Rear subframe removal

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
2

Evening,

I’m in the process of renovating the rear suspension on my NA and have got as far as removing wishbones and shocks and was planning on dropping the diff before removing the subframe but the small 12mm nuts on the subframe bush mountings are shot so I can’t remove the diff. I’ll have to drop the subframe with diff still attached. Driveshafts are still attached. So can anyone advise me if I just unbolt the PPF from the diff will I still be able to get the subframe off or will I need to remove the PPF entirely ?

Thanks in advance

3

Remove the PPF and disconnect the prop shaft, brake line connectors, Split the hand brake cables and ABS connectors if the car has them.

If I remeber the two bolts on top of each shocks but that is hazy.

Remove exhaust at the back.

Support the body and the subframe.

Remove I think three bolts each side and then lower the subframe and be extra carefull as things are heavy.

4

Thanks for the speedy reply.
When you say remove PPF is that disconnect at both Diff & gearbox or just diff end ?

5

I have done this twice and my advice is to disconnect the PPF at the gearbox, disconnect the driveshaft at the diff and remove it, then drop the subframe and PPF in one piece. Disconnecting the PPF from the diff can be a pain whereas disconnecting it from the gearbox is relatively straightforward. Either way make sure you support the gearbox so you are not putting strain on the bell housing.

6

Cheers Niall for the advice. She’s gone up on axle stands all round tonight so I can get to the gearbox end of the PPF.
Will make sure I get a jack under the gearbox as well !

7

Found these while I was digging around! This was from the subframe swap I did on my Mk2, but it’s exactly the same as the Mk1.