
REAR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page page
REAR
DESCRIPTION...........................26
OPERATION.............................26
SPECIFICATIONS........................27
SPECIAL TOOLS.........................28
BUSHINGS
REMOVAL..............................28
INSTALLATION...........................29
HUB / BEARING
DESCRIPTION...........................30
OPERATION.............................30
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING.................30
HUB AND BEARING (REAR)...............30
REMOVAL..............................31
INSTALLATION...........................33
JOUNCE BUMPER
DESCRIPTION...........................35
OPERATION.............................35
REMOVAL..............................35
INSTALLATION...........................36
SHOCK ABSORBER
DESCRIPTION...........................36
OPERATION.............................36
REMOVAL..............................36
DISASSEMBLY...........................36
ASSEMBLY.............................37
INSTALLATION...........................38SPRING - AWD
DESCRIPTION...........................38
OPERATION.............................38
REMOVAL..............................38
INSTALLATION...........................39
SPRING - FWD
DESCRIPTION...........................40
OPERATION.............................40
REMOVAL..............................40
INSTALLATION...........................41
SPRING MOUNTS - FRONT
REMOVAL..............................42
INSTALLATION...........................42
SPRING MOUNTS - REAR
REMOVAL..............................43
INSTALLATION...........................43
STABILIZER BAR
DESCRIPTION...........................44
OPERATION.............................44
REMOVAL..............................44
INSTALLATION...........................44
TRACK BAR
DESCRIPTION...........................45
OPERATION.............................45
REMOVAL..............................45
INSTALLATION...........................45
REAR
DESCRIPTION - REAR SUSPENSION
The rear suspension design on this vehicle uses
leaf springs, and a tube and casting axle (Fig. 1) (Fig.
2). The leaf springs used on the rear suspension of
this vehicle are of either a mono-leaf or multi-leaf
design.
There are 2 different rear suspension designs
available:
²Front-Wheel-Drive
²All-Wheel-Drive
The rear axle used on Front-Wheel-Drive applica-
tions of this vehicle is mounted to the rear leaf
springs using isolator bushings at the axle mounting
brackets.
The rear axle used on All-Wheel-Drive applications
of this vehicle is also mounted to the rear leafsprings, but does not use isolator bushings between
the rear axle and the leaf springs.
Each side of the rear suspension consists of these
major components:
²Leaf spring
²Jounce bumper
²Shock absorber
²Hub and bearing
²Track bar (one per suspension)
²Stabilizer bar (one per suspension)
OPERATION - REAR SUSPENSION
This rear suspension is designed to handle the var-
ious load requirements of the vehicle yet allow for a
comfortable ride.
The rear wheel bearings used are similar to the
bearings used in the front suspension. A hub and
bearing assembly is used.
2 - 26 REARRS

SPECIFICATIONS
REAR SUSPENSION FASTENER TORQUE
DESCRIPTION N´mFt.
Lbs.In.
Lbs.
Hub And Bearing Mounting
Bolts129 95 Ð
Hub And Bearing Axle Hub Nut 244 180 Ð
Jounce Bumper Mounting Bolt 33 24 290
Leaf Spring Front Mount-To-
Body Bolts61 45 Ð
Leaf Spring Front Pivot Bolt 156 115 Ð
Leaf Spring Plate-To-Axle Bolts 102 75 Ð
Leaf Spring Rear Mount-To-
Body Bolts61 45 Ð
Leaf Spring Shackle Plate Nuts 61 45 Ð
Shock Absorber Mounting Bolts 102 75 Ð
Fig. 1 Front-Wheel-Drive Rear Suspension
1 - SHACKLE
2 - REAR MOUNT (HANGER)
3 - TRACK BAR
4 - SPRING PLATE
5 - ISOLATOR
6 - FRONT MOUNT (HANGER)7 - LEAF SPRING (MONO-LEAF)
8 - ISOLATOR
9 - FWD REAR AXLE
10 - STABILIZER BAR LINKS
11 - STABILIZER BAR
Fig. 2 All-Wheel-Drive Rear Suspension
1 - SHACKLE
2 - REAR MOUNT (HANGER)
3 - LEAF SPRING (MULTI-LEAF)
4 - AWD REAR AXLE
RSREAR2-27
REAR (Continued)

(3) Remove shock absorber lower mounting bolt.
