2001 DODGE TOWN AND COUNTRY wheel bolt torque

unload the bearings and change the noise level.
When bearing damage is slight, the noise is usually
not noticeable at speeds above 48 km/h (30 mph).
REMOVAL - HUB AND BEARING
FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES
(1) Raise vehicle. See Hoisting in Lubrication and
Maintenance.
(2) Remove wheel and tire.
(3) Remove brake drum or disc brake caliper and
rotor from hub and bearing. Refer to Brakes.
(4) If equipped with antilock brakes, perform the
following:
(a) Remove secondary (yellow) retaining clip at
rear of wheel speed sensor head (Fig. 8).
(b) Push up on metal retaining clip (Fig. 8) until
it bottoms. This will release wheel speed sensor
head from hub and bearing.
(c) While holding metal clip up, pull back on
wheel speed sensor head removing it from hub and
bearing.
(5) Remove the 4 bolts attaching the hub and bear-
ing to the rear axle.
CAUTION: Corrosion may occur between the hub
and bearing, and the axle. If this occurs the hub
and bearing will be difficult to remove from the
axle. If the hub and bearing will not come out of the
axle by pulling on it by hand, do not pound on the
hub and bearing to remove it from the axle. Damage
will occur. Use the following procedure.(6) If hub and bearing cannot be removed from the
axle by hand, use Remover, Special Tool 8458 (Fig. 9)
and following procedure to press the hub and bearing
out of the axle.
(a) Thread Threaded Guide Pins into hub and
bearing mounting bolt holes.
(b) Remove the two outboard spring plate bolts.
(c) Using the spring plate bolts, install the
Screw Mount, Special Tool 8458±2, as shown (Fig.
9).
(d) Place Push Plate, Special Tool 8458±1, on
ends of Threaded Guide Pins
(e) Place a dab of grease in dimple of Push
Plate.
(f) Tighten the Forcing Screw, Special Tool
8458±3, up against dimple in Push Plate and press
hub and bearing out of axle by continuing to
tighten screw.
(g) Remove the tool.
(h) Reinstall the two outboard spring plate bolts.
Tighten the bolts to 102 N´m (75 ft. lbs.) torque.
(7) Remove the hub/bearing from the rear axle and
brake support plate.
ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES
(1) Set the parking brake.The parking brake is
set to keep the hub and bearing, and axle shaft
from rotating when loosening the hub nut.
Fig. 8 SENSOR CONNECTOR AT HUB AND
BEARING
1 - SECONDARY SENSOR RETAINING CLIP
2 - METAL SENSOR RETAINING CLIP
3 - HUB AND BEARING
Fig. 9 REMOVAL USING SPECIAL TOOL 8458
1 - THREADED GUIDE PINS 8458-4
2 - HUB AND BEARING
3 - LEAF SPRING PLATE
4 - FORCING SCREW 8458-3
5 - SCREW MOUNT 8458-2
6 - PUSH PLATE 8458-1
RSREAR2-31
HUB / BEARING (Continued)
ProCarManuals.com

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)
ProCarManuals.com

(13) Install the spring washer (Fig. 18) on the stub
shaft of the outer C/V joint.
(14) Install the nut retainer and cotter pin (Fig.
19) on the stub shaft of the outer C/V joint.
(15) Install the wheel speed sensor on the hub/
bearing and adapter. Install the wheel speed sensor
attaching bolt (Fig. 20). Tighten the wheel speed sen-
sor attaching bolt to a torque of 12 N´m (105 in. lbs).
(16) Install wheel and tire.(17) Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in
proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half
specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to
the full specified torque of 135 N´m (100 ft. lbs.).
(18) Remove jackstands or lower hoist.
CAUTION: Before moving vehicle, pump the brake
pedal several times to insure the vehicle has a firm
brake pedal to adequately stop vehicle.
(19) Road test vehicle to ensure proper operation
of the brake system.
JOUNCE BUMPER
DESCRIPTION
There are two jounce bumpers used in the rear
suspension. One mounts to each frame rail above the
rear axle.
OPERATION
The jounce bumper limits suspension travel and
metal-to-metal contact of the rear axle with the
frame under full jounce conditions.
REMOVAL - AWD AND HEAVY DUTY
(1) Using slip-joint pliers grasp the base of the
jounce bumper. Turn the base counterclockwise (Fig.
21).
(2) Remove the jounce bumper from the frame rail.
REMOVAL - FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE
(1) Remove the bolt attaching the jounce bumper
to frame rail (Fig. 22).
(2) Remove the jounce bumper from the frame rail.
Fig. 18 Spring Washer
1 - HUB NUT
2 - STUB SHAFT
3 - ROTOR
4 - SPRING WASHER
Fig. 19 Cotter Pin And Nut Retainer
1 - CALIPER
2 - COTTER PIN
3 - ROTOR
4 - NUT RETAINER
5 - OUTER C/V JOINT
Fig. 20 Wheel Speed Sensor
1 - MOUNTING BOLT
2 - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
RSREAR2-35
HUB / BEARING (Continued)
ProCarManuals.com

