Rear Stabilizer Bar - Removal

REMOVAL

1. If vehicle is not equipped with All-Wheel-Drive (AWD), remove spare tire.
2. Lock out automatic adjuster in parking brake lever. Service and Repair
3. Raise and support vehicle. Maintenance
4. Position an extra pair of jack stands under and support forward end of engine cradle to help stabilize vehicle during rear suspension removal/installation.




5. On each side, remove wheel mounting nuts (3), then tire and wheel assembly (1).
6. Remove rear half of exhaust system.

NOTE: It may be necessary to back off parking brake shoe adjustment to allow sufficient slack to disengage cable buttons from connectors in following two steps.





7. Slide left rear parking brake cable button (2) inboard and remove from equalizer (10).
8. While holding parking brake cable connector (5) on end of front cable secure with a pair of pliers at the front cable button, slide right rear parking brake cable button (4) inboard and remove from cable connector.




9. Remove screw (2) mounting left rear brake hose routing bracket (3) to front of rear crossmember.
10. Remove screw mounting right rear brake hose routing bracket to front of rear crossmember.

NOTE: In some cases, it may be necessary to retract caliper piston in its bore a small amount in order to provide sufficient clearance between shoes and rotor to easily remove caliper from knuckle. This can usually be accomplished before guide pin bolts are removed, by grasping rear of caliper and pulling outward working with guide pins, thus retracting piston. Never push on piston directly as it may get damaged.





11. On each side of vehicle, remove two caliper guide pin bolts (2).




12. On each side of vehicle, remove caliper assembly from brake adapter by first rotating bottom of caliper away from rotor, then lifting caliper (with shoes) away from upper adapter abutment.




13. On each side of vehicle, to prevent weight of brake caliper (4) from overextending and damaging brake hose and tubing while caliper is off mount, hang brake caliper from vehicle using wire or cord (3). Be sure to hang caliper and brake hose far enough forward on body, away from crossmember, to allow sufficient room to lower crossmember without interference.




14. On each side of vehicle, disconnect vehicle wiring harness connector (1) from each rear wheel speed sensor connector (3).
15. On each side of vehicle, unclip each rear wheel speed sensor connector (3) from spare tire mounting support (2).
16. If equipped with AWD:
a. Reference mark propeller shaft-to-rear driveline module input flange connection.
b. Remove three propeller shaft-to-rear driveline module mounting bolts. Do not attempt removal of shaft from module at this time due to alignment pin interference. Removal happens as crossmember is lowered in a later step.




17. Carefully mark location of rear crossmember on body (1) at all four mount (bushing) (3) locations using a marker or crayon (2). Do not use a scratch awl to mark location.




18. Position under-hoist utility jack or transmission jack (2) under center of rear suspension crossmember (without AWD) (3) or rear driveline module (with AWD) (1). Raise jack head to contact driveline module/suspension crossmember and secure in place.




19. Remove lower mounting bolt (2) and nut (4) at each rear shock absorber (3).




20. Remove both front (4) and rear (3)crossmember mounting bolts on left side of vehicle.

CAUTION: To avoid damaging other components of vehicle, do not lower crossmember any further than necessary to remove coil spring.

21. Slowly lower jack allowing left side of crossmember to drop. Do not lower jack at a fast rate. Lower jack just enough to allow spring removal. Do not lower jack any further than necessary.




22. Remove coil spring (4) and isolator (3), lower end first.
23. Raise left side of crossmember back into mounted position and install previously removed mounting bolts. It is not necessary to tighten bolts at this point.




24. Remove both front (5) and rear (2) crossmember mounting bolts on right side of vehicle.

CAUTION: To avoid damaging other components of vehicle, do not lower crossmember any further than necessary to remove coil spring.

25. Slowly lower jack allowing right side of crossmember to drop. Do not lower jack at a fast rate. Lower jack just enough to allow spring removal. Do not lower jack any further than necessary.




26. Remove coil spring (4) and isolator (3), lower end first.
27. Raise right side of crossmember back into mounted position. It is not necessary to install mounting bolts.
28. Remove both front and rear crossmember mounting bolts previously removed on left side of crossmember.
29. Slowly lower jack. Do not lower jack at a fast rate. As jack is lowered, remove propeller shaft from alignment pin on end of rear driveline module input flange and support it with a bungee or cord, keeping it at its normal height. Do not allow propeller shaft to hang on its own.
30. Continue to lower jack until crossmember is at a comfortable working level to access stabilizer bar fasteners.




31. Remove bolt and nut (3) fastening stabilizer bar (2) to each stabilizer link (4).
32. Remove bolts (1) fastening each stabilizer bar cushion retainer to crossmember.
33. Remove stabilizer bar with cushions and retainers.
34. Remove retainers from cushions.
35. Remove cushions from stabilizer bar utilizing slits in bushings.