1996 CHRYSLER VOYAGER Service Manual

NOTE: If shock absorber bolt deflects upward dur-
ing removal, raise axle by adjusting support jack. If
shock absorber bolt deflects downward during
removal, lower axle by adjusting support jack (or by
pulling on axle).
(4) Using 2 jack stands positioned under the outer
ends of the axle, raise the axle enough to remove the
weight of the axle from the rear springs.
(5) Loosen and remove the axle plate bolts from
the rear axle (Fig. 6).
(6) Remove the axle plate from the rear axle and
the leaf spring (Fig. 7).
(7) Using the jack standsslowlylower the rear
axle, permitting the rear springs to hang free.
(8) Loosen and remove the 4 bolts (Fig. 8) from the
front mount of the leaf spring.
(9) Loosen and remove the nuts from the spring
hanger (Fig. 9) for the rear leaf spring. Then remove
the hanger plate from the hanger and remove the
spring from the spring hanger (Fig. 9).
Fig. 5 Rear Shock Mounting Bolt
Fig. 6 Axle Plate Bolts
Fig. 7 Axle Plate
Fig. 8 Leaf Spring Front Mount
Fig. 9 Rear Spring Hanger
NSSUSPENSION 2 - 41
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(10) Remove the leaf spring from the vehicle (Fig.
10).
(11) Loosen and remove the pivot bolt from the
front mount of the rear leaf spring. (Fig. 11).
FRONT BUSHING REPLACEMENT
(1) Install leaf spring in a proper holding fixture.
(2) Install leaf spring press Special Tool C-4212±F.
(3) Install adapter Special Tool C-4212±3.
(4) Tighten leaf spring press until bushing is
extracted from leaf spring.
(5) Remove leaf spring press from leaf spring.
(6) Insert replacement bushing into the leaf spring
eye.Verify that the bushing flange is on the left
side of the leaf spring when leaf spring is in the
in vehicle installed position.
(7) Install leaf spring press Special Tool C-4212±F.
(8) Install adapter Special Tool C-4212±4.
(9) Tighten leaf spring press until bushing flange
bottoms solidly against leaf spring eye.
(10) Remove leaf spring press and adapter.(11) Bend the bushing tabs so that they are con-
tacting the leaf spring.
INSTALLATION
(1) Assemble front spring mount to front of spring
eye and install pivot bolt and nut. Do not tighten.
CAUTION: Pivot bolt must face inboard to prevent
structural damage during installation of spring.
(2) Raise front of spring and install four hanger
bolts, tighten to 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.) torque.
(3) Install rear of spring onto rear spring shackle.
Install shackle plate. Do not tighten.
(4) Verify lower leaf spring isolator is in position.
(5) Raise axle into correct position on leaf spring
with axle centered under spring locator post (Fig.
12).
(6) Verify that the leaf spring isolator is correctly
positioned in the axle plate.
(7) Install axle plate on the spring.
(8) Install axle plate bolts. Tighten bolts to 108
N´m (80 ft. lbs.) torque.
(9) Install shock absorber bolts. Do not tighten.
(10) Lower vehicle to floor so that the full weight
of vehicle is supported by the tires.
(11) Tighten component fasteners as follows:
²Front pivot boltÐ156 N´m (115 ft. lbs.)
²Shackle nutsÐ61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
²Shock absorber boltsÐ101 N´m (75 ft. lbs.)
(12) If the vehicle is not equipped with antilock
brakes, raise vehicle and the connect the actuator for
the height sensing proportioning valve on the rear
leaf spring. Adjust the height sensing proportioning
valve. Refer to the Adjustment Section in this group
of the service manual for the required adjustment
procedure.
Fig. 10 Leaf Spring Remove/Install
Fig. 11 Leaf Spring Front Mount
Fig. 12 Leaf Spring Locator Post
2 - 42 SUSPENSIONNS
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

REAR SPRINGS (AWD)
REMOVE
(1) Raise vehicle on frame contact hoist to a com-
fortable working position.
(2) Remove the driveshaft from the side of the
vehicle that requires the removal of the leaf spring.
Refer to Group 3 Driveline in this service manual for
the procedure covering the removal of the rear drive-
shafts.
(3) Support axle with a jack stand. Pad should just
contact axle.
