Axle Beam: Service and Repair

Rear Axle Replacement

Removal Procedure

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle (Service and Repair).
2. Remove the rear wheels. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation (Service and Repair).

Note: DO NOT open the hydraulic brake system to perform the following procedure.

3. Disconnect the rear brake pipes and the hoses from the rear axle. Refer to Rear Brake Hose Replacement (Axle to Caliper) (Rear Brake Hose Replacement (Axle to Caliper))Rear Brake Hose Replacement (Body to Axle) (Rear Brake Hose Replacement (Body to Axle))
4. Disconnect both rear parking brake cables at the rear brake. Refer to Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement (Drum) (Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement (Drum))Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement (Disc) (Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement (Disc)).
5. If applicable, disconnect the antilock brake system (ABS) harness connectors and disconnect from the axle.
6. Support the rear axle with a hydraulic lift table.
7. Remove the lower shock bolts. Refer to Shock Absorber Replacement (Shock Absorber Replacement).
8. Remove the rear coil springs. Refer to Coil Spring Replacement (Coil Spring Replacement).
9. Disconnect the park brake cables from the cable brackets.





Note: Remove the wheel bearing/hubs, with the brakes and backing plate as an assembly and relocate to the side.

10. Remove the wheel bearing/hub retaining nuts from both sides. Refer to Rear Wheel Bearing and Hub Replacement (Rear Suspension).




11. Remove all rear axle bushing bracket bolts.
12. Use the hydraulic lift table to lower the rear axle from the vehicle.
13. Remove the rear axle bushing through bolts and the park brake cable brackets.

Installation Procedure

1. Install the axle brackets to the axle bushings, with the alignment slot on the outboard side.

Note: The axle bushing through bolts must be installed with the bolt head facing inboard.

2. Loosely install the bushing bolts and nuts.
3. Place the axle on the hydraulic lift table.
4. Raise the axle into position.




5. Hand tighten the axle bracket to body bolts just enough to hold the brackets flush to the body.

Note: The axle through bolts must be tightened with the axle at the correct trim height and prior to torquing the axle bracket to body bolts.

6. Using the lift table, raise the axle to the proper trim height specification by measuring the vertical distance between the bottom edge of the upper spring seat and the bottom of the notch in the lower spring seat. Refer to Trim Height Inspection (Trim Height Inspection) for D height measurement.

Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution (Fastener Caution).

7. Tighten the axle bushing through bolts.

Tighten the bolts to 90 Nm (66 lb ft) plus 60 degrees.

8. Install the rear coil springs. Refer to Coil Spring Replacement (Coil Spring Replacement).




9. Using two 12 mm diameter pins, align the both axle bracket and snug down the bolts.
10. Tighten all the bracket to body bolts.

Tighten the bolts to 90 Nm (66 lb ft) plus 45 degrees.

11. Install the wheel bearing/hub retaining nuts from both sides. Refer to Rear Wheel Bearing and Hub Replacement (Rear Suspension).
12. Connect the rear brake pipes and the hoses to the rear axle. Refer to Rear Brake Hose Replacement (Axle to Caliper) (Rear Brake Hose Replacement (Axle to Caliper))Rear Brake Hose Replacement (Body to Axle) (Rear Brake Hose Replacement (Body to Axle))
13. Connect both rear parking brake cables at the rear brake. Refer to Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement (Drum) (Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement (Drum))Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement (Disc) (Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement (Disc)).
14. Install the lower shock bolts. Refer to Shock Absorber Replacement (Shock Absorber Replacement).
15. Lower and remove the hydraulic lift table.
16. If applicable, connect the ABS sensor harness connector and harness to axle retainer.
17. Install the rear wheels. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation (Service and Repair).
18. Lower the vehicle.