Rear Suspension

Shock Absorber and Spring Assembly - Front Wheel Drive (FWD)









Removal

WARNING: The coil spring is under extreme load. Care must be taken at all times when removing or installing a loaded spring. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

NOTICE: Suspension fasteners are critical parts because they affect performance of vital components and systems and their failure may result in major service expense. New parts must be installed with the same part numbers or equivalent part, if replacement is necessary. Do not use a replacement part of lesser quality or substitute design. Torque values must be used as specified during reassembly to make sure of correct retention of these parts.

All vehicles

1. Measure the distance from the center of the wheel hub to the lip of the fender with the vehicle in a level, static ground position (curb height).





Sedans

2. Remove the luggage compartment rear trim panel and the appropriate side trim panel.

Wagons

3. Remove the third row safety belt anchor-to-floor bolt trim cover.

All vehicles

4. Remove and discard shock absorber-to-upper mount nut.

5. Remove the wheel and tire.

6. NOTICE: Do not allow the brake caliper and anchor plate assembly to hang by the brake hose or damage to the hose may occur.

Remove the brake caliper anchor plate bolts and position the anchor plate and caliper assembly aside.

- Support the caliper and anchor plate assembly with mechanic's wire.

7. Index-mark the coil spring position on the upper spring isolator for reference during the installation procedure.

8. Lower the vehicle and support the front of the vehicle with jackstands.

9. Position a suitable floor jack under the lower arm at the shock absorber mount and raise the suspension until the toe-link is parallel to the ground.

10. Remove the trailing arm-to-wheel knuckle bolt.
- Discard the bolt.

11. Remove the trailing arm-to-subframe bolt and the trailing arm.
- Discard the bolt.

12. Remove the lower arm-to-wheel knuckle bolt.
- Discard the bolt.

13. Loosen the lower arm-to-subframe bolt.

14. Lower and remove the floor jack.

15. Remove the shock absorber lower bolt and the shock absorber and spring.
- Discard the bolt.

Installation

All vehicles

1. Position the upper spring isolator on the spring and secure the isolator with duct tape as shown.





2. NOTE: Make sure that the coil spring is aligned correctly using the index marks made during the removal procedure. If a new spring is being installed, transfer the mark.

Position the spring and isolator on the shock absorber.

3. Position the shock absorber and spring assembly, aligning it with the upper mount.

4. Swing the lower arm into position under the shock absorber and spring assembly.

5. Install a new shock absorber lower bolt. Do not tighten the nut and bolt at this time.

6. Position the floor jack under the lower arm at the shock absorber mount.

7. Slowly raise the suspension with the floor jack until the top of the spring makes contact with the inside surface of the upper shock absorber mount.

8. NOTE: It is helpful to have an assistant watching from above the upper mount, giving direction to help center the shock absorber rod to the upper mount bushing.

With the aid of an assistant, continue to raise the lower arm with the floor jack, guiding the shock absorber and spring assembly, until the shock absorber rod is centered and through the upper shock absorber mount bushing.

9. Install a new upper shock absorber-to-mount nut.
- Tighten to 52 Nm (38 lb-ft).

10. Raise the floor jack until the center of the wheel hub is at the correct curb height (measured in Step 1 of the Removal procedure).

11. Tighten the lower arm-to-subframe bolt to 133 Nm (98 lb-ft).

12. Install a new lower arm-to-wheel knuckle bolt.
- Tighten to 110 Nm (81 lb-ft).

13. Position the trailing arm to the wheel knuckle and loosely install a new bolt.

14. Install a new trailing arm-to-subframe bolt.
- Tighten to 110 Nm (81 lb-ft).

15. Tighten the trailing arm-to-wheel knuckle bolt to 105 Nm (77 lb-ft).

16. Tighten the shock absorber lower bolt to 110 Nm (81 lb-ft).

17. Position the brake caliper and install the brake caliper anchor plate bolts.
- Tighten to 110 Nm (81 lb-ft).

18. Install the wheel and tire.

Wagons

19. Install the third row safety belt anchor-to-floor bolt trim cover.

Sedans

20. Install the luggage compartment rear and side trim panel.