2001 DODGE TOWN AND COUNTRY torque

reached. This will properly space bushing on the
stem in relation to the flange.
(6) Back off the forcing screw and remove tool.
(7) Install lower control arm on vehicle. (Refer to 2
- SUSPENSION/FRONT/LOWER CONTROL ARM -
INSTALLATION)
INSTALLATION - LOWER CONTROL ARM
(1) Position lower control arm assembly into front
suspension cradle crossmember guiding bushings into
mounting position (Fig. 23).(2) Install NEW pivot bolt attaching front bushing
of lower control arm to front suspension cradle cross-
member (Fig. 30).Do not tighten or torque pivot
bolt at this time.
(3) Install the reinforcement on the front suspen-
sion cradle crossmember and install the bolts attach-
ing the reinforcement to the cradle crossmember
(Fig. 23). Tighten the M-14 size bolts to a torque of
163 N´m (120 ft. lbs.). Tighten the M-12 size bolts to
a torque of 108 N´m (80 ft. lbs.).
(4) Install the lower control arm rear bushing
retainer bolts through reinforcement on each side of
each lower control arm rear bushing. Tighten bolts to
a torque of 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.).
(5) Install the two bolts and bushings attaching
the reinforcement and rear of cradle crossmember to
body of vehicle (Fig. 23). Tighten bolts to a torque of
163 N´m (120 ft. lbs.).
(6) Install the power steering cooler (Fig. 22).
Tighten bolts to a torque of 11 N´m (100 in. lbs.).
(7) Reinstall steering knuckle, brake rotor and cal-
iper. (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/KNUCKLE
- INSTALLATION)
CAUTION: When locating jack stands under lower
control arms, do not place the jack stands under
the ball joints (Fig. 31).
(8) Position jack stands under the lower control
arms as close to the ball joints as possible (Fig. 31).
Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands until the jack
stands are supporting the total weight of the vehicle.
(9) Tighten front lower control arm pivot bolt to a
torque of 183 N´m (135 ft. lbs.).
Fig. 28 HYDRO-BUSHING INSTALLATION
1 - LOWER CONTROL ARM FLANGE
2 - INSTALLER CUP (8460-2)
3 - BRIDGE (8460-1)
4 - HYDRO-BUSHING
Fig. 29 SPACER PLATE POSITIONED
1 - SPACER PLATE (8460-4)
2 - LOWER CONTROL ARM FLANGE
3 - BRIDGE (8460-1)
4 - INSTALLER CUP (8460-2)
5 - HYDRO-BUSHING
Fig. 30 Lower Control Arm Bushing Pivot Bolt
Correctly Installed
1 - PIVOT BOLT
2 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
3 - FRONT SUSPENSION CRADLE CROSSMEMBER
RSFRONT2-15
LOWER CONTROL ARM (Continued)
ProCarManuals.com

(10) Install the wheel and tire assembly. Install
and tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper
sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specifica-
tion. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full
specified torque of 135 N´m (100 ft. lbs.).
(11) Raise vehicle, remove jack stands and lower
vehicle to the ground.
(12) Perform front wheel alignment as necessary.
(Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/WHEEL ALIGNMENT -
STANDARD PROCEDURE)
STABILIZER BAR
DESCRIPTION
The stabilizer bar interconnects both front struts of
the vehicle and is attached to the front crossmember
(Fig. 1) .
Attachment of the stabilizer bar to the front cross-
member is through 2 rubber-isolator cushion bush-
ings and retainers. A double ball jointed stabilizer
bar link is used to attach each end of the stabilizer
bar to the front strut assemblies. All parts of the sta-
bilizer bar are replaceable as individual components.
The stabilizer bar to front crossmember cushion
bushings are split for easy removal and installation.
The split in the bushings should be positioned toward
the rear of the vehicle, with the square corner facing
down, when the stabilizer bar is installed.
OPERATION
Jounce and rebound movements affecting one
wheel are partially transmitted to the opposite wheel
of the vehicle through the stabilizer bar. This helpsto minimize the body roll of the vehicle during sus-
pension movement.
Connecting the stabilizer bar links to the strut
assemblies helps reduce the fore-and-aft rate of the
stabilizer bar from the rest of the front suspension.
REMOVAL - STABILIZER BAR
(1) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in Lubrication
and Maintenance.
(2) Remove the bolts fastening the power steering
cooler to the front suspension cradle crossmember
reinforcement (Fig. 32).
(3) Remove the lower control arm rear bushing
retainer bolts located on each side of each lower con-
trol arm rear bushing.
NOTE: The bolts fastening the cradle crossmember
reinforcement are of two different thread sizes. Note
the location of the various sizes.
(4) Remove the bolts attaching the cradle cross-
member reinforcement to the front suspension cradle
crossmember (Fig. 33). Remove the 2 bolts fastening
the reinforcement and rear of cradle crossmember to
the body of the vehicle. Remove the reinforcement.
CAUTION: When removing the nut from the stud of
the stabilizer bar link, do not allow the stud to
rotate in it's socket. Hold the stud from rotating by
placing an open-end wrench on the flat machined
into the stud (Fig. 34).
Fig. 31 Jack Stands Supporting Vehicle Weight
1 - LOWER CONTROL ARMS
2 - BALL JOINT
3 - JACK STANDS
4 - BALL JOINT
Fig. 32 POWER STEERING COOLER
1 - CRADLE CROSSMEMBER REINFORCEMENT
2 - POWER STEERING COOLER
2 - 16 FRONTRS
LOWER CONTROL ARM (Continued)
ProCarManuals.com

