GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Pontiac 🢒 2005 🢒 Vibe - FWD 🢒 Body 🢒 Frame and Underbody 🢒 Rear Suspension Support Crossmember Replacement

Removal Procedure

    Important: If you are removing the rear suspension crossmember in order to gain access to other components, you may remove the following components together as a rear drive module:

       • The rear suspension crossmember
       • The differential carrier
       • The differential support
       • The rear wheel drive shafts
       • The upper control arms
       • The lower control arms
       • The stabilizer shaft
       • The knuckles
       • The drum brakes
       • The rear park brake cables

  1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
  2. Remove the 2 rear tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
  3. Remove the catalytic converter. Refer to Catalytic Converter Replacement in Engine Exhaust.
  4. Remove the propeller shaft. Refer to Two-Piece Propeller Shaft Replacement in Propeller Shaft.
  5. Remove the left rear park brake cable from the equalizer. Refer to Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement - Left Side in Park Brake.
  6. Remove the right rear park brake cable from the equalizer. Refer to Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement - Right Side in Park Brake.
  7. If the vehicle has ABS, remove the 2 rear wheel speed sensors and pigtails. Refer to Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement in Antilock Brake System.
  8. Use containers in order to catch the brake fluid.
  9. Remove the brake pipe from the left wheel cylinder.
  10. Remove the brake pipe from the right wheel cylinder.

    11. Object Number: 829771 Size: SH
  11. Remove the nut (4) and the bolt (5) in order to separate the left rear shock absorber from the lower control arm.
  12. Remove the nut and the bolt in order to separate the right rear shock absorber from the lower control arm.

    13. Object Number: 829784 Size: SH
  13. Remove the 3 bolts (1, 3, 4) in order to separate the front of the left rear lower control arm (2) from the body.
  14. Remove the 3 bolts in order to separate the front of the right rear lower control arm from the body.
  15. Place a jack under the differential support.

    16. Object Number: 829793 Size: SH
  16. Remove the 2 bolts (3, 4) and the 2 nuts (1, 2) in order to separate the rear suspension crossmember and the rear drive module from the body.
  17. Lower the rear drive module.

    18. Important: If you are replacing components on the rear drive module, continue with this procedure.

  18. Remove the stabilizer shaft links. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement in Rear Suspension.
  19. Remove the stabilizer shaft. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Replacement in Rear Suspension.
  20. Remove the brake drums. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement in Drum Brakes.
  21. Remove the brake shoes and the brake hardware. Refer to Brake Shoe Replacement in Drum Brakes.
  22. Remove the park brake cables. Refer to Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement - Left Side and Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement - Right Side in Park Brake.
  23. Remove the backing plates and the knuckles. Refer to Knuckle Replacement in Rear Suspension.
  24. Remove the rear wheel drive shafts. Refer to Rear Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement in Wheel Drive Shafts.
  25. Remove the upper control arms. Refer to Upper Control Arm Replacement in Rear Suspension.
  26. Remove the lower control arms. Refer to Lower Control Arm Replacement in Rear Suspension.
  27. Remove the differential carrier and the support. Refer to Differential Carrier Assembly Replacement in Rear Drive Axle.

Installation Procedure
  1. If you are replacing a control arm, copy the match marks from the old components to the new components.
  2. Install the differential carrier and the support to the crossmember. Refer to Differential Carrier Assembly Replacement in Rear Drive Axle.

    3. Object Number: 829795 Size: SH

    Important: Do not tighten the nuts or the bolts on the suspension components. The weight of the vehicle must be on the tire and wheel assemblies before tightening the nuts and the bolts.

  3. Install the nut (1) and the bolt (3) in order to retain the left rear lower control arm to the crossmember.
  4. Install the nut and the bolt in order to retain the right rear lower control arm to the crossmember.
  5. Align the match marks and install the cam and the cam bolt and the left rear upper control arm to the crossmember.
  6. Install the nut to the cam bolt on the left rear upper control arm.
  7. Align the match marks and install the cam and the cam bolt and the right rear upper control arm to the crossmember.
  8. Install the nut to the cam bolt on the right rear upper control arm.
  9. Install the rear wheel drive shafts. Refer to Rear Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement in Wheel Drive Shafts.
  10. Install backing plates and the knuckles. Refer to Knuckle Replacement in Rear Suspension.
  11. Install the left rear park brake cable to the backing plate. Refer to Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement - Left Side in Park Brake.
  12. Install the right rear park brake cable to the backing plate. Refer to Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement - Right Side in Park Brake.
  13. Install the brake shoes and the brake hardware. Refer to Brake Shoe Replacement in Drum Brakes.
  14. Install the brake drums. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement in Drum Brakes.
  15. Install the stabilizer shaft. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Replacement in Rear Suspension.
  16. Install the stabilizer shaft links. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement in Rear Suspension.
  17. Use a jack in order to raise the rear drive module.

