GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Support Replacement AWD Vehicles

Tools Required

J 37043 Park Brake Cable Release Tool

Removal Procedure

  1. Place the park brake lever in the release position.
  2. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
  3. Remove the tires and wheels. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
  4. Remove the exhaust muffler. Refer to Muffler Replacement .

  5. Object Number: 1827691  Size: SH
  6. Remove the rear park brake cable routing bolts from the trailing arms.

  7. Object Number: 1827687  Size: SH
  8. Disconnect the rear park brake cables from the park brake actuators.
  9. Using the J 37043 , remove the park brake cables from the mounting brackets
  10. Position the rear park brake cables aside.
  11. Disconnect the rear wheel speed sensor electrical connectors and routing clips from the rear support and upper control arms.
  12. Position the wiring harness aside.

  13. Remove the rear brake hose bracket nut and bolt.
  14. Notice: Support the brake caliper with heavy mechanic wire, or equivalent, whenever it is separated from its mount and the hydraulic flexible brake hose is still connected. Failure to support the caliper in this manner will cause the flexible brake hose to bear the weight of the caliper, which may cause damage to the brake hose and in turn may cause a brake fluid leak.

  15. Remove the brake calipers and brackets as assemblies and support them with heavy mechanics wire or equivalent. Refer to Rear Brake Caliper Bracket Replacement .

  16. Object Number: 1827711  Size: SH
  17. While holding the stabilizer link with a wrench, remove the stabilizer link-to-lower control arm nut.
  18. Remove the trailing arms. Refer to Trailing Arm Replacement .
  19. Remove the adjustment links. Refer to Adjust Link Replacement .
  20. Remove the rear wheel drive shafts. Refer to Rear Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement .
  21. Remove the rear differential. Refer to Differential Replacement .
  22. Position a transmission jack under the rear support and firmly secure the support to the jack with straps.

  23. Object Number: 1827871  Size: SH
  24. Remove the 4 rear support to body bolts.
  25. Remove the rear support assembly from the vehicle.
  26. With the aid of an assistant, remove the rear support from the transmission jack and place it on the floor.

Installation Procedure

    Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.

  1. If a new rear support is being installed, a transfer of components is necessary.
  2. • Upper Control Arms

    Tighten
    Tighten the upper control arm to rear support nut and bolt to 160 N·m (118 lb ft).

    • Lower Control Arms

    Tighten
    Tighten the lower control arm to rear support nut and bolt to 110 N·m (81 lb ft).

    • Stabilizer bar and insulators

    Tighten

       • 

    Tighten the stabilizer shaft insulator clamp bolts to 70 N·m (52 lb ft).

       • 

    Tighten the stabilizer link to stabilizer shaft nut to 50 N·m (37 lb ft).

    • Knuckles - Loosely install the upper and lower control arm to knuckle nuts/bolts. These fasteners will be tightened later in this procedure after the wheel driveshafts are installed.
  3. With the aid of an assistant, position the rear support onto the transmission jack and firmly secure the support to the jack with straps.
  4. Position the rear support assembly to the vehicle.

  5. Object Number: 1827871  Size: SH
  6. Install the 4 rear support to body bolts.
  7. Tighten
    Tighten the rear support to body bolts to 170 N·m (125 lb ft).

  8. Install the rear differential. Refer to Differential Replacement .
  9. Install the rear wheel drive shafts. Refer to Rear Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement .
  10. Install the adjustment links. Refer to Adjust Link Replacement .
  11. Install the trailing arms. Refer to Trailing Arm Replacement .

  12. Object Number: 1827711  Size: SH
  13. While holding the stabilizer link, install the stabilizer link-to-lower control arm nut.
  14. Tighten
    Tighten the stabilizer link to lower control arm nut to 15 N·m (11 lb ft).

    Notice: Support the brake caliper with heavy mechanic wire, or equivalent, whenever it is separated from its mount and the hydraulic flexible brake hose is still connected. Failure to support the caliper in this manner will cause the flexible brake hose to bear the weight of the caliper, which may cause damage to the brake hose and in turn may cause a brake fluid leak.

  15. Remove the supporting wire and position the brake caliper and bracket assemblies back onto the knuckles. Refer to Rear Brake Caliper Bracket Replacement .
  16. Install the rear brake hose bracket nut and bolt.
  17. Tighten
    Tighten the rear brake hose bolt and nut to 12 N·m (106 lb in).

  18. Position the wiring harness back to the original location, connect the routing clips to the rear support and upper control arms.
  19. Connect the rear wheel speed sensor electrical connectors.


    Object Number: 1827687  Size: SH
  20. Connect the rear park brake cables through the mounting brackets and onto the park brake actuators.

  21. Object Number: 1827691  Size: SH
  22. Install the rear park brake cable routing bolts to the trailing arms.
  23. Tighten
    Tighten the rear park brake cable routing bolt to 12 N·m (106 lb in).

  24. Install the exhaust muffler. Refer to Muffler Replacement .
  25. Install the tires and wheels. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
  26. Check the rear alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Measurement .

