Removing & Installing Rear Struts

Shock absorber cartridges and springs should always be replaced in pairs.

To remove and install rear strut assembly

1. Raise the car and remove the rear wheel.

WARNING: Make sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands designed for the purpose. Place the jack stands beneath a structural chassis point. Do not place jack stands under suspension parts.





2. On LAD-equipped cars, place a drain pan beneath the pressure regulating valve on the driver's side of the axle subframe. Loosen the valve's bleeder screw and allow the hydraulic pressure to discharge.

CAUTION: Clean the area around the bleeder screw and the hydraulic fittings on the struts before opening the LAD system.

3. On LAD-equipped cars, place the drain pan beneath the strut and remove the hydraulic line from the lower section of the strut.

4. Support the trailing arm from below.

5. Remove the rear seat cushion and backrest. Seats. Then remove the trim panel covering the strut tower. Remove the rubber cap from the strut.





6. Remove the strut upper mounting nuts.

7. Working beneath the car, remove the lower strut mounting bolt and remove the strut assembly.

NOTE: Store the removed strut assembly upright. Do not allow it to lay horizontally or upside-down for any length of time. If incorrect storage has occurred, place the strut assembly upright with the rod fully extended for at least 24 hours.

8. Make sure all thread bores, bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are clean.

9. Install the strut assembly into the strut tower using a new upper mounting gasket and new self-locking nuts.

- Strut assembly to body tightening torques (self-locking nuts) 22 Nm (16 ft-lb)

10. Install the strut assembly to the trailing arm but do not tighten it to its final torque.

11. On LAD-equipped cars install the hydraulic fluid line to the strut.

- Hydraulic fluid line to strut assembly tightening torque 14 Nm (10 ft-lb)

12. Install the road wheel and lower the car. Load the car to the normal loaded position as described in Ride Height Adjustment. Service and Repair

- Tighten the lower strut mounting bolt.

- Strut assembly to trailing arm (car in normal loaded position) tightening torque 127 Nm (94 ft-lb)

- Road wheel to hub tightening torque 100 ± 10 Nm (74 ± 7 ft-lb)

13. On LAD-equipped cars fill and bleed the LAD system. Service and Repair

14. The remainder of installation is the reverse of removal.