Rear Suspension

Crossmember Replacement (AWD)

Removal Procedure

Important: If you are removing the rear suspension crossmember in order to gain access to other components, you may remove the following components together as a rear drive module:
- The rear suspension crossmember
- The differential carrier
- The differential support
- The rear wheel drive shafts
- The upper control arms
- The lower control arms
- The stabilizer shaft
- The knuckles
- The drum brakes
- The rear park brake cables

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
2. Remove the 2 rear tire and wheel assemblies.
3. Remove the catalytic converter.
4. Remove the propeller shaft.
5. Remove the left rear park brake cable from the equalizer.
6. Remove the right rear park brake cable from the equalizer.
7. If the vehicle has ABS, remove the 2 rear wheel speed sensors and pigtails.
8. Use containers in order to catch the brake fluid.
9. Remove the brake pipe from the left wheel cylinder.
10. Remove the brake pipe from the right wheel cylinder.







11. Remove the nut (4) and the bolt (5) in order to separate the left rear shock absorber from the lower control arm.
12. Remove the nut and the bolt in order to separate the right rear shock absorber from the lower control arm.







13. Remove the 3 bolts (1, 3, 4) in order to separate the front of the left rear lower control arm (2) from the body.
14. Remove the 3 bolts in order to separate the front of the right rear lower control arm from the body.
15. Place a jack under the differential support.







16. Remove the 2 bolts (3, 4) and the 2 nuts (1, 2) in order to separate the rear suspension crossmember and the rear drive module from the body.
17. Lower the rear drive module.

Important: If you are replacing components on the rear drive module, continue with this procedure.

18. Remove the stabilizer shaft links.
19. Remove the stabilizer shaft.
20. Remove the brake drums.
21. Remove the brake shoes and the brake hardware.
22. Remove the park brake cables.
23. Remove the backing plates and the knuckles.
24. Remove the rear wheel drive shafts.
25. Remove the upper control arms.
26. Remove the lower control arms.
27. Remove the differential carrier and the support.



Installation Procedure
1. If you are replacing a control arm, copy the match marks from the old components to the new components.
2. Install the differential carrier and the support to the crossmember.

Important: Do not tighten the nuts or the bolts on the suspension components. The weight of the vehicle must be on the tire and wheel assemblies before tightening the nuts and the bolts.







3. Install the nut (1) and the bolt (3) in order to retain the left rear lower control arm to the crossmember.
4. Install the nut and the bolt in order to retain the right rear lower control arm to the crossmember.
5. Align the match marks and install the cam and the cam bolt and the left rear upper control arm to the crossmember.
6. Install the nut to the cam bolt on the left rear upper control arm.
7. Align the match marks and install the cam and the cam bolt and the right rear upper control arm to the crossmember.
8. Install the nut to the cam bolt on the right rear upper control arm.
9. Install the rear wheel drive shafts.
10. Install backing plates and the knuckles.
11. Install the left rear park brake cable to the backing plate.
12. Install the right rear park brake cable to the backing plate.
13. Install the brake shoes and the brake hardware.
14. Install the brake drums.
15. Install the stabilizer shaft.
16. Install the stabilizer shaft links.
17. Use a jack in order to raise the rear drive module.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.
Fastener Notice







18. Install the 2 nuts (1, 2) and the 2 bolts (3, 4) in order to retain the crossmember and the rear drive module to the body.
Tighten the nuts and the bolts to 105 Nm (77.4 ft. lbs.).







19. Install the 3 bolts (1, 3, 4) in order to retain the front of the left rear lower control arm (2) to the body.
Tighten the bolts to 65 Nm (47.9 ft. lbs.).

20. Install the 3 bolts in order to retain the front of the right rear lower control arm to the body.
Tighten the bolts to 65 Nm (47.9 ft. lbs.).

21. Install the nut and the bolt in order to retain the left rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.
22. Install the nut and the bolt in order to retain the right rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.
23. Install the brake pipe to the left wheel cylinder.
Tighten the brake pipe fitting to 15 Nm (11.1 ft. lbs.).

24. Install the brake pipe to the right wheel cylinder.
Tighten the brake pipe fitting to 15 Nm (11.1 ft. lbs.).

25. If the vehicle has ABS, install the 2 rear wheel speed sensors and pigtails.
26. Install the left rear park brake cable to the equalizer.
27. Install the right rear park brake cable to the equalizer.
28. Install the propeller shaft.
29. Install the catalytic converter.
30. Install the 2 rear tire and wheel assemblies.
31. Lower the vehicle.
32. Bounce the rear of the vehicle in order to stabilize the suspension.

Important: The weight of the vehicle must be on the tire and wheel assemblies.

33. Tighten the nut and the bolt that retains the left rear upper control arm to the knuckle.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 Nm (54.6 ft. lbs.).

34. Tighten the nut and the bolt that retains the right rear upper control arm to the knuckle.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 Nm (54.6 ft. lbs.).

35. Align the match marks and tighten the nut and the cam bolt that retains the left rear upper control arm to the crossmember.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 Nm (54.6 ft. lbs.).

36. Align the match marks and tighten the nut and the cam bolt that retains the right rear upper control arm to the crossmember.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 Nm (54.6 ft. lbs.).







37. Tighten the nut and the bolt (1) that retains the left rear lower control arm to the crossmember (2).
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 Nm (54.6 ft. lbs.).

38. Tighten the nut and the bolt that retains the right rear lower control arm to the crossmember.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 Nm (54.6 ft. lbs.).

39. Tighten the nut and the bolt on that retains the left rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 140 Nm (103.3 ft. lbs.).

40. Tighten the nut and the bolt on that retains the right rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 140 Nm (103.3 ft. lbs.).







41. Align the match marks (1, 2) and tighten the nut (3) and the bolt that retains the rear of the left rear lower control arm to the knuckle.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 Nm (54.6 ft. lbs.).

42. Align the match marks and tighten the nut and the bolt that retains the rear of the right rear lower control arm to the knuckle.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 Nm (54.6 ft. lbs.).







43. Tighten the nut (1) and the bolt that retains the front of the left rear lower control arm to the knuckle.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 Nm (54.6 ft. lbs.).

44. Tighten the nut and the bolt that retains the front of the right rear lower control arm to the knuckle.
Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 Nm (54.6 ft. lbs.).

45. Bleed the brake system.
46. Measure the wheel alignment. Adjust if necessary.