Tools Required

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. Ensure that the fastening bolts for the rear axle support flange remain accessible.



3. Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tire and Wheels.
4. Install J 42066 to the axle flange.



5. Remove the drive shaft bolts.

Important: 

•	Suspend the drive shaft upward. Do NOT allow the drive shaft to hang freely.

•	Do NOT suspend the drive shaft from the spring. You will remove the spring in a later step.

6. Remove the drive shaft from the rear wheel hub flange.



7. Remove the brake pipe clip.
8. Remove the brake pipe from the lower control arm in order to allow for brake caliper movement.
9. Remove and suspend the rear brake caliper. Refer to Brake Caliper Replacement in Brakes.



10. Remove the set screw from the rear brake disc rotor.
11. Remove the rear brake disc rotor. You may have to back off the parking brake adjustment in order to remove the brake disc rotor. Refer to Parking Brake Lever Adjustment in Parking Brakes.
12. Remove the parking brake cable from the actuator bracket. Refer to Park Brake Cable Replacement in Parking Brakes.
13. Remove the following parts when replacing the rear axle lower control arm:

•	The rear wheel hub

•	The rear wheel hub flange

•	The wheel bearing. Refer to Rear Wheel Bearing and Hub Replacement .

14. Remove the brake backing plate when replacing the rear axle lower control arm. Refer to Backing Plate Replacement in Parking Brakes.
15. Remove the exhaust system at the rubber body mounts. Refer to Exhaust System Replacement in Engine Exhaust.



16. Remove the rear outer tie rod nut.
17. Remove the tie rod from the knuckle using J 6627-A .
18. Remove the stabilizer shaft link connection at the rear axle lower control arm. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement .
19. Using a transmission jack, support the rear cradle at the rear differential.
20. Scribe a reference mark on the vehicle body around the perimeter of the rear axle cradle mount in order to ensure proper re-installation.



21. Remove the bolts which secure the rear axle cradle mount to the vehicle body.

Important: Support the lower control arm when removing the lower mount bolt from the shock absorber.




22. Remove the lower mount bolt from the shock absorber.



23. Remove the lower rear cradle in order to allow for rear spring removal.
24. Remove the rear spring.

Important: Ensure that the rear differential stays adequately supported. Ensure that the method of support will not be disrupted by partial lowering of the rear axle cradle.

25. Support the rear lower control arm.
26. Remove the underbody heat shield nuts.
27. Remove the underbody heat shields.
28. Remove the center bearing bracket bolts from the propeller shaft.
29. Remove the bolts from the rear support flange.
30. Remove the bolt from the rear support bushing.



31. Lower the control arm in order to allow access to the bolt on the outboard lower control arm.
32. Remove the bolt from the inboard lower control arm.
33. Remove the bolt from the outboard lower control arm.
34. Remove the rear axle lower control arm.

1. Install the rear axle lower control arm.

Notice: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.

2. Install the bolts to the inboard rear lower control arm and the outboard rear lower control arm.

Tighten
Tighten the control arm bolts to 100 N·m (74 lb ft).

3. Raise the rear lower control arm into position in order to allow for support bushing and in order to allow for alignment of the flange bolt .
4. Loosely install the bolt to the rear axle support bushing.
5. Loosely install the bolts to the rear support flange.

Tighten

1. Tighten the bushing bolt to 125 N·m (92 lb ft).
2. Tighten the flange bolts to 65 N·m (48 lb ft).
6. Remove the support from the rear lower control arm.
7. Position the rear cradle in order to enable installation of the center bearing bracket to the propeller shaft.
8. Install the bolts to the center bearing bracket on the propeller shaft.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 20 N·m (15 lb ft).

9. Install the underbody heat shields.
10. Install the nuts to the underbody heat shield.

Tighten
Tighten the heat shield nuts to 2 N·m (18 lb in).




11. Install the rear spring.



12. Raise the rear axle cradle into position.
13. Align the cradle mounts to the reference marks which you scribed during the removal procedure.
14. Install the bolts which secure the rear axle cradle mount to the vehicle body.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 65 N·m (48 lb ft).

15. Remove the transmission jack from the rear differential.



16. Support the rear lower control arm in order to allow for bolt installation.
17. Install the bolts to the shock absorber lower mount.

Tighten
Tighten the bolt to 110 N·m (81 lb ft).

18. Remove the rear lower control arm support.
19. Install the stabilizer shaft link connection at the rear axle lower control arm. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement .



20. Install the rear outer tie rod to the rear axle control arm.

Important: Use a new self-locking tie rod nut.

21. Install the rear outer tie rod nut.

Tighten
Tighten the rear outer tie rod nut to 60 N·m (44 lb ft).




22. Install the exhaust system at the rubber body mounts. Refer to Exhaust System Replacement in Engine Exhaust.
23. Install the brake backing plate, if previously removed. Refer to Backing Plate Replacement in Parking Brakes.
24. Install the following parts if previously removed:

23.1.

The wheel bearing

23.2.

The rear wheel hub

23.3.

The rear wheel hub flange. Refer to Rear Wheel Bearing and Hub Replacement .

25. Route the parking brake cable through the bracket on the rear lower control arm.
26. Install the parking brake cable. Refer to Park Brake Cable Replacement in Parking Brakes.
27. Install the disc brake rotor.
28. Install the disc brake rotor set screw.

Tighten
Tighten the rear brake disc rotor screw to 4 N·m (35  lb  ft).




29. Adjust the parking brake cables. Refer to Parking Brake Lever Adjustment in Parking Brakes.
30. Install the rear brake caliper. Refer to Brake Caliper Replacement in Disc Brakes.
31. Install the brake pipe to the lower control arm.
32. Install the brake pipe retaining clip to the lower control arm.
33. Place the drive shaft in the proper position.
34. Install the drive shaft bolts. Use J 42066 in order to counter-hold the rear wheel hub.

Tighten
Tighten the drive shaft bolts to 50 N·m (37 lb ft) + 70 degrees.

35. Install the tire and wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
36. Lower the vehicle.
37. Adjust the rear toe to specifications. Refer to Rear Toe Adjustment .