    18. Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.


    Object Number: 829793 Size: SH
  18. Install the 2 nuts (1, 2) and the 2 bolts (3, 4) in order to retain the crossmember and the rear drive module to the body.

    19. Tighten
    Tighten the nuts and the bolts to 105 N·m (77.4 lb ft).


    Object Number: 829784 Size: SH
  19. Install the 3 bolts (1, 3, 4) in order to retain the front of the left rear lower control arm (2) to the body.

    20. Tighten
    Tighten the bolts to 65 N·m (47.9 lb ft).

  20. Install the 3 bolts in order to retain the front of the right rear lower control arm to the body.

    21. Tighten
    Tighten the bolts to 65 N·m (47.9 lb ft).

  21. Install the nut and the bolt in order to retain the left rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.
  22. Install the nut and the bolt in order to retain the right rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.
  23. Install the brake pipe to the left wheel cylinder.

    24. Tighten
    Tighten the brake pipe fitting to 15 N·m (11.1 lb ft).

  24. Install the brake pipe to the right wheel cylinder.

    25. Tighten
    Tighten the brake pipe fitting to 15 N·m (11.1 lb ft).

  25. If the vehicle has ABS, install the 2 rear wheel speed sensors and pigtails. Refer to Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement in Antilock Brake System.
  26. Install the left rear park brake cable to the equalizer. Refer to Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement - Left Side in Park Brake.
  27. Install the right rear park brake cable to the equalizer. Refer to Parking Brake Rear Cable Replacement - Right Side in Park Brake.
  28. Install the propeller shaft. Refer to Two-Piece Propeller Shaft Replacement in Propeller Shaft.
  29. Install the catalytic converter. Refer to Catalytic Converter Replacement in Engine Exhaust.
  30. Install the 2 rear tire and wheel assemblies. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
  31. Lower the vehicle.
  32. Bounce the rear of the vehicle in order to stabilize the suspension.

    33. Important: The weight of the vehicle must be on the tire and wheel assemblies.

  33. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the left rear upper control arm to the knuckle.

    34. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N·m (54.6 lb ft).

  34. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the right rear upper control arm to the knuckle.

    35. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N·m (54.6 lb ft).

  35. Align the match marks and tighten the nut and the cam bolt that retains the left rear upper control arm to the crossmember.

    36. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N·m (54.6 lb ft).

  36. Align the match marks and tighten the nut and the cam bolt that retains the right rear upper control arm to the crossmember.

    37. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N·m (54.6 lb ft).


    Object Number: 829799 Size: SH
  37. Install the nut and the bolt (1) that retains the left rear lower control arm to the crossmember (2).

    38. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N·m (54.6 lb ft).

  38. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the right rear lower control arm to the crossmember.

    39. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N·m (54.6 lb ft).

  39. Install the nut and the bolt on that retains the left rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.

    40. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 140 N·m (103.3 lb ft).

  40. Install the nut and the bolt on that retains the right rear shock absorber to the lower control arm.

    41. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 140 N·m (103.3 lb ft).


    Object Number: 829425 Size: SH
  41. Align the match marks (1, 2) and install the nut (3) and the bolt that retains the rear of the left rear lower control arm to the knuckle.

    42. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N·m (54.6 lb ft).

  42. Align the match marks and install the nut and the bolt that retains the rear of the right rear lower control arm to the knuckle.

    43. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N·m (54.6 lb ft).


    Object Number: 829426 Size: SH
  43. Install the nut (1) and the bolt that retains the front of the left rear lower control arm to the knuckle.

    44. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N·m (54.6 lb ft).

  44. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the front of the right rear lower control arm to the knuckle.

    45. Tighten
    Tighten the nut and the bolt to 74 N·m (54.6 lb ft).

  45. Bleed the brake system. Refer to Hydraulic Brake System Bleeding in Hydraulic Brakes.
  46. Measure the wheel alignment. Adjust if necessary. Refer to Wheel Alignment Measurement in Wheel Alignment.