Suspension: Description and Operation

Fig. 1 Rear Suspension Exploded View. Left Side Shown:

All rear suspension components are mounted on a suspension support assembly, Fig. 1, which is attached to the body at four points. The transverse leaf spring is fully isolated from the crossmember and is held in position by left and right retainers and insulators. On their inboard end, the control arms pivot on the suspension support, allowing each end of the leaf spring to act directly on the control arm surface. A suspension knuckle pivots on the outboard end of each control arm, and each knuckle contains a sealed hub and wheel bearing assembly. Each knuckle is located at the top by an air adjustable strut assembly which is connected to the suspension support.
On some models, a stabilizer shaft is used to further locate the knuckle assemblies and provide increased roll stiffness. Strut charging is controlled by an Electronic Level Control (ELC) system, which maintains a standard rear trim height under a variety of load conditions.