(1) If the stabilizer bar to front suspension cradle
bushings require replacement at time of inspection,
install new bushings before installing stabilizer bar.
Bushings are replaced by opening slit on bushings
and peeling them off stabilizer bar. Install new bush-
ings on stabilizer bar by spreading bushing at slit
and forcing them on the stabilizer bar.Bushings
must be installed on stabilizer bar so slit in
bushing will be facing toward the rear of vehi-
cle with the square corner toward the ground,
when the stabilizer bar is installed on the vehi-
cle (Fig. 36).
(2) Position stabilizer bar into front suspension
cradle so stabilizer bar bushings are aligned with
depressions in cradle. Install stabilizer bar bushing
retainers onto crossmember aligning raised bead on
retainer with cutouts in bushings (Fig. 37).Do not
tighten Stabilizer bar bushing retainers bolts at
this time.
(3) Check position of the stabilizer bar in the front
suspension cradle. The center of the curved section of
the stabilizer bar must be aligned with the raised
line in the center of the front suspension cradle (Fig.
38).
(4) Install the stabilizer bar link mounting stud
through the hole in each end of the stabilizer bar
(Fig. 34).
CAUTION: When installing the nut on the mounting
stud of the stabilizer bar link, do not allow the stud
to rotate in it's socket. Hold the stud from rotating
by placing an open-end wrench on the flat
machined into the stud (Fig. 34).(5) Hand-thread the nut on the end of each stabi-
lizer bar link stud. Hold the studs from turning by
placing an open-end wrench on the flat machined
into the link's mounting stud, then tighten each nut
while holding the wrench in place (Fig. 34). Tighten
each nut to a torque of 88 N´m (65 ft. lbs.).
Fig. 36 Correctly Installed Stabilizer Bar To Cradle
Bushing
1 - SWAY BAR ISOLATOR BUSHING
2 - SLIT IN SWAY BAR BUSHING
3-SWAYBAR
Fig. 37 Stabilizer Bar Bushing Retainer Installation
1-SWAYBAR
2 - SWAY BAR BUSHING
3 - BUSHING SPLIT
4 - FRONT SUSPENSION CRADLE
5 - BUSHING CUT-OUT
6 - BUSHING RETAINER
7 - RAISED BEAD
Fig. 38 Stabilizer Bar Correctly Positioned In Cradle
1 - RAISED BEAD
2-SWAYBAR
3 - WHEN INSTALLING SWAY BAR THE RAISED BEAD ON THE
SUSPENSION CRADLE MUST BE IN THE CENTER OF RADIUS
IN SWAY BAR
4 - FRONT SUSPENSION CRADLE
2 - 18 FRONTRS
STABILIZER BAR (Continued)
ProCarManuals.com

(6) Tighten the stabilizer bar bushing retainer to
cradle attaching bolts (Fig. 35) to 68 N´m (50 ft. lbs.)
torque.
(7) Install the reinforcement on the front suspen-
sion cradle crossmember and install the bolts attach-
ing the reinforcement to the cradle crossmember
(Fig. 33). Tighten the M-14 size bolts to a torque of
163 N´m (120 ft. lbs.). Tighten the M-12 size bolts to
a torque of 108 N´m (80 ft. lbs.).
(8) Install the lower control arm rear bushing
retainer bolts through reinforcement on each side of
each lower control arm rear bushing. Tighten bolts to
a torque of 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.).
(9) Install the two bolts and bushings attaching
the reinforcement and rear of cradle crossmember to
body of vehicle (Fig. 33). Tighten bolts to a torque of
163 N´m (120 ft. lbs.).
(10) Install the power steering cooler (Fig. 32).
Tighten bolts to a torque of 11 N´m (100 in. lbs.).
(11) Lower the vehicle.STRUT
DESCRIPTION - STRUT ASSEMBLY
A Macpherson type strut assembly is used in place
of a conventional front suspension's upper control
arm and upper ball joint. The bottom of the strut
mounts directly to the steering knuckle using two
bolts and nuts going through the strut clevis bracket
and steering knuckle. The top of the strut mounts
directly to the strut tower of the vehicle using the
threaded studs on the strut assemblies upper mount.
The strut assembly includes the components listed
in the figure (Fig. 39).
Each component is serviced by removing the strut
assembly from the vehicle and disassembling it.
The coil springs are side-oriented. Springs on the
left side of the vehicle have a left-hand wind top-to-
bottom while springs on the right side have a right-
hand wind top-to-bottom. This helps provide better
vehicle stability during jounce and rebound maneu-
vers of the front suspension. Left and right springs
must not be interchanged. Coil springs are rated sep-
Fig. 39 STRUT ASSEMBLY
1 - NUT
2 - UPPER MOUNT
3 - PIVOT BEARING
4 - UPPER SPRING SEAT
5 - UPPER SPRING ISOLATOR
6 - COIL SPRING7 - DUST SHIELD
8 - JOUNCE BUMPER
9 - LOWER SPRING ISOLATOR
10 - STRUT (DAMPER)
RSFRONT2-19
STABILIZER BAR (Continued)
ProCarManuals.com

