Removal

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





3. If vehicle is equipped with rear disc brakes, remove the rear caliper assembly from the adapter. Refer to Brakes and Traction Control. After removing caliper assembly store caliper by hanging it from frame of vehicle. Do not let weight of rear caliper assembly hang from flexible brake hose.
4. If vehicle is equipped with rear disc brakes, remove rear braking disc from hub. If vehicle is equipped with rear drum brakes, remove brake drum from hub.





5. If vehicle is equipped with ABS brakes, remove the speed sensor head from the rear brake support plate or disc brake adapter.

Hub/Bearing Retaining Nut:

6. Remove rear hub and bearing assembly retaining nut. Then remove the hub and bearing assembly from knuckle.





7. If vehicle is equipped with rear drum brakes remove the 4 bolts attaching rear brake support plate to knuckle. Then remove brake support plate, brake shoes and wheel cylinder as an assembly from rear knuckle. It is not necessary to remove brake flex hose from wheel cylinder when removing support plate. Brake support plate when removed, must be supported in same manner as caliper assembly.





8. On vehicles equipped with rear disc brakes, remove the 4 bolts attaching disc brake adapter to rear knuckle. Then remove the adapter, rotor shield, park brake shoes and park brake cable as an assembly from knuckle.

CAUTION: The knuckle to strut assembly attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during removal. Loosen and remove nuts while holding bolts stationary in knuckle.





9. Loosen but do not remove at this time, the 2 strut assembly to knuckle attaching bolts. Then remove the lateral links to knuckle attaching bolt.





10. Hold tension strut from turning by using a large adjustable wrench on flat of tension strut and remove tension strut nut. Then remove nut, tension strut retainer and rear tension strut bushing from tension strut at rear knuckle.
11. Remove both rear knuckle to strut assembly clevis bracket attaching bolts. If vehicle is equipped with a rear sway bar also remove the sway bar link to strut mounting bracket.
12. Remove knuckle assembly from strut, by sliding knuckle straight out of clevis bracket on strut assembly. Then remove knuckle from tension strut.