FixVault

Frame & Bumpers: CROSSMEMBER-Rear: Removal

Fig 1: LX BATTERY AND CABLES
GC0012970Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  1. Disconnect and isolate battery negative cable (2) from battery post.
  2. Raise and support vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCEDURE)
    Fig 2: TIRE AND WHEEL MOUNTING
    GC0012971Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  3. On each side of vehicle rear, remove wheel mounting nuts (3), then tire and wheel assembly (1).
    Fig 3: HUB NUT
    GC0012982Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  4. On each side of vehicle rear, while a helper applies brakes to keep hub from rotating, remove hub nut (1) from half shaft (2).
    Fig 4: Exhaust System
    GC0012972Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  5. Remove rear exhaust system (2) (dual-outlet exhaust shown in Fig 4 ). (Refer to EXHAUST SYSTEM .
  6. Remove rear axle differential. (Refer to DIFFERENTIAL & DRIVELINE/REAR AXLE - 198MM - REMOVAL) or (Refer to DIFFERENTIAL & DRIVELINE/REAR AXLE - 210MM - REMOVAL)
  7. Slide each axle half shaft from hub and bearing and remove from vehicle.
    Fig 5: CABLE CONNECTIONS AT REAR
    GC0012973Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    NOTE: Due to short travel and low spring tension, it is not necessary to lock-out parking brake lever to service parking brake components.
  8. Disconnect front parking brake cable (2) at connector (1) to right rear parking brake cable.
  9. Remove front parking brake cable (2) from equalizer (4).
    Fig 6: REAR CALIPER MOUNTING
    GC0012974Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  10. On each rear disc brake:
    • While holding guide pins from turning, remove disc brake caliper guide pin bolts (2).
    • Remove brake caliper (1) from brake adapter (3) and pads.
    • Guide brake caliper up through suspension, following brake hose path. Support caliper above rear suspension using with bungee cord or wire to keep caliper from overextending brake hose when crossmember is lowered.
    Fig 7: RELEASE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CONNECTOR
    GC0012975Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    NOTE: To remove wheel speed sensor connector from body wiring harness connector, move retaining clip (2) and pull sensor connector outward.
    Fig 8: SENSOR CONNECTION TO BODY CONNECTOR
    GC0012976Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  11. Remove wheel speed sensor connectors (3 and 4) from body wiring harness connector (1) located in luggage compartment floor pan (2).
    Fig 9: LEFT/RIGHT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ROUTING
    GC0012977Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  12. Unclip left wheel speed sensor cable (3) from routing clip (1) near body connector.
    Fig 10: LEFT WSS ROUTING OVER REAR DIFFERENTIAL
    GC0013011Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  13. Unclip left sensor cable (1) from routing clips (2) along rear of crossmember near rear differential (3).
    Fig 11: WSS ROUTING ALONG LEFT TOE LINK
    GC0013012Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  14. Unclip left sensor cable (2) from routing clip (1) above toe link mount on rear crossmember.
    Fig 12: SHOCK MOUNTING - LOWER
    GC0012978Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  15. On each side of vehicle, remove shock absorber (1) lower mounting bolt (2) and nut (4).
    Fig 13: Marking Location Of Crossmember Mount To Body
    GC0000269Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - BODY
    2 - MARKER (OR CRAYON)
    3 - CROSSMEMBER BUSHING FLANGE
  16. Carefully mark location of rear crossmember on body at all four mount (bushing) locations using a marker or crayon. Do not use a scratch awl to mark location. 
  17. Position an extra pair of jack stands under and support forward end of engine cradle to help stabilize vehicle during rear suspension removal/installation.
    Fig 14: JACK POSITIONED BENEATH CROSSMEMBER
    GC0012968Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  18. Position under-hoist utility jack or transmission jack (2) under center of rear crossmember (1). Raise jack head to contact crossmember and secure in place. When securing crossmember to jack, be sure not to secure stabilizer bar. 
    Fig 15: FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY
    GC0012979Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    WARNING: Before opening fuel system, review all Warnings and Cautions.
  19. Remove fuel filler tube. (Refer to FUEL SYSTEM/FUEL DELIVERY/FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE - REMOVAL)
    Fig 16: AWD CROSSMEMBER SPACERS
    GC0012980Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    NOTE: If equipped with AWD, when removing crossmember mounting bolts in following step, be sure to not to misplace spacers (1) between crossmember mounts (2) and body.
    Fig 17: REAR CROSSMEMBER MOUNTING BOLTS
    GC0012981Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  20. Remove both front (3) and both rear (2) mounting bolts fastening crossmember (1) in place.
    Fig 18: CABLE ROUTING BRACKET AT REAR CROSSMEMBER
    GC0012969Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  21. Slowly  lower crossmember several inches using jack.
  22. Remove screw (2) fastening front parking brake cable routing bracket (2) to rear crossmember.
  23. Continue to lower jack until crossmember is at a comfortable working level to access link and stabilizer bar fasteners.
    Fig 19: REAR STABILIZER BAR MOUNTING
    GC0013013Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  24. On each end, remove bolt (3) and nut fastening stabilizer bar (4) to stabilizer link (2).
  25. Remove bolts (1) fastening each stabilizer bar cushion retainer to crossmember.
  26. Remove stabilizer bar (4) with cushions and retainers.
    Fig 20: COIL SPRING AND SHOCK ASSY.
    GC0012983Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  27. Remove coil springs and isolators (1, 2 and 5) from spring links.
    Fig 21: CABLE REMOVAL USING SOCKET
    GC0013014Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  28. For each rear parking brake cable, place 14 mm 12-point deep well socket (3) over cable strand (1) onto cable retainer at crossmember bracket as shown in Fig 21 to collapse retainer fingers. It may be necessary to wiggle the socket around somewhat to collapse fingers. With socket in place, pull cable (2) from bracket.
    Fig 22: SPRING LINK MOUNTING
    GC0013008Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    NOTE: For installation purposes, when removing fasteners for any rear suspension links, it is important to note which bolt fastens what component and in what direction it is installed in.
  29. On each side of crossmember, remove bolt and nut (1) fastening spring link (4) to crossmember.
    Fig 23: REAR TOE ADJUSTMENT BOLT NUT
    GC0013015Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  30. On each side of crossmember, while holding toe adjustment cam bolt from rotating, remove nut (3) securing toe link at crossmember (1).
    Fig 24: TOE LINK MOUNTING
    GC0013016Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  31. On each side of crossmember, slide cam bolt (2) attaching toe link rearward, out of crossmember and link (1).
    Fig 25: COMPRESSION LINK MOUNTING
    GC0012997Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  32. On each side of crossmember, remove bolt and nut (1) mounting link (3) at crossmember.
    Fig 26: CAMBER AND TENSION LINKS
    GC0013017Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
  33. On each side of crossmember, remove nut and bolt (4) mounting tension link to crossmember (1).
  34. On each side of crossmember, remove nut and bolt (2) mounting camber link to crossmember (1).
  35. Carefully lift knuckle with links and parking brake cable attached from rear suspension crossmember.
  36. Remove crossmember from jack.