Axle Assembly

Axle Assembly

Removal

1. 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.

Remove the driveshaft.

2. NOTE: Do not let the brake calipers hang by the hoses.

Remove the rear disc brake calipers and position them aside.
3. Remove the parking brake rear cable and conduit from the parking brake cable equalizer.
^ Reroute the parking brake rear cable and conduit aside.
^ Repeat for the other side.





4. Disconnect the 2 ABS sensor harness routing clips.





5. Remove the rear stabilizer bar nut, washer and bushing from the rear stabilizer bar link.
^ Repeat for the other side.





6. Remove the rear stabilizer bar bracket bolt and the rear stabilizer bar bracket to disconnect the rear stabilizer bar.
^ Repeat for the other side.





7. If equipped with rear air springs, remove the height sensor.





8. CAUTION: Take care not to damage the threads on the bellcrank stud.

Remove the retainer nut from the bellcrank stud and separate the Watts linkage from the rear axle housing.





9. Support the rear axle housing with a suitable jack.





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





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





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





13. Unseat the air springs and lower the rear axle from the vehicle.

Installation
1. Raise the rear axle into position, using a transmission jack.
^ Seat the air springs.





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





3. Install the 2 upper control arm bolts and 2 nuts.
^ Tighten to 105 Nm (77 lb-ft).





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





5. Install the Watts linkage on the rear axle housing.
^ Install the retainer nut on the bellcrank stud.
^ Tighten to 250 Nm (185 lb-ft).





6. If equipped with rear air springs, install the height sensor.





7. Install the 2 rear stabilizer bar bracket bolts.
^ Tighten to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft).





8. Install the rear stabilizer bar link bushings, washers and nuts.
^ Tighten to 20 Nm (15 lb-ft).





9. Position the rear driveshaft and align the marks on the pinion flange.





10. NOTE: The driveshaft centering socket yoke fits tightly on the rear axle pinion flange pilot. To make sure that the yoke seats squarely on the flange, tighten the bolts evenly in a cross pattern.

Install the 4 driveshaft bolts.
^ Tighten to 112 Nm (83 lb-ft).





11. Install the rear disc brake calipers.

12. 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.

Repower the fire suppression system.