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) Remove four bolts securing leaf spring front
mounting bracket to the body (Fig. 3).
(5) Using jack,slowlylower rear axle, permitting
the forward end of rear spring to hang down. Lower
it enough to allow access to spring pivot bolt. It may
be necessary to place a wooden block between the
spring and vehicle to hold forward end of the spring
in place.
(6) Remove leaf spring forward pivot bolt, then
remove mounting bracket.
(7) Straighten the retainer tabs on the bushing
(Fig. 4).
(8) Place Remover/Installer, Special Tool 8459 on
leaf spring and bushing as shown (Fig. 5) and tighten
Set Screw securing Remover Plate to tool threaded
shaft.
(9) Tighten nut (Fig. 5), removing bushing from
spring eye.
(10) Remove the tool from spring, then remove
bushing from tool.
INSTALLATION - LEAF SPRING FRONT
BUSHING
(1) Install by hand NEW bushing in left side of
leaf spring eye.
(2) Place Remover/Installer, Special Tool 8459 on
leaf spring and bushing as shown (Fig. 6) and tightenSet Screw securing Installer Plate (8459±3) to tool
threaded shaft.
(3) Tighten nut (Fig. 6), installing bushing in
spring eye. Tighten nut until bushing is fully seated
and bushing flange bottoms against spring eye. Do
not over-tighten causing tool and bushing to bind.
(4) Remove Remover/Installer from the bushing
and leaf spring.
(5) Bend the retainer tabs on bushing outward
against spring eye.
(6) Position spring mounting bracket over spring
eye and install pivot bolt through center of bushing
from theoutboardside.
NOTE: The pivot bolt must be installed from the
outboard side to allow proper bracket to body
mounting.
(7) Install the nut on the pivot bolt and lightly
tighten. Do not fully tighten bolt at this time.
(8) Raise the under-hoist utility jack or transmis-
sion jack, guiding the forward mounting bracket into
place against the body. It may help to use a drift
punch placed through the hole centered between the
mounting bolt holes in the bracket and the pilot hole
in the body of the vehicle as a guide. When the four
mounting bolt holes line up with their threads in the
Fig. 4 STRAIGHTENED RETAINING TABS
1 - SPRING EYE
2 - RETAINING TABS
Fig. 5 TOOL 8459 MOUNTED FOR BUSHING
REMOVAL
1 - BUSHING
2 - BEARING
3 - WASHER
4 - NUT
5 - BODY (8459-1)
6 - PIN
7 - REMOVER PLATE (8459-2)
8 - SET SCREW
RSREAR2-29
BUSHINGS (Continued)

body, Install the mounting bolts (Fig. 3). Tighten the
four mounting bolts to 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.) torque.
(9) Raise or lower the jack until shock absorber
lower eye aligns with threads in axle housing. Install
shock absorber lower mounting bolt. Do not fully
tighten bolt at this time.
(10) Lower the vehicle and remove hoist arms and
block of wood from under vehicle.
(11) Tighten the spring front pivot bolt to 156 N´m
(115 ft. lbs.) torque.
(12) Tighten the lower shock absorber mounting
bolt to 102 N´m (75 ft. lbs.) torque.
HUB / BEARING
DESCRIPTION
The rear wheel bearing and rear wheel hub of this
vehicle are a one-piece sealed unit, or hub and bear-
ing unit type assembly. The hub and bearing is
mounted to the center of the rear axle using 4
mounting bolts. It has five wheel mounting studs on
the hub flange.
