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Rear Suspension: Spring: Installation

  1. Install a rubber isolator on each end of the coil springs wrapping the rubber fingers around the coil (Fig 1 ). Turn the isolators until the rubber abutment butts up against the flat end of the spring coil.
    Fig 1: Installing Isolator Properly
    G02664446Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    2. 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 (Fig 2 ). Also, make sure that the upper coils end near the outboard sides of the vehicle and not 180 degrees of that location.
    Fig 2: Identifying Coil Spring Orientation (Imaginary Line)
    G02664447Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  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 (Figure ).
  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 N.m (65 ft.lbs.).
  6. Remove the jack.
  7. If equipped with a rear stabilizer bar, 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 (Figure ). Tighten the rear stabilizer bar cushion retainer bolts to a torque of 61 N.m (45 ft. lbs.).
    8. CAUTION: When installing the watts links and bell crank to the axle, make sure the bell crank is rightside-up. When mounted properly, the words "BACK UP" should be able to be read from the rear over the top of the axle (Fig 3 ).
    Fig 3: Identifying Installation Direction Of Bell Crank
    G02664448Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  8. Install the bolt from the front securing the watts link bell crank to the center of the axle (Figure ). Place the washer and nut on the end of the mounting bolt and tighten it to a torque of 149 N.m (110 ft. lbs.).
  9. Install the rear tire and wheel assemblies. Tighten all wheel nuts to a torque of 135 N.m (100 ft. lbs.).
  10. Lower the vehicle.
  11. Verify proper vehicle curb height. (Refer to WHEEL ALIGNMENT - STANDARD PROCEDURE ).
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