Axle Assembly

Axle Assembly









Removal

WARNING: Before servicing a vehicle equipped with a fire suppression system, depower the system by following the procedure in Fire Suppression System. Failure to follow the instructions may result in serious personal injury. Procedures

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 fasteners must be installed with the same part number or an equivalent part if installation 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. Orientation of the fasteners is also important on all rear suspension arms. Make sure the fasteners are installed in the same direction as they were in when removed.

1. For reference during the installation procedure, measure the distance from the lip of the fender to the center of the wheel hub with the vehicle in a static level ground position.





2. Remove the driveshaft. For additional information, refer to Driveshaft Removal and Replacement.

3. Remove the 2 brake caliper anchor plates. For additional information, refer to Rear Disc Brake Brake Caliper Anchor Plate.

4. Remove the rear stabilizer bar and links. For additional information, refer to Rear Suspension Rear Suspension.

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 RH and LH parking brake cables from the axle housing.





7. Remove the 2 RH parking brake cable wireform bracket bolts.





8. Disconnect the RH and LH parking brake cables from the parking brake cable extension unions.

9. Disconnect the wheel speed sensor harness routing clips.





10. Remove the 2 wheel speed sensor bolts and position aside the sensors.

11. Detach the air suspension height sensor link.





12. NOTICE: Take care not to damage the threads on the pivot stud.

Separate the Watts linkage from the rear axle housing.

- Remove and discard the nut from the pivot stud.





13. 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.





14. WARNING: Do not apply heat or flame to the shock absorber or strut tube. The shock absorber and strut tube are gas pressurized and could explode if heated. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

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





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





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





17. 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. Loosely install the 2 new lower control arm bolts and 2 nuts.





3. Loosely install the 2 new upper control arm bolts and 2 nuts.





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





5. Position the Watts linkage on the rear axle housing.
- Loosely install the new nut on the pivot stud.





6. Attach the air suspension height sensor link.





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 17 Nm (150 lb-in).





10. Connect the wheel speed sensor harness routing clips.





11. Install the 2 wheel speed sensors and the bolts.
- Tighten to 7 Nm (62 lb-in).

12. Install the rear stabilizer bar. For additional information, refer to Rear Suspension Rear Suspension.

13. Install the driveshaft. For additional information, refer to Driveshaft Removal and Replacement.

14. Install the 2 brake caliper anchor plates. For additional information, refer to Rear Disc Brake Brake Caliper Anchor Plate.

15. Before tightening the fasteners, use a suitable jack to raise the suspension until the distance between the lip of the fender and the center of the wheel hub is equal to the measurement taken in the removal procedure.





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

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

18. Tighten the new nut on the pivot stud to 250 Nm (184 lb-ft).

19. Adjust the parking brake cable tension. For additional information, refer to Parking Brake Cable Adjustment in Parking Brake and Actuation Adjustments.

20. WARNING: If the vehicle is equipped with a fire suppression system, repower the system. For important safety warnings and procedures, refer to Fire Suppression System. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury. Description and Operation

Repower the system.