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)
ProCarManuals.com

(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. 29).
(6) Using the jack standsslowlylower the rear
axle, permitting the rear springs to hang free.
(7) Loosen and remove the 4 bolts at the front
mount of the rear leaf spring (Fig. 27).
(8) Loosen and remove the 2 bolts and the 2 pin
nuts from the spring shackle for the rear leaf spring
(Fig. 30). Then remove the inner half of the spring
shackle from the outer half hanger of the spring
hanger and the spring.
(9) Remove the rear leaf spring from the outer half
of the spring shackle.
(10) Remove the leaf spring from the vehicle.
(11) Loosen and remove the pivot bolt from the
front mount of the rear leaf spring. (Fig. 31).
INSTALLATION - AWD
CAUTION: Pivot bolt must face inboard to prevent
structural damage during installation of spring.
(1) Install the front eyelet of the rear leaf spring
into the spring mount. 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 front spring
mount (Fig. 27). 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 shackle. Install the inner half of the
rear hanger. Install the pin nuts and bolts on the
rear shackle,but 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 (Fig. 29). Tighten bolts
to 101 N´m (75 ft. lbs.) torque.
(6) Install shock absorber bolts.Do not tighten
at this time.
(7) Lower the vehicle and remove hoist arms and
block of wood from under vehicle.
Fig. 29 Axle Plate Bolts
1 - LEAF SPRING
2 - AXLE PLATE BOLTS (4)
3 - AXLE PLATE
4 - AXLE
Fig. 30 All-Wheel-Drive Rear Suspension
1 - SHACKLE
2 - REAR MOUNT (HANGER)
3 - LEAF SPRING (MULTI-LEAF)
4 - AWD REAR AXLE
Fig. 31 Leaf Spring Front Mount (Typical)
1 - LEAF SPRING
2 - SPRING MOUNT
RSREAR2-39
SPRING - AWD (Continued)
ProCarManuals.com

shock absorber lower mounting bolt. Do not fully
tighten bolt at this time.
(5) Lower the vehicle and remove hoist arms and
block of wood from under vehicle.
(6) Tighten the spring front pivot bolt to 156 N´m
(115 ft. lbs.) torque.
(7) Tighten the lower shock absorber mounting
bolt to 102 N´m (75 ft. lbs.) torque.
SPRING MOUNTS - REAR
REMOVAL
(1) Remove the attaching nuts and bolts from the
leaf spring rear shackle (Fig. 39) and (Fig. 40).(2) Install a jackstand under the side of the axle
having the leaf spring mount removed. Using the
jackstand, support the weight of the axle and leaf
spring.
(3) Remove the lower mounting bolt from the
shock absorber.
(4) Remove the bolts attaching the leaf spring rear
mount to the body of the vehicle (Fig. 41).
(5) Lower the jackstand and the rear of the leaf
spring. Remove the shackle from the leaf spring
bushing.
INSTALLATION
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.
Then tighten the retaining bolts for the inner to
outer half of the spring hanger to the specified
torque. This sequence must be followed to avoid
bending the spring hanger.
(1) For installation, reverse removal procedure. Do
not tighten rear spring shackle nuts fully until vehi-
cle is lowered and the full vehicle weight is applied
to the rear wheels. Tighten rear spring mount bolts
to 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.). Tighten shackle nuts to 61
N´m (45 ft. lbs.).
Fig. 39 Leaf Spring Shackle Nuts (FWD)
1 - SHACKLE PLATE
Fig. 40 All-Wheel-Drive Rear Suspension
1 - SHACKLE
2 - REAR MOUNT (HANGER)
3 - LEAF SPRING (MULTI-LEAF)
4 - AWD REAR AXLE
Fig. 41 Rear Spring Mount
1 - LEAF SPRING MOUNT
RSREAR2-43
SPRING MOUNTS - FRONT (Continued)
ProCarManuals.com

