Removal and Installation

NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, review SERVICE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS found under Suspension, Service Precautions.

REMOVAL
1. Raise the vehicle, refer to Maintaince for procedure.
2. Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.
3. If the vehicle is equipped with rear drum brakes, remove the screw securing the brake hose bracket to the rear of the strut assembly.






4. If the vehicle is equipped with the Antilock Brake System (ABS), remove the screw securing the ABS wheel speed sensor bracket to the rear of the strut assembly.






5. Remove the nut from the end of the rear stabilizer bar link bolt. Pull the bolt out through the top of the link and remove the link.






6. If the vehicle is equipped with rear disc brakes, perform the following:
- Remove the two guide pin bolts securing the front disc brake caliper to the steering knuckle.
- Remove the disc brake caliper from the knuckle and brake rotor.
- Hang the caliper out of the way using a wire hanger or cord. Do not support the caliper by letting it hang by the hydraulic hose.

CAUTION: The strut-to-knuckle attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during removal. Hold the bolts stationary in the steering knuckle while removing the nuts, then tap the bolts out using a pin punch.









7. Remove the two nuts and bolts attaching the strut to the rear knuckle.
8. Lower the vehicle just enough to access the luggage compartment without letting the tires touch the floor. Access to rear upper strut mount attaching bolts is through the luggage compartment.
9. Open the deck lid.
10. If equipped, remove the carpet from the top of the strut tower.






11. Loosen, but do not completely remove the 3 nuts securing the strut assembly to the strut tower.
Grasp the strut assembly to keep it from moving, then remove the 3 mounting nuts at the strut tower.
12. Remove the strut assembly from the knuckle by sliding it away from the knuckle, lowering it between the two lateral arms, then tipping the top outward and removing it out through the well opening.
13. For disassembly and assembly procedures of the strut assembly, refer to Disassembly and Assembly.

INSTALLATION
1. To place the strut assembly into mounting position, start the lower end of the strut over the top of the knuckle and down the back between the two lateral arms. Next, lift the top of the strut assembly up into the strut tower aligning the studs on top of the upper mount with the three mounting holes in the strut tower. While holding the strut assembly in place, install the three mounting nuts on the upper mount studs inside the luggage compartment. Tighten the 3 mounting nuts to a torque of 34 Nm (300 inch lbs.).
2. Install the carpeting back on top of the rear strut tower.
3. Close the deck lid.
4. Raise the vehicle, refer to Maintaince for procedure.

CAUTION: The strut-to-knuckle attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during installation. Once installed, hold the bolts stationary in the steering knuckle while installing and tightening the nuts.

5. Align the holes in the strut clevis bracket on the lower end of the strut with the mounting holes in the knuckle. Install the two bolts attaching the strut to the rear knuckle. Install the nuts. Tighten the two nuts to 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.).
6. If the vehicle is equipped with disc brakes, install the brake rotor and disc brake caliper on the knuckle. Install the two guide pin bolts securing the front disc brake caliper to the steering knuckle. Tighten the guide pin bolts to a torque of 22 Nm (192 inch lbs.).
7. Reinstall the stabilizer bar link :
- Place the link center sleeve and bushings between the eye in the end of the stabilizer bar and the link mounting bracket on the strut.
- Start the stabilizer bar link bolt with bushing from the top, down through the stabilizer bar, inner link bushings and sleeve, and strut link mounting bracket.
- Install a lower bushing, then the nut. Do not tighten the nut at this time.

8. If the vehicle is equipped with the Antilock Brake System (ABS), install the screw securing the ABS wheel speed sensor bracket to the rear of the strut assembly. Tighten the mounting screw to a torque of 13 Nm (120 inch lbs.).
9. If the vehicle is equipped with rear drum brakes, install the screw securing the brake hose bracket to the rear of the strut assembly. Tighten the screw to a torque of 31 Nm (275 inch lbs.).
10. Install the tire and wheel assembly on vehicle. Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Repeat the tightening sequence, this time, to full specified torque of 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).
11. Lower the vehicle to ground level.
12. Tighten the stabilizer bar link nut to a torque of 23 Nm (200 inch lbs.).
13. Set the rear toe on the vehicle to the required specification if necessary. Refer to Wheel Alignment.