Trailing Arm: Service and Repair

REAR SUSPENSION

TRAILING LINK

REMOVAL
(1) Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a frame contact type hoist.
(2) Remove rear wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.

Fig.24 Trailing Link To Knuckle Attachment:

(3) At the knuckle, remove the nut, bushing retainer and outer trailing link bushing (Fig. 24) from the trailing link.

Fig.25 Trailing Link Hanger Bracket Attachment To Vehicle:

(4) Remove the 4 bolts (Fig. 25) attaching the trailing link hanger bracket to the floor pan and frame rail.
(5) Remove the trailing link and mounting bracket as an assembly from the vehicle.

CAUTION: The installation position of the bushings and retainers on the trailing link is important. When separating the trailing link from the hanger bracket, note the position and orientation on the bushings and retainers to ensure they are re-installed correctly.

Fig.26 Separating Trailing Link From Hanger Bracket:

(6) Separate the trailing link from the hanger bracket. To separate trailing link from hanger bracket, use a large adjustable wrench on flat of trailing link to turn link while holding nut stationary (Fig. 26).

INSTALLATION

CAUTION: The inner and outer trailing link to hanger bracket bushings and retainers must be installed in their correct position on the trailing link. Do not reverse the position of the inner and outer trailing link bushing or retainers on the trailing link.

NOTE: When installing trailing link into hanger bracket, the flat on the trailing link (Fig. 26) must be positioned at the hanger bracket.

Fig.27 Trailing Link Bushing Installation:

(1) Install the (black) inner bushing retainer, and inner bushing on the trailing link (Fig. 27). Install the trailing link, retainer and bushing on the hanger bracket (Fig. 27). Then install the outer bushing, (gold) outer bushing retainer and nut (Fig. 27) on the trailing link. Using a wrench on the flat of the trailing link to keep it from rotating, tighten the trailing link retaining nut to 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.).
(2) Install the (black) inner bushing retainer, and inner bushing on the trailing link (Fig. 27).
(3) Install knuckle end of trailing link in rear knuckle.

CAUTION: It is important that the following procedure be done when installing the trailing arm hanger bracket to the body of the vehicle. This procedure will ensure that the hanger bracket is installed in the correct position on the vehicle.

Fig.28 Trailing Link Hanger Bracket Installation:

(4) Install the trailing link hanger bracket on the vehicle and loosely install the four attaching bolts (Fig. 28). Then install two drift pins of appropriate size in positioning holes on hanger bracket and into locating holes in body (Fig. 28). With hanger bracket correctly positioned on vehicle, tighten the four hanger bracket mounting bolts to 29 Nm (21 ft. lbs.). Remove the drift pins.

CAUTION: When installing trailing link bushing retainers, the retainers must be installed with cupped side of retainer facing away from bushing and knuckle (Fig. 24).

(5) At the knuckle, install the outer trailing link bushing, (gold) outer bushing retainer and retaining nut on trailing link (Fig. 24). Using a wrench on the flat of the trailing link to keep it from rotating, tighten the trailing link retaining nut to 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.).
(6) Lower the vehicle.
(7) Check and reset rear wheel alignment to specifications as necessary.