Suspension Spring ( Coil / Leaf ): Service and Repair

COIL SPRING

REMOVAL

NOTE: Before proceeding, Refer to Service Precautions.

1. Raise the vehicle.
2. Remove both rear tire and wheel assemblies from the vehicle.
3. Remove the bolt securing the watts link bell crank to the center of the axle.





4. Remove the bolts securing the stabilizer bar cushion retainers to the rear axle, then remove the stabilizer bar from the axle.
5. Position a transmission jack or equivalent under the center of the axle raising it enough to support the axle.
6. Remove the shock absorber lower mounting bolts and nuts at the axle.
7. Lower the transmission jack until the coil springs can be removed from the axle.
8. Remove the coil springs and rubber isolators.

INSTALLATION





1. Install a rubber isolator on each end of the coil springs wrapping the rubber fingers around the coil. Turn the isolators until the rubber abutment butts up against the flat end of the spring coil.

NOTE: Both ends of the coil spring are identical. Either end of the spring can be the top or bottom.

2. Place the coil springs on top of the axle spring perches.





3. The coil springs require proper orientation to the body when installed. To do this, turn the coil springs (along with the rubber isolators) until the flat end of each upper spring coil lines up with an imaginary line running parallel with the axle beam as shown. Also, make sure that the upper coils end near the outboard sides of the vehicle and not 180 degrees of that location.
4. Raise the transmission jack guiding the coil springs into the spring mounting brackets on the body of the vehicle. Raise the jack until the shock absorber lower mounting bolts can be installed though the axle brackets and shock absorber lower mounting eyes.
5. Install the washer and nut on the end of each shock absorber lower mounting bolt. Tighten the mounting bolts to a torque of 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.).
6. Remove the jack.





7. Hook the lower ends of the stabilizer bar cushion retainers into the slots in the back of the axle, then rotate the opposite end of the retainers upward so the mounting bolts can be installed. Install the mounting bolt though each cushion retainer into the threads in the rear axle. Tighten the rear stabilizer bar cushion retainer bolts to a torque of 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).

CAUTION: When installing the watts links and bell crank to the axle, make sure the bell crank is right side-up. When mounted properly, the words "BACK UP" should be able to be read from the rear over the top of the axle.

8. Install the bolt from the front securing the watts link bell crank to the center of the axle. Place the washer and nut on the end of the mounting bolt and tighten it to a torque of 149 Nm (110 ft. lbs.).
9. Install the rear tire and wheel assemblies. Tighten all wheel nuts to a torque of 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).
10. Lower the vehicle.
11. Verify proper vehicle curb height.