Replacement

REMOVAL

WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE REAR SPRING FROM THE SHOCK ABSORBER WITHOUT FIRST COMPRESSING THE REAR SPRING WITH A TOOL DESIGNED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

1. Raise hoist or jack only enough to contact body.

CAUTION: Do not raise vehicle by rear suspension tension strut and bushing. Damage to strut may result.





2. Remove package tray trim panel and loosen but do not remove three nuts retaining the upper rear shock absorber bracket to body.
3. Raise vehicle. Remove wheel and tire assembly.
4. Remove bolt retaining brake load sensor proportioning valve to rear suspension arm and bushing.
5. Remove clip attaching rear brake hose to shock strut bracket and carefully move rear brake hose out of the way. Disconnect electronic shock actuator, if equipped.
6. Remove stabilizer bar bracket from body.





7. Remove nut and washer attaching rear stabilizer bar to rear stabilizer bar link and separate rear stabilizer bar from rear stabilizer bar link.
8. Remove nut, washer and rear suspension tie rod bushing retaining rear suspension tension strut and bushing to rear wheel spindle. Move rear wheel spindle rearward enough to separate it from the rear suspension tension strut and bushing.
9. Remove and discard shock-to-spindle pinch bolt. Using a large screwdriver, slightly spread shock-to-spindle pinch joint, if required, for removal.

CAUTION: Care should be taken when removing the shock absorber so the rear wheel brake hose is not stretched or the steel brake tube is not bent. Secure rear wheel spindle/brake assembly to body to prevent stretching of brake lines.

10. Remove nut and washer attaching rear stabilizer bar link to shock absorber and remove rear stabilizer bar link.
11. From the package tray, remove and discard three upper mount-to-body nuts. Care should be taken so the shock absorber does not drop when removing the three upper nuts.
12. Remove shock absorber from vehicle.

INSTALLATION
1. Position rear stabilizer bar link in shock absorber bracket. Install rear stabilizer bar link, washer and nut. Tighten to 6.8 - 9.2 Nm (60 - 81 inch lbs.).
2. Insert three upper mount studs into strut tower in package tray and hand-start three new nuts. Do not tighten at this time.
3. Partially raise vehicle.
4. Install shock absorber into spindle pinch joint.
5. Remove wire securing rear wheel spindle/brake assembly to body.
Install a new pinch bolt into spindle and through the rear shock absorber bracket. Tighten to 68 - 92 Nm (50 - 67 ft. lbs.).





6. Move rear wheel spindle rearward and install rear suspension tension strut and bushing into rear wheel spindle. Install rear suspension tie rod bushing, washer and nut on rear suspension tension strut and bushing. Tighten nut to 47 - 63 Nm (35 - 46 ft. lbs.).
7. Position rear stabilizer bar link into rear stabilizer bar. Install stabilizer bar link, washer and nut on rear stabilizer bar link. Tighten to 7 - 9 Nm (62 - 79 inch lbs.).
8. Position stabilizer bar bracket on body. Install bolt. Tighten to 34 - 46 Nm (25 - 33 ft. lbs.).
9. Install rear brake hose to shock strut bracket.
10. Install brake load sensor proportioning valve on rear suspension arm and bushing.
11. Tighten three top mount-to-body nuts to 25 - 34 Nm (19 - 25 ft. lbs.).





12. Install wheel and tire assembly and lower vehicle. Tighten lug nuts to 115 - 142 Nm (85 - 104 ft. lbs.).