Suspension Spring ( Coil / Leaf ): Service and Repair
SPRINGREMOVAL
1. Raise and support vehicle.
2. On both sides of vehicle, remove wheel mounting nuts (3), then rear tire and wheel assembly (1).
WARNING: Before opening fuel system, review all Warnings and Cautions.
3. If servicing left side shock absorber, remove fuel filler tube.
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. Perform following if vehicle is equipped with dual exhaust or are servicing right side on vehicle with single exhaust.
a. Position under-hoist utility jack or stand several inches below exhaust at muffler.
b. Disconnect exhaust isolators at muffler and resonators hangers.
c. Lower exhaust down to rest upon top of jack or stand placed below muffler.
6. Position under-hoist utility jack or transmission jack (3) under center of rear axle differential (1). Raise jack head to contact differential and secure in place. When securing crossmember to jack, be sure not to secure stabilizer bar.
7. Remove shock absorber (1) upper mounting screws (2).
8. Remove shock absorber (1) lower mounting bolt (2) and nut (4).
NOTE: If equipped with AWD, when removing crossmember mounting bolts in following step, be sure to not to misplace spacers (1) between crossmember mounts (2) and body.
CAUTION: When removing crossmember mounting bolts (2 and 3) it is important NOT to loosen or remove crossmember mounting bolts on opposite side of vehicle. Doing so will require rear wheel alignment following reinstallation to ensure proper thrust angle.
9. Remove both front and rear crossmember mounting bolts (2 and 3) on repair-side of vehicle.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging other components of vehicle, do not lower crossmember (1) any further than necessary to remove shock absorber.
10. Slowly lower jack allowing repair-side of crossmember to drop. Do not lower jack at a fast rate. Lower jack just enough to allow top of shock absorber to clear body flange.
11. Remove shock absorber (3) by tipping top outward and lifting lower end out of pocket in spring link (4).
12. Disconnect brake hose at bracket mounted to body to allow to avoid overextending hose, damaging it, during following step.
13. Slowly lower jack until crossmember is low enough to remove coil spring. Do not lower jack any further than necessary to remove spring.
14. Remove coil spring and isolators (1, 2 and 5).
INSTALLATION
NOTE: Rear coil springs are interchangeable.
1. Install upper (1) and lower (5) isolators on coil spring (2).
NOTE: Before installing coil spring, make sure isolators (11 and 5) are completely installed on ends of spring.
2. Install coil spring with isolators into spring pocket of spring link (1) fitting lower isolator (2) to shape of pocket, then align top of spring with body mount.
3. Install shock absorber (3) by setting lower end into pocket in spring link (4), then tipping top inward until aligned with upper mounting holes.
4. Install lower shock mounting bolt and nut. Do not tighten at this time.
5. If vehicle is equipped with AWD, make sure spacers (1) on top of crossmember mount bushings (2) on side of repair are in position.
6. Carefully raise jack, guiding coil spring and upper end of shock absorber (4) into mounted positions.
7. Install shock absorber upper mounting screws (2). Tighten upper mounting screws to 52 Nm (38 ft. lbs.) torque.
NOTE: Rear crossmember mounting bolts (2) are longer than front mounting bolts (3). Do not interchange mounting bolts.
8. Install crossmember mounting bolts (2 and 3). Snug, but do not fully tighten bolts at this time.
9. Measure distance (1) between from tension link (2) to body weld flange (3) directly in front of it, just outboard of front mount bushing (4). This distance must be at least 12 mm to allow proper clearance for suspension movement. If distance is less than 12 mm, shift that side of rear crossmember directly rearward until distance is 12 mm or greater. To do so, loosen 3 mounting bolts slightly, leaving one on opposite side of shift snugged to pivot off of. Shift crossmember rearward and snug loosened bolts. Measure opposite side to be sure it also maintains minimum 12 mm distance.
10. Tighten all crossmember mounting bolts (2 and 3) to 180 Nm (133 ft. lbs.) torque.
11. Remove jack (3) from under rear axle differential.
12. If previously lowered, raise rear exhaust back to mounted position and connect exhaust isolators at muffler and resonators hangers. Remove jack or stand below exhaust muffler.
13. Install fuel filler tube.
14. Install tire and wheel assemblies (1). Tighten wheel mounting nuts (3) to 150 Nm (110 ft. lbs.) torque.
15. Lower vehicle.
16. Position vehicle on alignment rack/drive-on lift. Raise lift as necessary to access lower mounting bolt.
17. Tighten shock absorber lower mounting bolt nut (4) to 72 Nm (53 ft. lbs.) torque.