All-Wheel-Drive vehicles have a hub and bearing
unit with a splined hole in the center of the hub for
rear driveshaft stub axle acceptance.Front-Wheel-Drive vehicles with antilock brakes
have an internally mounted wheel speed sensor and
tone wheel. This hub and bearing can be identified
by the rounded cap and molded in connector on the
rear of the assembly (Fig. 7). The sensor and tone
wheel cannot be serviced separately from the hub
and bearing.
OPERATION
The hub and bearing has internal bearings that
allow the hub to rotate with the tire and wheel
assembly (and driveshaft on All-Wheel-Drive vehi-
cles). The five wheel mounting studs mount the tire
and wheel assembly, and disc brake rotor to the vehi-
cle.
On All-Wheel-Drive vehicles, the splined mating of
the driveshaft stub axle and hub allows the drive-
shaft to rotate with the hub and wheel.
Front-Wheel-Drive vehicles equipped with antilock
brakes have a wheel speed sensor and tone wheel
mounted to the rear of the hub and bearing. The tone
wheel rotates with the hub which is sensed by the
wheel speed sensor.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - HUB AND
BEARING (REAR)
The bearing contained in the hub and bearing
assembly will produce noise and vibration when worn
or damaged. The noise will generally change when
the bearings are loaded. A road test of the vehicle is
normally required to determine the location of a
worn or damaged bearing.
Find a smooth level road surface and bring the
vehicle up to a constant speed. When vehicle is at a
constant speed, swerve the vehicle back and forth
from the left and to the right. This will load and
Fig. 6 TOOL 8459 MOUNTED FOR BUSHING
INSTALLATION
1 - NUT
2 - WASHER
3 - BEARING
4 - LEAF SPRING EYE
5 - BUSHING
6 - INSTALLER PLATE (8459-3)
7 - PIN
8 - BODY (8459-1)
Fig. 7 HUB AND BEARING - FWD WITH ABS
2 - 30 REARRS
BUSHINGS (Continued)

INSTALLATION - HUB AND BEARING
FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES
(1) Install the 4 hub and bearing to axle mounting
bolts into the holes in the flange of the rear axle.
(2) Install the rear brake support plate on the 4
mounting bolts installed in the flange of the rear
axle.
(3) Align the rear hub and bearing with the 4
mounting bolts and start mounting bolts into hub
and bearing. Tighten the 4 bolts in a crisscross pat-
tern until the hub nd bearing and brake support
plate is fully and squarely seated onto flange of rear
axle. Tighten the 4 mounting bolts to a torque of 129
N´m (95 ft. lbs.)
NOTE: If equipped with antilock brakes, make sure
wheel speed sensor stays clean and dry as it is
installed into the hub and bearing cap.
(4) If the vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes,
perform the following:
(a) If metal sensor retaining clip is not in the
neutral installed position on hub and bearing cap,
install from the bottom, if necessary, and push clip
upward until it snaps into position.
(b) Install wheel speed sensor head into rear of
hub and bearing aligning index tab with the notch
in the top of the mounting hole. Push the sensor in
until it snaps into place on the metal retaining
clip.
(c) Install secondary (yellow) retaining clip over
wheel speed sensor head and engage the tabs on
each side (Fig. 8).
(5) Install brake drum or disc brake rotor and
brake caliper. Refer to Brakes.
(6) Install wheel and tire. Tighten the wheel nuts
in the proper sequence to a torque of 135 N´m (100
ft. lbs.).
(7) Adjust the rear brakes as necessary. Refer to
Brakes.
(8) Lower vehicle.
(9) Road test vehicle to ensure proper operation of
brakes.
ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES
(1) Install hub/bearing on end of axle. (Fig. 12).
(2) Install the hub/bearing mounting bolts. In a
progressive crisscross pattern, tighten the 4 hub/
bearing mounting bolts (Fig. 13) until the disc brake
caliper adapter and hub/bearing are squarely seated
against the axle. Then tighten the hub/bearing
mounting bolts to a torque of 129 N´m (95 ft. lbs.).