STABILIZER BAR
DESCRIPTION
(1) Front-wheel-drive models use a stabilizer bar
that is mounted behind the rear axle. All-wheel-drive
models use a stabilizer bar that is mounted in front
of the rear axle.
The stabilizer bar interconnects both sides of the
rear axle and attaches to the rear frame rails using 2
rubber isolated link arms.
Both type stabilizer bars have the same basic com-
ponents. Attachment to the rear axle tube, and rear
frame rails is through rubber-isolated bushings.
The 2 rubber isolated links are connected to the
rear frame rails by brackets. These brackets are
bolted to the bottom of the frame rails.
OPERATION
Jounce and rebound movements affecting one
wheel are partially transmitted to the opposite wheel
to reduce body roll.
REMOVAL - AWD
(1) Raise vehicle. See Hoisting in Lubrication and
Maintenance.
(2) Remove the bolts securing the stabilizer bar to
links on each end of the bar.
(3) While holding the stabilizer bar in place,
remove the bolts that attach the stabilizer bar bush-
ing retainers to the rear axle (Fig. 42).
(4) Remove the stabilizer bar from the vehicle.
(5) Remove the bushings from the bar utilizing the
slits in the bushings.
(6) If the links need to be serviced, remove the
upper link arm to bracket bolt. Then remove link
arm from frame rail attaching bracket.
REMOVAL - FWD
(1) Raise vehicle. See Hoisting in Lubrication and
Maintenance.
(2) Remove the bolts securing the stabilizer bar to
links on each side of bar.
(3) While holding the stabilizer bar in place,
remove the bolts that attach the stabilizer bar bush-
ing retainers to the rear axle.
(4) Remove the stabilizer bar from the vehicle.
INSTALLATION - AWD
(1) Install bushings on stabilizer bar utilizing slits
in bushings.
(2) Install the stabilizer bar on the rear axle (Fig.
42).(3) Install the bushing retainers over bushings and
aligning bolt holes.
(4) Install bushing retainers bolts. Do not tighten
at this time.
(5) Install bolts connecting links to stabilizer bar.
Do not tighten at this time.
(6) Lower the vehicle so that the full weight of the
vehicle is on all four tires. With the vehicle at its
curb height, tighten the following bolts to the torques
listed:
²Stabilizer bar bushing retainer-to-axle bracket
bolts Ð 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
²Stabilizer bar-to-link bolts Ð 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
INSTALLATION - FWD
(1) Lift the stabilizer bar onto the rear axle and
install the two retainer mounting bolts. DO NOT
TIGHTEN.
(2) Install the bolts attaching the stabilizer bar
links to the stabilizer bar. DO NOT TIGHTEN.
(3) Lower the vehicle so that the full weight of the
vehicle is on all four tires. With the vehicle at its
curb height, tighten the following bolts to the torques
listed:
²Stabilizer bar bushing retainer-to-axle bracket
bolts Ð 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
²Stabilizer bar-to-link Ð 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
Fig. 42 REAR STABILIZER BAR MOUNTING TO AWD
AXLE
1 - RETAINER
2 - BUSHING
3 - AWD AXLE
4 - STABILIZER BAR
2 - 44 REARRS
ProCarManuals.com

TRACK BAR
DESCRIPTION
On front-wheel-drive applications of this vehicle
that are equipped with single leaf rear springs, a
track bar is used on the rear axle (Fig. 1).
The track bar connects the rear axle to the frame/
body of the vehicle. The track bar is isolated from the
body of the vehicle by an isolator bushing located in
each end of the track bar.
OPERATION
The track bar prevents excessive side-to-side move-
ment of the rear axle. The track bar is used to keep
the location of the axle in the correct position for
optimum handling and control of the vehicle.
REMOVAL
(1) Remove the nut and bolt mounting the track
bar to the rear axle (Fig. 43) .
(2) Remove the nut and bolt attaching the track
bar to the track bar mount on the body of the vehicle.
Remove the track bar from the track bar mount.
INSTALLATION
(1) Install the track bar first into the body mount
for the track bar (Fig. 44) . Install the track bar boltwith the head of the bolt facing toward the rear of
the vehicle (Fig. 45) . Do not tighten.
(2) Install the track bar into its mounting bracket
on the rear axle (Fig. 43) . Install the track bar bolt
with the head of the bolt facing toward the rear of
the vehicle. Do not tighten.
(3) Lower the vehicle to the ground until the full
weight of the vehicle is supported by the wheels.
Tighten both track bar attaching bolts to a torque of
95 N´m (70 ft. lbs.).
Fig. 43 Track Bar Mounting To Axle
1 - LOWER TRACK BAR BOLT INSTALLATION
Fig. 44 Track Bar Installation
1 - TRACK BAR REPLACEMENT
Fig. 45 Track Bar Bolt Installation
1 - TRACK BAR BOLT
RSREAR2-45
ProCarManuals.com