2000 DODGE NEON flex plate installation

REMOVAL
(1) Using a brake pedal holder, depress the brake
pedal past its first one inch of travel and hold it in
this position (Fig. 75). This will isolate the master
cylinder from the brake hydraulic system and will
not allow the brake fluid to drain out of the master
cylinder reservoir.
(2) Raise the vehicle. Refer to HOISTING in the
LUBRICATION AND MAINTENANCE group for the
proper lifting procedure.
(3) Remove the rear tire and wheel assembly.
(4) Disconnect the rear brake flex hose from the
wheel cylinder (Fig. 76).
(5) Remove the rear brake drum.
(6) Remove the rear brake shoes from the brake
support plate. Refer to DRUM BRAKE SHOES in
this REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION section.
NOTE: If the brake shoes are wet with grease or
brake fluid, replace them.
(7) Remove the brake wheel cylinder attaching
bolts (Fig. 76).
(8) Remove the brake wheel cylinder from the
brake support plate (Fig. 77).
INSTALLATION
(1) Install a new O-ring at the mating surface of
the wheel cylinder-to-brake support plate (Fig. 77).NOTE: When installing wheel cylinder on brake
support plate, be sure it is positioned squarely (hor-
izontal) to the brake assembly.
(2) Install the wheel cylinder onto brake support
plate (Fig. 77). Tighten the attaching bolts to a
torque of 13 N´m (115 in. lbs.).
(3) Hand start the rear brake flex hose tube fitting
to wheel cylinder. Tighten the tube nut to a torque of
17 N´m (145 in. lbs.).
(4) Install the rear brake shoes on the brake sup-
port plate. Replace them as necessary.
(5) Install the rear brake drum onto the rear hub.
Fig. 75 Brake Pedal Holder
1 ± CLUTCH PEDAL (IF EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSAXLE)
2 ± THROTTLE PEDAL
3 ± BRAKE PEDAL HOLDING TOOL
4 ± STEERING WHEEL
5 ± DRIVER'S SEAT
6 ± BRAKE PEDAL
Fig. 76 Brake Flex Hose At Wheel Cylinder
1 ± BRAKE SUPPORT PLATE
2 ± WHEEL CYLINDER ATTACHING BOLTS
3 ± REAR BRAKE FLEX HOSE TUBE
4 ± WHEEL CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
Fig. 77 Remove/Install Wheel Cylinder
1 ± WHEEL CYLINDER
2 ± SUPPORT PLATE
3 ± O-RING
5 - 42 BRAKESPL
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(4) Remove the brake drum (Fig. 87).
NOTE: If the drum does not come off, further brake
clearance can be obtained by backing off the brake
automatic adjuster screw. Remove the rubber plug
from the top of brake support plate. Rotate the
automatic adjuster screw in an upward motion,
using a screwdriver.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: Before installing the drum, inspect the brake
shoe linings for wear, shoe alignment, and contam-
ination.
(1) Install the rear brake drum on rear hub and
bearing (Fig. 87).
(2) Install the tire and wheel assembly. Tighten
the wheel mounting nuts to a torque of 135 N´m (100
ft. lbs.).
(3) Adjust the rear brake shoes as necessary. Refer
to ADJUSTMENTS in this section of this service
manual group.
(4) Lower the vehicle.
DRUM BRAKE SHOE SUPPORT PLATE (REAR)
NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure,
review SERVICE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS at the
beginning of REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION in this
section.
REMOVAL
(1) Using a brake pedal holding tool as shown (Fig.
88), depress the brake pedal past its first one inch of
travel and hold it in this position. This will isolate
the master cylinder from the brake hydraulic system
and will not allow the brake fluid to drain out of the
master cylinder reservoir.
(2) Raise the vehicle. Refer to HOISTING in the
LUBRICATION AND MAINTENANCE group for the
proper lifting procedure.
(3) Remove the rear tire and wheel assembly from
the vehicle.
(4) Disconnect the rear brake flex hose from the
wheel cylinder (Fig. 89).
(5) Remove the rear brake drum.
(6) Remove the dust cap (Fig. 90) from the rear
hub and bearing.
(7) Remove the nut (Fig. 91) holding the rear hub
and bearing to the spindle. Remove the hub and
bearing from the spindle.
(8) Remove the rear brake shoes from the brake
support plate. Refer to DRUM BRAKE SHOES in
this REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION section.(9) Remove the parking brake actuator lever from
the parking brake cable.
(10) Position a 1/2 inch wrench over the retainer
fingers on the end of the parking brake cable (Fig.
92). Compress the cable housing retaining fingers
with the wrench, then pull the cable housing out of
the support plate. Remove the wrench as the parking
brake cable retainer is freed from the mounting hole
in the brake support plate.