(3) Install driveshaft in hub/bearing and on output
shaft of rear drive line module. Driveshaft is
installed by first sliding the outer joint of the drive-shaft into the hub/bearing and then compressing the
inner joint on the driveshaft and installing it on the
output shaft the drive line module.
(4) Install rotor on hub/bearing.
(5) Carefully lower disc brake caliper and brake
shoes over rotor and onto caliper adapter by revers-
ing the removal procedure (Fig. 14).
CAUTION: When installing guide pin bolts extreme
caution should be taken not to cross-thread the cal-
iper guide pin bolts.
Fig. 12 Hub/Bearing Removal And Installation
1 - PARK BRAKE BRAKE SHOE
2 - HUB/BEARING
3 - PARK BRAKE BRAKE SHOE
Fig. 13 Hub/Bearing Mounting Bolts
1 - HUB/BEARING
2 - AXLE
3 - MOUNTING BOLTS
4 - CALIPER ADAPTER
RSREAR2-33
HUB / BEARING (Continued)

INSTALLATION - AWD AND HEAVY DUTY
(1) Install jounce bumper through bumper support
plate and thread into welded nut in frame rail.
(2) Tighten the jounce bumper to 33 N´m (290 in.
lbs.) torque.
INSTALLATION - FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE
(1) Hook the forward end of the jounce bumper
bracket in the mounting hole of the frame rail, then
install the mounting bolt in the opposite end, secur-
ing the bumper to the frame rail. Tighten the jounce
bumper mounting bolt to 33 N´m (290 in. lbs.) torque.
SHOCK ABSORBER
DESCRIPTION
There is one shock absorber on each side of the
rear suspension. The top of each shock absorber is
bolted to the frame rail. The bottom of each shock
absorber is bolted to the rear axle.
This vehicle is available with either standard type
or load-leveling shock absorbers. On the exterior,
load-leveling shock absorbers are larger in diameter
than standard shock absorbers. The load-leveling
shock absorbers mount the same as the standard
shock absorbers.
OPERATION
The shock absorber dampens jounce and rebound
motions of the spring and suspension.
Each load-leveling shock absorber is a self-leveling,
self-contained vehicle leveling system and shock
absorber combined. It does not require an external
compressor, hoses, or height leveling sensors. All the
height leveling sensors, hydraulic pump, etc., are
contained inside the shock absorber. It uses road
inputs (bumps, stops, starts, turns, acceleration,
deceleration, etc.) to activate pumping, which results
in the extension and compression of the shock
absorber.
REMOVAL - SHOCK ABSORBER
(1) Raise vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION &
MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE)
(2) Support the rear axle of the vehicle using 2
jackstands positioned at the outer ends of the axle.
NOTE: If the shock absorber lower mounting bolt
deflects upward during removal, raise axle by
adjusting the support jack. If the lower shock
absorber bolt deflects downward during removal,
lower the axle by adjusting the support jack.
(3) Remove the shock absorber lower mounting
bolt.
(4) While holding shock absorber, remove the
shock absorber upper mounting bolt and shock
absorber.
DISASSEMBLY - SHOCK ABSORBER (UPPER
BUSHING)
(1) Remove the shock absorber from the vehicle.
(2) Install the Receiver, Special Tool 8526-1, into
the cup of the Ball Joint Press, Special Tool C-4212F,
and tighten the set screw. Install the Driver, Special
Tool 8526-2, on the tip of the Ball Joint Press screw
drive as shown (Fig. 23).
Fig. 21 Jounce Bumper
1 - JOUNCE BUMPER
Fig. 22 Jounce Bumper - FWD
1-JOUNCE BUMPER
2 - 36 REARRS
JOUNCE BUMPER (Continued)

NOTE: It works well to place the Ball Joint Press,
Special Tool C-4212F, in a bench vise as shown
(Fig. 23) to perform this procedure.
