Removal and Installation
REMOVALNOTE: When removing rear strut assembly from vehicle, access for the 3 rear strut assembly to strut tower attaching nuts is through the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
1. Remove the rear seat cushion from the interior of the car.
2. Remove the rear seat back assembly
3. Remove both upper quarter trim panels from the rear of the vehicle interior.
4. Remove both lower quarter trim panels from the rear of the vehicle interior.
5. Remove the rear parcel shelf trim panel from the vehicle interior. Remove the 4 screws securing the rear speaker and mounting plate in place for the side of the vehicle requiring repair. The speaker should be removed from the vehicle with the mounting plate attached Unplug the wiring from the speaker, then remove the speaker and mounting plate from the vehicle.
6. Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
7. Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.
8. Remove the rear caliper assembly from the adapter. Refer to Rear Disc Brakes in Brakes and Traction Control for required caliper removal procedure. After removing the caliper assembly, store the caliper by hanging it from the underside of the vehicle. Do not let the rear caliper assembly hang from flexible brake hose.
9. If loose on wheel mounting studs, remove rear braking disc from hub.
10. If the vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes, remove the wheel speed sensor from the disc brake caliper adapter by removing the bolt, then the sensor.
11. Remove the lateral links from the spindle. This requires the removal of one long bolt attaching both links to the spindle.
12. Install a thin wrench on the hex of the stabilizer bar attaching link stud to keep the stud from turning in the link. Next, remove the nut from the stabilizer bar attaching link stud at the stabilizer bar. Remove the link from the stabilizer bar.
13. Loosen and fully remove, the rear spindle to strut assembly pinch bolt.
CAUTION: When inserting center punch into real spindle, use care so point of center punch does not puncture strut assembly.
14. Insert a center punch into the hole on the spindle. Center punch must be tapped into spindle until jammed into hole. This will spread spindle casting allowing it to be removed from strut assembly.
15. Using a hammer and a brass drift punch, tap on top surface of spindle driving it down and off the end of the strut assembly.
16. Let the rear spindle and assembled components hang from the trailing arm while the strut assembly is out of the vehicle.
17. Lower vehicle enough to access rear passenger compartment.
NOTE: When removing rear strut assembly from vehicle, access for the 3 rear strut assembly to strut tower attaching nuts is through the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
18. Remove the 3 strut assembly to rear strut tower attaching nuts, then remove strut assembly from vehicle.
19. Remove the nut, washers, and rubber isolators securing the stabilizer bar attaching link to the strut.
20. For disassembly and assembly of the strut assembly, refer to Disassembly and Assembly.
INSTALLATION
1. Install the nut, washers, and rubber isolators securing the stabilizer bar attaching link to the strut.
2. Position the strut assembly back in the vehicle with the 3 studs on the strut mount through the holes in the strut tower. Install the 3 strut mount to body attaching nuts onto mounting studs. Tighten the 3 strut mount attaching nuts to a torque of 25 Nm (19 ft. lbs.).
3. Raise vehicle back up to working height for reconnecting lower strut.
4. Install spindle onto bottom of the strut assembly. Push or tap spindle assembly onto lower end of strut, until notch in spindle is tightly seated against locating tab on strut assembly. Then remove center punch from hole in spindle. Install spindle to strut assembly pinch bolt into spindle. Tighten spindle to strut assembly pinch bolt to 53 Nm (40 ft. lbs.).
5. Install the lateral links on the spindle. Install, but DO NOT fully tighten lateral links to spindle attaching bolt at this time.
CAUTION: Tightening lateral link attaching bolt to spindle at this time will contort the bushing at curb height and lead to bushing failure. This bolt is to be tightened only when the vehicle is at curb riding height.
6. Install stabilizer bar attaching link onto stabilizer bar. Install stabilizer link to stabilizer bar attaching nut. Tighten the stabilizer link to stabilizer bar attaching nut to a torque of 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.) using a crow foot wrench and torque wrench in place of the wrench on the attaching nut. Be sure to use a wrench to hold the link stud in place while tightening attaching nut.
7. Install rear wheel speed sensor into brake caliper adapter. Install head attaching bolt and tighten to 7 Nm (60 inch lbs.).
8. Install rear braking disc on hub. Carefully install rear brake caliper over braking disc and install on adapter. Tighten rear caliper assembly to adapter mounting bolts to 22 Nm (192 inch lbs.).
9. Install wheel and tire assembly on vehicle. Then torque all wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Then repeat tightening sequence to full specified torque of 129 Nm (95 ft. lbs.).
10. Lower vehicle to the ground.
11. With the weight of the vehicle on the tires, tighten lateral link to spindle attaching bolt to 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).
12. Reconnect the radio speaker wiring to the rear speaker. Install rear radio speaker and mounting bracket using 4 screws.
13. Install both lower quarter and upper quarter trim panels.
14. Install the rear seat back, and seat cushion.
15. Check and reset rear wheel TOE to specifications if required.