Rear Suspension

Shock Absorber

Front Wheel Drive (FWD) Vehicles










All-Wheel Drive (AWD) MKZ Vehicles










All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Fusion/Milan Vehicles









Removal

NOTICE: Suspension fasteners are critical parts because they affect performance of vital components and systems and their failure may result in major service expense. New parts must be installed with the same part numbers or equivalent part, if replacement is necessary. Do not use a replacement part of lesser quality or substitute design. Torque values must be used as specified during reassembly to make sure of correct retention of these parts.

NOTE: The new shock absorber is shipped with a strap securing it in the compressed position. Do not remove this strap until the shock absorber and bracket assembly are in position and the 3 bracket bolts have been installed.

1. Remove the upper arm. For additional information, refer to Upper Arm Upper Arm.

2. Compress the shock absorber and secure it in the compressed position using tie straps or a similar item.

3. Remove the 3 shock absorber bracket bolts and remove the shock absorber and upper bracket.
- Discard the bolts.

4. Index-mark the shock absorber to the bracket.

5. Remove the shock absorber upper bolt, nut and the bracket.

Installation

1. Copy the index mark from the shock absorber that was removed to the shock absorber that is being installed.

2. NOTE: Do not fully tighten the shock absorber upper bolt and nut at this time.

Position the shock absorber into the bracket and loosely install a new shock absorber upper bolt and nut.

3. NOTICE: Do not allow the angle between the shock absorber and bracket to change while tightening the shock absorber upper nut or damage to the shock absorber may occur.

Align the index marks so the center line of the shock absorber is approximately 118 degrees from the alignment tab on the bracket and tighten the shock absorber upper bolt.

- For All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles, tighten to 90 Nm (66 lb-ft).

- For Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles, tighten to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft).





4. Position the shock absorber and bracket assembly and install the 3 new bracket bolts.
- Tighten to 40 Nm (30 lb-ft).

5. Install the upper arm. For additional information, refer to Upper Arm Upper Arm.