(3) Place the shock absorber upper mounting eye
in the Receiver so the notch in the Receiver clears
the shock absorber body (Fig. 24).
(4) Tighten the screw drive until the Driver con-
tacts the outer circumference of the bushing evenly
(Fig. 24). Continue to tighten the screw drive until
the bushing is pressed completely out of the shock
absorber eye and into the Receiver.
(5) Back off the screw drive and remove the bush-
ing from the Receiver.
ASSEMBLY - SHOCK ABSORBER (UPPER
BUSHING)
(1) Install the Receiver, Special Tool 8526-1, into
the cup of the Ball Joint Press, Special Tool C-4212F,
and tighten the set screw. Install the Driver, Special
Tool 8526-2, on the tip of the Ball Joint Press screw
drive as shown (Fig. 25). Position the Driver this way
to seat the bushing to its correct depth.
(2) Place the shock absorber upper mounting eye
in the Receiver so the notch in the Receiver clears
the shock absorber body (Fig. 26).
Fig. 23 Special Tools Positioned For Removal
1 - SCREW DRIVE
Fig. 24 Removing Bushing From Shock Absorber
1 - SCREW DRIVE
2 - SHOCK ABSORBER
3 - NOTCH
Fig. 25 Special Tools Positioned For Installation
1 - SCREW DRIVE
Fig. 26 Installing Bushing In Shock Absorber
1 - BUSHING
2 - SCREW DRIVE
3 - SHOCK ABSORBER
4 - NOTCH
RSREAR2-37
SHOCK ABSORBER (Continued)

(3) Position the bushing between the shock
absorber eye and the Driver (Fig. 26). Tighten the
screw drive until the Driver, bushing, and shock
absorber eye are touching and squarely aligned.
(4) Press the bushing into the shock absorber eye
until the Driver bottoms against the face of the eye.
(5) Back off the Ball Joint Press screw drive and
remove the shock absorber from the press.
(6) Install the shock absorber on the vehicle. Refer
to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION in this section
for the procedure.
INSTALLATION - SHOCK ABSORBER
(1) While holding shock absorber in position
against the frame rail, install the shock absorber
upper mounting bolt.
(2) Install the shock absorber lower mounting bolt
securing the lower end of the shock absorber to the
axle.
(3) Remove the support jack.
(4) Lower the vehicle to the ground so the full curb
weight of the vehicle is supported by the suspension.
(5) Tighten the upper and lower shock absorber
mounting bolt to a torque of 101 N´m (75 ft. lbs.).
SPRING - AWD
DESCRIPTION
The leaf springs used on the rear suspension of
this vehicle are of either a mono-leaf or multi-leaf
design depending on model and options.
Since the rear springs come in various designs and
rates, be sure the correct spring is in use.
OPERATION
The leaf spring controls ride quality and maintains
ride height.
REMOVAL - AWD
(1) Raise vehicle on frame-contact hoist as follows:
(a) Position the hoist arm supporting the corner
of the vehicle to be serviced against a block of wood
placed on the body sill as shown (Fig. 27).
(b) Position the remaining hoist arms at each
corner of the vehicle in the normal fashion. (Refer
to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING
- STANDARD PROCEDURE)
(c) Raise the vehicle to a comfortable working
level.
(2) Position an under-hoist utility jack or transmis-
sion jack under rear axle toward the side needing
spring replacement. Jack 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).
(3) Begin removal of the shock absorber lower
mounting bolt (Fig. 28).
Fig. 27 LIFTING POINT AND SPRING MOUNT
1 - BODY SILL AREA
2 - MOUNTING BOLTS
3 - SPRING MOUNTING BRACKET
4 - LEAF SPRING
5 - HOIST LIFT ARM
6 - WOODEN BLOCK
Fig. 28 Rear Shock Absorber Mounting Bolt
1 - SHOCK BOLT
2 - 38 REARRS
SHOCK ABSORBER (Continued)