kg payload.

I live South East London, Kent area    ( Dartford )

                   Thanks.   

[mrgreencar]

I used imaxle. they supply online, around £270 for the reconditioned rear axle, posted to your door, on an exchange basis so you send them back your old knackered one , all sorted easily by courier. Fitting was about another £300, you may need some replacement brake pipes while you're at it. Any competent garage, ie, your local friendly garage, should be able to fit it - its not rocket science, just nuts n bolts, just have a chat with your garage first and make sure they are happy for you to supply the part. My 07 berlingo has been running perfectly ever since, probably done about 30,000 miles already on the new axle...

[jj9]

The only way to successfully lubricate the axle bearings is to fit grease nipples to the axle as described in the thread below...

https://www.berlingoforum.com/thread-108...ase+nipple


Unless the axle bearings have completely collapsed and the wheels have tipped right in at the top you should  buy yourself some time by greasing the bearings.


.

[Gadgetman]

You CAN do the work yourself. It's not difficult, but you'll need a jack, a pair of axle stands, a pair of 24mm spanners(or one spanner and a 24mm socket and a long bar. for the bolts holding the shocks), a long torx for the rear rubber mounts, and at least one torque wrench.
In addition to all the regular tools, of course.

The hubs will need to be changed since you can't remove them without damaging the inner bearing races, and the bearings aren't sold separately. Check the inside diameter of the center hole, and on ABS models, count the teeth on the sensor ring.

Get a new pair of shock absorbers. Preferably air-filled. since not all oil-filled shocks like the 45degree angle they're installed in. Rubber boots for them doesn't hurt, either.

At the back end of the axle mount there's two rubber blocks. To release the axle assembly, you need that long torx. It goes in through a small hole at the underside, and straight through the beam. Of course, the odds are that the rubber has perished and loosened from the cage holding it down to the axle assembly, so that when you jack up the car, the rear end of the assembly swings down a bit and the rubbers blocks stays with the rest of the car...
The blocks aren't expensive, get a new pair.

Even if you don't do the work yourself, getting the right hubs, shocks and rubbers can speed up the job if you bring it to an independent garage.

If you do the job yourself, jack it up and take off the axle and check the parts before you order the recon axle. If you can get all the parts to arrive before you start reassembly, it can be done in an afternoon.

The hub nuts and the bolts connecting the assembly to the car all needs to be torqued to specific settings.(Listed in the Gospel of Haynes)

And the days before the parts arrive can be spent chasing rust on the underside of the car since it's high up and accessible...