Axle Assembly

Axle Assembly

Removal and Installation

All vehicles
1. Remove the rear halfshafts.
2. Remove the muffler and tailpipe assembly.

3. NOTE:Index-mark the driveshaft before disconnecting from the rear axle.

NOTE:Install new driveshaft bolts when installing the driveshaft.

Remove and discard the 6 driveshaft bolts.
^ To install, tighten to 27 Nm (20 ft. lbs.).
4. Disconnect the rear wheel speed sensor electrical connector.





5. Disconnect the rear drive axle electrical connector and remove the harness from the subframe.





Five Hundred/Montego
6. Remove the 4 retainers holding the sway bar to the subframe and disconnect the sway bar links. Position the sway bar forward.

Freestyle
7. Remove the rear sway bar.

All vehicles
8. Remove the rear subframe cross brace.
^ To install, tighten to 63 Nm (46 ft. lbs.).





9. Remove the axle front insulator bolt.
^ To install, tighten to 90 Nm (66 ft. lbs.).

10. CAUTION: Use care when removing or installing the assembly in the vehicle.

Remove the 2 rear axle insulator bolts, then remove the axle assembly.
^ Lower the axle assembly from the rear of the stabilizer bar.
^ The RH rear axle insulator bolt is not removed from the vehicle until the axle assembly is removed.
^ To install, tighten to 110 Nm (81 ft. lbs.).








11. NOTE:Tighten the rear axle insulator bolts, then the axle front insulator bolt.

NOTE:Some vehicles will have the damper attached to the RH insulator bolt.

To install, reverse the removal procedure.