Rear
REMOVAL - STRUT ASSEMBLY (REAR)NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, Refer to Service Precautions.
1. Raise the vehicle.
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 (Fig. 14).
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 (Fig. 15).
5. If equipped with a rear stabilizer bar, remove the nut from the end of the rear stabilizer bar link bolt (Fig. 14). Pull the bolt out through the top of the link and remove the link.
6. If the vehicle is equipped with rear disc brakes (Fig. 16), 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 (Fig. 1).
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 (Fig. 17). 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 procedures of the strut assembly, Refer to STRUT - DISASSEMBLY.
DISASSEMBLY - STRUT ASSEMBLY (REAR)
The strut assembly must be removed from the vehicle for it to be disassembled and assembled.
For the disassembly and assembly of the strut assembly, use strut spring compressor, Pentastar Service Equipment (PSE) tool W-7200, or the equivalent, to compress the coil spring. Follow the manufacturer's instructions closely.
1. If both struts are being serviced at the same time, mark the coil spring and strut assembly according to which side of the vehicle the strut was removed from, and which strut the coil spring was removed from.
2. Position the strut assembly in the strut coil spring compressor following the manufacturers instructions. Set the lower, then upper hooks on the coil spring (Fig. 18). Position the strut clevis bracket straight inward toward the compressor. Place a clamp on the lower end of the coil spring, so the strut is held in place once the strut shaft nut is removed.
WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE THE STRUT SHAFT NUT BEFORE THE COIL SPRING IS COMPRESSED. THE COIL SPRING IS HELD UNDER PRESSURE AND MUST BE COMPRESSED, REMOVING SPRING TENSION FROM THE UPPER MOUNT AND PIVOT BEARING, BEFORE THE SHAFT NUT IS REMOVED.
3. Compress the coil spring until all coil spring tension is removed from the upper mount.
4. Once the spring is sufficiently compressed, install Strut Nut Socket, Special Tool 6864, on the strut shaft retaining nut (Fig. 19). Next, install a socket on the hex on the end of the strut shaft. While holding the strut shaft from turning, remove the nut from the strut shaft.
5. Remove the upper mount from the strut shaft (Fig. 20).
6. Remove the clamp from the bottom of the coil spring and remove the strut out through the bottom of the coil spring.
7. Remove the dust shield, then the jounce bumper from the strut shaft by pulling each straight up (Fig. 20).
8. Remove the lower spring isolator from the lower spring seat located on the strut.
NOTE: If the coil spring needs to be serviced, proceed with the next step, otherwise, proceed with step 10. Before removing the coil spring from the compressor, make not of its position in the compressor, for easy reassembly.
9. Release the tension from the coil spring by backing off the compressor drive completely Push back the compressor hooks and remove the coil spring.
10. Inspect the strut assembly components for the following and replace as necessary:
^ Inspect the strut for any condition of shaft binding over the full stroke of the shaft.
^ Inspect the jounce bumper for cracks and signs of deterioration.
^ Check the upper mount for cracks and distortion and its retaining studs for any sign of damage.
^ Inspect the dust shield for rips and deterioration.
^ Inspect the upper and lower spring isolators for material deterioration and distortion.
^ Inspect the coil spring for any sign of damage to the coating.
ASSEMBLY - STRUT ASSEMBLY (REAR)
The strut assembly must be removed from the vehicle for it to be disassembled and assembled. For the disassembly and assembly of the strut assembly, use strut spring compressor, Pentastar Service Equipment (PSE) tool W-7200, or the equivalent, to compress the coil spring. Follow the manufacturer's instructions closely.
NOTE: If the coil spring has been removed from the spring compressor, proceed with the next step, otherwise, proceed with step 3.
1. Place the coil spring in the compressor following the manufacturers instructions. Before compressing the spring, rotate the spring to the position determined in the note prior to step 9 in disassembly.
2. Slowly compress the coil spring until enough room is available for strut assembly reassembly.
3. Install the lower spring isolator on the lower spring seat of the strut matching the step built into the isolator with the step in the lower spring seat on the strut (Fig. 20).
4. Install the jounce bumper on the strut shaft. The jounce bumper is to be installed with the pointed end pointing downward toward the lower seat.
5. Install the dust shield on the strut shaft (Fig. 20). The bottom of the dust shield will snap past the retainer on top of the strut housing.
6. Install the strut through the bottom of the coil spring until the lower spring seat contacts the lower end of the coil spring. Rotate the strut until the end of the coil spring fits against the step in the lower spring seat (Fig. 18). If done correctly, the clevis on the bottom of the strut should face toward the compressor.
7. Install the clamp on the lower end of the coil spring and strut, so the strut is held in place with the coil spring.
NOTE: Before installing the upper mount, check to make sure the correct side mount is being installed. Left and right upper mounts are different. A left mount will be marked with the letter "L" while a right mount will be marked with the letter "R" (Fig. 21).
8. Install the upper mount over the strut shaft and onto the top of the upper spring. Near the center on the top of the mount is the word "OUT" and an arrow (Fig. 21). Point the arrow on the mount in the same direction that the clevis bracket on the lower end of the strut is pointed in. This direction should be straight toward the compressor.
9. Loosely install the retaining nut on the strut shaft. Install Strut Nut Socket (on the end of a torque wrench), Special Tool 6864, on the strut shaft retaining nut (Fig. 19). Next, install a socket on the hex on the end of the strut shaft. While holding the strut shaft from turning, tighten the strut shaft retaining nut to a torque of 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.).
10. Slowly release the tension from the coil spring by backing off the compressor drive completely. As the tension is relieved, make sure the upper mount's seat aligns properly with the coil spring.
11. Verify the arrow on the upper mount is pointing in the same direction as the strut clevis bracket as mentioned in step 9.
12. Remove the clamp from the lower end of the coil spring and strut. Push back the spring compressor upper and lower hooks, then remove the strut assembly from the spring compressor.
13. Install the strut assembly on the vehicle.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, Refer to Service Precautions.
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 (Fig. 17). 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.
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 (Fig. 1). Install the nuts. Tighten the two nuts to 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.).
6. If the vehicle is equipped with disc brakes (Fig. 16), 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. If equipped with a rear stabilizer bar, reinstall the stabilizer bar link (Fig. 1):
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. 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 (Fig. 15). 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 (Fig. 14). 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.