Axle Assembly

Axle Assembly









Removal

1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist.

2. Remove the driveshaft.

3. Remove the brake caliper anchor plate.

4. Remove the rear stabilizer bar and links.

5. Remove the parking brake rear cable and conduit from the parking brake cable retainers.
- Reroute the parking brake rear cable and conduit aside.





6. Disconnect the parking brake cable from the axle housing.





7. Remove the parking brake cable and conduit bolts.





8. Disconnect the ABS sensor harness routing clips.





9. If equipped with rear air springs, remove the height sensor.





10. NOTICE: Take care not to damage the threads on the bellcrank stud.

Separate the Watts linkage from the rear axle housing.

- Remove the retainer nut from the bellcrank stud.





11. NOTICE: Use additional support straps to secure the rear axle to the jack or damage to the component may occur.

Support the rear axle housing with a suitable jack.





12. Remove the 2 shock absorber lower nuts, then remove the shock absorbers from the retainer brackets.





13. Remove the 2 nuts and 2 bolts retaining the LH and RH lower control arms.





14. Remove the 2 nuts and 2 bolts retaining the LH and RH upper control arms.





15. Unseat the air springs and lower the rear axle from the vehicle.

Installation

1. NOTICE: Use additional support straps to secure the rear axle to the jack or damage to the component may occur.

Raise the rear axle into position, using a suitable transmission jack.

- Seat the air springs.





2. Install the 2 lower control arm bolts and 2 nuts.
- Tighten to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).





3. Install the 2 upper control arm bolts and 2 nuts.
- Tighten to 90 Nm (66 lb-ft).





4. Install the shock absorbers.
- Position the shock absorbers into the retainer brackets, and tighten the 2 nuts and bolts.
- Tighten to 90 Nm (66 lb-ft).





5. Install the Watts linkage on the rear axle housing.
- Install the retainer nut on the bellcrank stud.
- Tighten to 250 Nm (184 lb-ft).





6. If equipped with rear air springs, install the height sensor.





7. Position the parking brake rear cable and conduit in the parking brake cable retainers.





8. Connect the parking brake cable to the axle housing.





9. Install the parking brake cable and conduit bolts.
- Tighten to 15 Nm (133 lb-in).





10. Connect the ABS sensor harness routing clips.





11. Install the rear stabilizer bar.

12. Install the driveshaft.

13. Install the brake caliper anchor plate.