Rear
Shock Strut and Air Spring AssemblyRemoval
1. Turn off air suspension switch (located in luggage compartment).
2. From inside luggage compartment, disconnect electrical connector for dual dampening actuator.
3. Loosen, but do not remove, three nuts and washers retaining upper strut to body.
4. Raise vehicle. Remove wheel and tire assembly.
CAUTION: Do not raise vehicle by tension strut.
5. Disconnect air line from solenoid valve.
6. Disconnect electrical connector from solenoid valve.
7. Remove brake hose retainer at strut bracket.
8. Disconnect parking brake cable from brake caliper.
9. Remove all wire retainers and parking brake cable retainers from lower suspension arm.
10. Disconnect height sensor link from ball stud pin on lower arm.
11. Remove caliper assembly from spindle and hang out of way with a piece of wire. Do not kink or put a load on brake hose.
12. Bleed air spring as follows:
- Remove solenoid clip.
- Rotate solenoid counterclockwise to the first stop.
- Pull solenoid straight out slowly to the second stop to bleed air from the system.
CAUTION: Do not fully release solenoid until air is completely bled from the air spring.
- After air is fully bled from the system, rotate counterclockwise to the third stop and remove solenoid from the solenoid housing.
Adjustment Cam:
13. Mark position of notch on toe adjustment cam
14. Remove torsion spring clamp from spindle-to-strut bolt.
15. Remove nut from inboard bushing on suspension arm.
16. Install Torsion Spring Remover T88P-5310-A or equivalent on arm. Pry up on tool and arm using a 3/4-inch drive ratchet to relieve pressure on pivot bolt. An assistant may be required to pull outboard on the spindle simultaneously to fully relieve tension on the bolt. Remove bolt and lower arm.
17. Repeat Step 15 for opposite arm.
18. Remove torsion spring from arms.
19. Remove stabilizer U-bracket from body.
20. Remove nut, washer and insulator attaching stabilizer bar to link, and separate stabilizer bar from link.
21. Remove nut, washer, and insulator, retaining tension strut to spindle. Move spindle rearward enough to separate it from the tension strut.
22. Remove and discard shock strut-to-spindle pinch bolt. Using a large screwdriver, slightly spread strut-to-spindle pinch joint, if required, for removal.
23. Separate spindle from strut. Remove spindle as an assembly with arms attached.
24. From inside of luggage compartment area, remove and discard three upper mount-to-body nuts. Care should be taken so the shock strut does not drop when removing the three upper nuts. Guide electric actuator wire through opening to prevent snagging and damage while removing strut assembly.
Installation
1. Install solenoid valve on air spring.
2. Install strut assembly being sure to guide electric actuator wire through opening. Install three new upper mount nuts.
3. Install spindle and arms to strut.
4. Install a new strut-to-spindle pinch bolt. Do not tighten until control arms are attached to body and cams are centered.
5. Position tension strut to spindle. Install insulator, washer and nut retaining tension strut to spindle.
6. Install stabilizer bar to link. Install insulator, washer and retaining nut.
7. Install stabilizer U-bracket to body.
8. Install torsion spring to arms.
9. Position inboard bushing using Torsion Spring Remover T88P-5310-A or equivalent and install bolt. An assistant may be required to pull outboard on the spindle to align bushing so the bolt may be inserted.
10. Repeat Step 9 for opposite lower arm.
11. Install nut to inboard bushing on suspension arm. Do not tighten at this time.
12. Tighten spindle-to-strut bolt.
Adjustment Cam:
13. Set toe adjustment cam to alignment mark.
14. Remove wire from caliper and install caliper to spindle.
15. Connect height sensor link to ball stud pin on lower arm.
16. Install torsion spring clamp and secure.
17. Install all wire retainers and parking brake cable retainers to lower suspension arm.
18. Connect parking brake cable to brake caliper.
19. Install brake hose retainer at strut bracket.
20. Connect electrical connector to solenoid valve.
21. Connect air line to solenoid valve.
22. Install wheel and tire assembly and lower vehicle partially.
23. Tighten three nuts retaining strut to upper body to 26-35 N-m (19-26 lb-ft).
24. From inside luggage compartment, connect electrical connector for dual dampening actuator.
25. Turn on air suspension switch.
26. Fill air spring. Refer to Electronic Level Control / Service & Repair / Air Spring Fill.
27. Lower vehicle all the way.
CAUTION: Lowering the vehicle with a deflated air spring may damage the air spring.
28. Check toe setting. Adjust if necessary.
29. Tighten inner pivot fasteners to specification.