Support Replacement FWD Vehicles

Tools Required

J 37043 Park Brake Cable Release Tool

Removal Procedure

  1. Place the park brake lever in the release position.
  2. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
  3. Remove the tires and wheels. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
  4. Remove the exhaust muffler. Refer to Muffler Replacement .

  5. Object Number: 1827691  Size: SH
  6. Remove the rear park brake cable routing bolts from the trailing arms.

  7. Object Number: 1827996  Size: SH
  8. Disconnect the rear park brake cables from the park brake actuators.
  9. Using the J 37043 , remove the park brake cables from the mounting brackets
  10. Position the rear park brake cables aside.
  11. Disconnect the rear wheel speed sensor electrical connectors and the routing clips from the rear support and upper control arms.
  12. Position the wiring harness aside.

  13. Remove the rear brake hose bracket nut and bolt.
  14. Notice: Support the brake caliper with heavy mechanic wire, or equivalent, whenever it is separated from its mount and the hydraulic flexible brake hose is still connected. Failure to support the caliper in this manner will cause the flexible brake hose to bear the weight of the caliper, which may cause damage to the brake hose and in turn may cause a brake fluid leak.

  15. Remove the brake calipers and brackets as assemblies and support them with heavy mechanics wire or equivalent. Refer to Rear Brake Caliper Bracket Replacement .

  16. Object Number: 1827711  Size: SH
  17. While holding the stabilizer link with a wrench, remove the stabilizer link-to-lower control arm nut.
  18. Remove the trailing arms. Refer to Trailing Arm Replacement .
  19. Remove the adjustment links. Refer to Adjust Link Replacement .
  20. Remove the coil springs. Refer to Coil Spring Replacement .
  21. Position a transmission jack under the rear support and firmly secure the support to the jack with straps.

  22. Object Number: 1827991  Size: SH
  23. Remove the 4 rear support to body bolts.
  24. Remove the rear support assembly from the vehicle.
  25. With the aid of an assistant, remove the rear support from the transmission jack and place it on the floor.

Installation Procedure

    Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.

  1. If a new rear support is being installed, a transfer of components is necessary.
  2. • Upper Control Arms

    Tighten
    Tighten the upper control arm to rear support nut and bolt to 160 N·m (118 lb ft).

    • Lower Control Arms

    Tighten
    Tighten the lower control arm to rear support nut and bolt to 110 N·m (81 lb ft).

    • Stabilizer bar and insulators

    Tighten

       • 

    Tighten the stabilizer shaft insulator clamp bolts to 70 N·m (52 lb ft).

       • 

    Tighten the stabilizer link to stabilizer shaft nut to 57 N·m (42 lb ft).

    • Knuckles - The lower control arm to knuckle bolt/nut will be installed and tightened when the coil spring is installed later in this procedure.

    Tighten
    Tighten upper control arm to knuckle bolt and nut to 160 N·m (118 lb ft).

  3. With the aid of an assistant, position the rear support onto the transmission jack and firmly secure the support to the jack with straps.
  4. Position the rear support assembly to the vehicle.

  5. Object Number: 1827991  Size: SH
  6. Install the 4 rear support to body bolts.
  7. Tighten
    Tighten the rear support to body bolts to 170 N·m (125 lb ft).

  8. Install the coil springs. Refer to Coil Spring Replacement .
  9. Install the adjustment links. Refer to Adjust Link Replacement .
  10. Install the trailing arms. Refer to Trailing Arm Replacement .

  11. Object Number: 1827711  Size: SH
  12. While holding the stabilizer link, install the stabilizer link-to-lower control arm nut.
  13. Tighten
    Tighten the stabilizer link to lower control arm nut to 15 N·m (11 lb ft).

    Notice: Support the brake caliper with heavy mechanic wire, or equivalent, whenever it is separated from its mount and the hydraulic flexible brake hose is still connected. Failure to support the caliper in this manner will cause the flexible brake hose to bear the weight of the caliper, which may cause damage to the brake hose and in turn may cause a brake fluid leak.

  14. Remove the supporting wire and position the brake caliper and bracket assemblies back onto the knuckles. Refer to Rear Brake Caliper Bracket Replacement .
  15. Install the rear brake hose bracket nut and bolt.
  16. Tighten
    Tighten the rear brake hose bolt and nut to 12 N·m (106 lb in).

  17. Position the wiring harness back to the original location, connect the routing clips to the rear support and upper control arms. Connect the rear wheel speed sensor electrical connectors.

  18. Object Number: 1827996  Size: SH
  19. Connect the rear park brake cables through the mounting brackets and onto the park brake actuators.

  20. Object Number: 1827691  Size: SH
  21. Install the rear park brake cable routing bolts to the trailing arms.
  22. Tighten
    Tighten the rear park brake cable routing bolt to 12 N·m (106 lb in).

  23. Install the exhaust muffler. Refer to Muffler Replacement .
  24. Install the tires and wheels. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
  25. Check the rear alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Measurement .