Service Procedure

Service Procedure

Note
A quantity of removed toe link assemblies will be requested by the Warranty Parts Center (WPC) for inspection by Engineering.

Note
The purpose of the this service procedure is to eliminate the wax coating on the toe link rod threads and to install new jam nuts that do not have a wax coating. Do NOT replace the toe link assembly unless the toe link assembly is damaged.

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in SI.





2. Remove the left and right rear tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in SI.
The Toe Link Assembly Includes a (1) Rear Suspension Adjustment Link, (2) Outside Jam Nut, (3) Inside Jam Nut and Inside and Outside Toe Link Rods





3. Locate the rear suspension adjustment links (1).
(1) Paper does NOT fit between jam nut and rear suspension adjustment link. (2) Paper fits between jam nut and rear suspension adjustment link.





4. Inspect for the toe link assembly for loosened jam nuts. In addition, inspect for looseness in the toe link assembly by grasping the adjuster link using a pull up and pull down method. Perform these procedures on both the rear driver's and passenger's side toe link assembly.

- If a piece of paper fits between either of the two jam nuts and rear suspension adjustment link (2), replace toe link assembly. Refer to Adjust Link Replacement in SI.
- If the toe link assembly has any kind of looseness, replace toe link assembly. Refer to Adjust Link Replacement in SI.
- If the jam nuts are not loose and the toe link assembly is not loose, proceed to Step 5.

5. Remove and inspect the rear suspension toe link assembly for damage.





1. Hold the rear suspension adjustment link (1) with a 21 mm (13/16 in) open end wrench, and loosen the outside (2) and inside (3) jam nuts.





Rear Suspension Adjustment Link

Outside Jam Nut

Outside Toe Link Rod

Bolt
2. Remove the bolt (5) from the toe link assembly-to-knuckle joint (outside joint).





3. Place a jackstand under the rear lower control arm.
4. Raise and support the rear lower control arm.





Note
The inner jam nut and adjustment link may have to be adjusted to the end of the inboard threads of the link rod.

5. Remove the outside toe link rod from the adjustment link by holding the adjustment link and backing out the threaded outside toe link rod end.
6. Remove the outside jam nut from the outside toe link rod.
7. Discard the jam nut. Do not reuse this nut.
8. Place the outside toe link rod on a work bench.
9. Remove the rear suspension adjustment link from the inside rod.
10. Place the adjustment link on a work bench.
11. Remove the inside jam nut from the inside rod.
12. Discard the jam nut. Do not reuse this nut.
13. Do NOT remove the inside toe link rod from the vehicle.
14. Inspect the threads on both the inside and outside rods for signs of damage such as worn or stripped threads.





15. Inspect the threads inside the rear suspension adjustment link for thread wear, damage or corrosion.

- If the threads on both the inside and outside rod and adjustment link are NOT damaged or worn and do NOT have excessive corrosion (1), proceed to Clean and Reassemble Toe Link Assembly in this bulletin.
- If the threads on one or both rods are worn, damaged or corroded (2), or the adjustment link threads are damaged, replace the toe link assembly. Refer to Adjust Link Replacement in SI.

Clean and Reassemble Toe Link Assembly

Caution
Do not use a high speed wire brush to clean these components. Do not use any solvents to clean the components. The objective is to melt off a wax residue from the threads on the toe link rods and adjustment links using a BLAZER MicroTorch or equivalent. Do not use acetylene or propane torches as these are too hot and will cause component damage.

1. Lightly clean the threads on the toe link rods using a soft wire brush to remove loose corrosion or dirt.

Caution
Apply heat to ONLY the threads of the toe link rod. To avoid damaging the brake hose or other surrounding components, ensure heat is applied only to the toe link rod when cleaning the inside toe link rod.





2. Using a BLAZER Micro Torch or equivalent, evenly apply heat up and down and all around the threads of the outside and inside toe link for 15 seconds.
3. Using a clean, dry shop towel, wipe the threads clean. Do not use any solvents to clean the threads.
4. Repeat Steps 2-3 two times.
5. Apply water to cool the toe links before reassembly.





6. Clean the adjustment link with a soft wire pipe cleaning brush to remove loose corrosion or dirt.





7. Hold the adjustment link with pliers.
8. Using a BLAZER Micro Torch or equivalent, evenly apply heat directly on the inside threads and the end faces of the adjustment link for 15 seconds.





9. Using a shop towel, wipe the threads and end faces (1) clean. Do not use solvents to clean threads.
10. Repeat Steps 8-9 two times.
11. Apply water to cool the adjustment links before reassembly.





12. Using an air gun, completely dry the toe link rods and adjustment links before reassembly.





13. Install a new jam nut (right-hand thread), P/N 19258772, to the inside toe link rod. Thread the jam nut to the end of the threads to ease reassembly of the link.





14. Install the adjustment link onto the inside toe link rod.





15. Install a new jam nut (left-hand thread), P/N 19258771, to the outside toe link rod.





16. Install the outside toe link rod to the adjustment link.





17. Adjust the jam nuts and adjustment link so that an equal amount of threads are showing on the inside and outside toe link rods. There should be about 15 mm (19/32 in) showing on the inside and outside toe link rods.





18. Install the toe link assembly-to-knuckle joint bolt (5), and tighten to 160 Nm (118 lb ft).
19. Tighten the inside and outside jam nuts to 5 Nm (4 lb ft).





20. Install the left and right rear tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in SI.
21. Perform an alignment. Inspect and adjust the toe. Refer to Rear Toe Adjustment in SI





Direction of tightening force (rearward) on the driver's side rear suspension adjustment link jam nuts

Direction of tightening force (forward) on the passenger's side rear suspension adjustment link jam nuts

Caution
To obtain an accurate torque reading, a torque wrench, 21mm (13/16 in) crows foot wrench, and a 21mm (13/16 in) open end wrench are required. Hold the rear suspension adjustment link with a 21 mm (13/16 in) open end wrench while tightening the jam nuts.
- Apply a rearward (rear of vehicle) tightening force to the torque wrench to properly tighten the jam nuts on the driver's side of the vehicle.
- Apply a forward (front of vehicle) tightening force to the torque wrench to properly tighten the jam nuts on the passenger's side of the vehicle.

Note
Use 90 Nm (66 lb ft) to tighten the jam nuts. Do NOT use the torque specification provided in Rear Toe Adjustment in SI for repaired toe link assemblies.

22. Hold the rear suspension adjustment link with a 21 mm (13/16 in) open end wrench and tighten the jam nuts to 90 Nm (66 lb ft).

Adjust Link Replacement

Refer to Adjust Link Replacement in SI for adjust link replacement information.