Fig. 88 Brake Pedal Holding Tool
1 ± CLUTCH PEDAL (IF EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSAXLE)
2 ± THROTTLE PEDAL
3 ± BRAKE PEDAL HOLDING TOOL
4 ± STEERING WHEEL
5 ± DRIVER'S SEAT
6 ± BRAKE PEDAL
Fig. 89 Brake Flex Hose At Wheel Cylinder
1 ± BRAKE SUPPORT PLATE
2 ± WHEEL CYLINDER ATTACHING BOLTS
3 ± REAR BRAKE FLEX HOSE TUBE
4 ± WHEEL CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
5 - 46 BRAKESPL
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(11) Remove the 4 brake support plate mounting
bolts and washers. Separate brake support plate
from rear suspension knuckle.
(12) Remove the brake wheel cylinder attaching
bolts.
(13) Remove the brake wheel cylinder from the
brake support plate.
INSTALLATION
(1) Install a new O-ring at the mating surface of
the wheel cylinder-to-brake support plate.
NOTE: When installing wheel cylinder on brake
support plate, be sure it is positioned squarely (hor-
izontal) to the brake support plate.(2) Install the wheel cylinder onto brake support
plate. Tighten the attaching bolts to a torque of 13
N´m (115 in. lbs.).
(3) Install the brake support plate and gasket on
rear suspension knuckle. Tighten the support plate
mounting bolts to a torque of 75 N´m (55 ft. lbs.).
(4) Insert the parking brake cable into its mount-
ing hole in the brake support plate. Push the cable
housing in until the retainer's fingers lock into place.
(5) Hand start the brake flex hose tube fitting to
the wheel cylinder. Tighten the tube nut to a torque
of 17 N´m (145 in. lbs.).
(6) Attach the parking brake cable to the parking
brake actuator.
(7) Install the rear brake shoe assemblies on the
brake support plate.
(8) Install the rear hub and bearing assembly on
the spindle. Install a new hub and bearing retaining
nut (Fig. 91). Tighten the retaining nut to a torque of
217 N´m (160 ft. lbs.). Install dust cap.
(9) Install the brake drum.
(10) Install the wheel and tire assembly. Tighten
the wheel mounting nuts to a torque of 135 N´m (100
ft. lbs.).
(11) Adjust the rear brake shoes. Refer to
ADJUSTMENTS in this section of this service man-
ual group.
(12) Lower the vehicle.
(13) Remove the brake pedal holding tool.
(14) Bleed the wheel cylinder as necessary. Refer
to BASE BRAKE BLEEDING in the SERVICE PRO-
CEDURES section in this service manual group.
(15) Road test the vehicle to make sure the brakes
operate correctly.
Fig. 90 Hub And Bearing Dust Cap
1 ± HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY
2 ± DUST CAP
Fig. 91 Rear Hub And Bearing Retaining Nut
1 ± RETAINING NUT
2 ± SPINDLE
3 ± HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY
Fig. 92 Removing Park Brake Cable From Support
Plate
1 ± WRENCH
2 ± CABLE HOUSING RETAINER
3 ± PARK BRAKE CABLE
4 ± SUPPORT PLATE
PLBRAKES 5 - 47
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(7) Connect CCV hose on cylinder head cover port.
(8) Raise vehicle.
(9) Install new flex joint to manifold flange gasket.
(10) Attach exhaust system to manifold flange and
tighten fasteners to 28 N´m (250 in. lbs.).
(11) Install exhaust manifold support bracket (Fed-
eral and LEV) (Fig. 35). Tighten M10 bolt to 54 N´m
(40 ft. lbs.), M12 bolt to 95 N´m (70 ft. lbs.), and nut
to 28 N´m (250 in. lbs.).
(12) ULEV equippedÐinstall support bracket to
cylinder block and exhaust manifold (Fig. 36). Snug
all bolts first then tighten to 54 N´m (40 ft. lbs.).
(13) Install bolt attaching wire harness heat shield
to support bracket (Federal and LEV) (Fig. 34), or
exhaust manifold (ULEV).(14) Lower vehicle.
(15) Connect negative cable to battery.
CYLINDER HEAD COVER
REMOVAL
(1) Disconnect CCV (Fig. 39) and PCV (Fig. 40)
hoses from cylinder head cover.
(2) Remove ignition coil and spark plug cables
(Fig. 41).
(3) Remove cylinder head cover bolts.
(4) Remove cylinder head cover.
INSTALLATION
(1) Clean gasket surfaces. Inspect gasket and seals
(Fig. 42). Replace as necessary. For replacement of
spark plug tube seals, refer to Spark Plug Tube Seals
in this section for procedure.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to loosen or remove baf-
fle plate attaching screws. The screws are self-tap-
ping, and in the attempt to retighten, thread damage
(stripping) will result.
Fig. 36 Exhaust Manifold Support BracketÐULEV
1 ± MANIFOLD SUPPORT BRACKET
2 ± OIL FILTER
3 ± BOLTS
Fig. 37 Exhaust Manifold Heat Shields
1 ± BOLTS
2 ± HEAT SHIELDS
Fig. 38 Exhaust Manifold Tightening Sequence
Fig. 39 CCV Hose
PL2.0L SOHC ENGINE 9 - 31
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)