NOTE: If shock absorber bolt deflects upward dur-
ing removal, raise axle by adjusting support jack. If
shock absorber bolt deflects downward during
removal, lower axle by adjusting support jack (or by
pulling on axle).
(4) Begin removal of the shock absorber lower
mounting bolt (Fig. 13).
(5) Using 2 jack stands positioned under the outer
ends of the axle, raise the axle enough to remove the
weight of the axle from the rear springs.
(6) Loosen and remove the axle plate bolts from
the rear axle (Fig. 14).
(7) Using the jack standsslowlylower the rear
axle, permitting the rear springs to hang free.
(8) Loosen and remove the 4 bolts (Fig. 15) at the
front mount of the rear leaf spring.
(9) Loosen and remove the 2 bolts and the 2 nuts
from the spring hanger (Fig. 16) for the rear leaf
spring. Then remove the inner half of the spring
hanger from the outer half hanger of the spring
hanger and the spring. (Fig. 16).
(10) Remove the rear leaf spring from the outer
half of the spring hanger
Fig. 13 Rear Shock Absorber Mounting Bolt
Fig. 14 Axle Plate Bolts
Fig. 15 Leaf Spring Front Mount
Fig. 16 Rear Spring Hanger
NSSUSPENSION 2 - 43
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(11) Remove the leaf spring from the vehicle (Fig.
17).
(12) Loosen and remove the pivot bolt from the
front mount of the rear leaf spring. (Fig. 18).
FRONT BUSHING REPLACEMENT
(1) Install leaf spring in a proper holding fixture.
(2) Install leaf spring press Special Tool C-4212±F.
(3) Install adapter Special Tool C-4212±3.
(4) Tighten leaf spring press until bushing is
extracted from leaf spring.
(5) Remove leaf spring press from leaf spring.
(6) Insert replacement bushing into the leaf spring
eye. Verify that the bushing flange is on the outboard
side of the leaf spring.
(7) Install leaf spring press Special Tool C-4212±F.
(8) Install adapter Special Tool C-4212±4.
(9) Tighten leaf spring press until bushing flange
bottoms solidly against leaf spring eye.
(10) Remove leaf spring press and adapter.(11) Bend the tabs on the bushing until they are
contacting the leaf spring.
INSTALL
CAUTION: Pivot bolt must face inboard to prevent
structural damage during installation of spring.
(1) Install the front of the rear leaf spring into the
spring mount (Fig. 18). Install the pivot bolt and nut.
Do not tighten the pivot bolt at this time.
(2) Position the front spring mount for the rear
leaf spring against the floor pan of the vehicle.
Install the 4 mounting bolts for the spring mount.
Tighten the 4 mounting bolts to a torque of 61 N´m
(45 ft. lbs.).
(3) Install the rear of the leaf spring onto the outer
half of the rear hanger. Install the inner half of the
rear hanger. Install the nut and bolts on the rear
hangerbut do not tighten at this time.
(4) Raise axle assembly into correct position with
axle centered under spring locator post.
(5) Install axle plate bolts. Tighten bolts to 108
N´m (80 ft. lbs.) torque.
(6) Install shock absorber bolts. Do not tighten.
(7) Lower vehicle to floor and with full weight of
vehicle on wheels. Tighten component fasteners as
follows:
CAUTION: The following sequence must be fol-
lowed when tightening the pin nuts on the rear
hanger for the rear leaf spring. First the hanger pin
nuts must be tightened to the specified torque
shown below. Then tighten the retaining bolts for
the inner to outer half of the spring hanger to the
torque specification listed below. This sequence
must be followed to properly seat the bushings into
the springs and to avoid bending the spring hanger.
²Front pivot bolt-156 N´m (115 ft. lbs.)
²Rear spring hanger pin nuts-61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
²Rear spring hanger inner to outer half retaining
bolts-61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
²Shock absorber upper mounting bolt-115 N´m
(85 ft. lbs.)
²Shock absorber lower mounting bolt-108 N´m (80
ft. lbs.)
(8) If the vehicle is not equipped with antilock
brakes, raise vehicle and connect the actuator for the
height sensing proportioning valve on the rear leaf
spring. Adjust the height sensing proportioning
valve. Refer to the Adjustment Section in this group
of the service manual for the required adjustment
procedure.
Fig. 17 Leaf Spring Remove/Install
Fig. 18 Leaf Spring Front Mount
2 - 44 SUSPENSIONNS
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)