(7) Install the jounce bumper on the strut shaft
(Fig. 39). The jounce bumper is to be installed with
the small end pointing downward.
(8) Install the dust shield on the strut. Collapse
and stretch the dust shield down over the top of the
jounce bumper until the dust shield snaps into the
slot on the jounce bumper. The jounce bumper will be
at the top of the inner dust boot. Return the dust
shield to its fully extended length.
(9) Install the strut through the bottom of the coil
spring until the lower spring seat contacts the lower
end of the coil spring. The clevis bracket on the strut
should point straight outward away from the com-
pressor (to the 6 o'clock position). This position
should be within 5É of the lower end tip of the coil
spring (Fig. 50). If necessary, reposition the strut or
coil spring in the compressor so both of these line up
straight outward away from the compressor (to the 6
o'clock position). Install the clamp to hold the strut
and coil together.
(10) Install the strut mount over the strut shaft
and onto the top of the pivot bearing and upper seat
as shown (Fig. 45). Loosely install the retaining nut
on the strut shaft.
(11) Install Strut Nut Socket (on the end of a
torque wrench), Special Tool 6864, on the strut shaft
retaining nut (Fig. 46). Next, install a 10 mm socket
on the hex on the end of the strut shaft. While hold-
ing the strut shaft from turning, tighten the strut
shaft retaining nut to a torque of 100 N´m (75 ft.
lbs.).NOTE: Before releasing the tension the compressor
has on the spring, using the following figure as ref-
erence (Fig. 51), make sure the upper spring seat,
coil spring and strut clevis bracket are all lined up
properly (within 5É of one another).
(12) Slowly release the tension from the coil spring
by backing off the compressor drive fully. As the ten-
sion is relieved, make sure the upper mount, pivot
bearing and upper seat are align properly. Remove
the clamp from the lower end of the coil spring and
strut. Push back the spring compressor upper and
lower hooks, then remove the strut assembly from
the spring compressor.
(13) Install strut assembly on the vehicle. (Refer to
2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/STRUT - INSTALLA-
TION)
INSTALLATION - STRUT ASSEMBLY
CAUTION: Front strut coil springs are side-oriented.
When installing a strut assembly, make sure the
strut being installed has the correct coil spring for
that side of the vehicle. Springs on the left side of
the vehicle have a left-hand wind top-to-bottom
while springs on the right side have a right-hand
wind top-to-bottom (Fig. 50). Do not interchange the
two sides.
Fig. 50 COIL SPRING POSITIONING
1 - FRONT OF VEHICLE
2 - END OF RIGHT COIL SPRING AT STRUT LOWER SEAT
3 - LOWER SEATS OF STRUTS
4 - STRUT CLEVIS BRACKETS
5 - END OF LEFT COIL SPRING AT STRUT LOWER SEAT
Fig. 51 COMPONENTS LINED UP
1 - IMAGINARY VERTICAL LINE
2 - CLEVIS BRACKET
3 - END OF COIL SPRING
4 - NOTCH IN UPPER SPRING SEAT
2 - 24 FRONTRS
STRUT (Continued)
ProCarManuals.com

(1) Install strut assembly into strut tower, aligning
and installing the 3 studs on the upper strut mount
into the holes in shock tower. Install the 3 upper
strut mount attaching nut/washer assemblies (Fig.
44). Then using a crow foot. tighten the 3 attaching
nuts to a torque of 28 N´m (250 in. lbs.).
CAUTION: The steering knuckle to strut assembly
attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned
during installation. Install nuts while holding bolts
stationary in the steering knuckles.
NOTE: The strut clevis-to-steering knuckle bolts are
installed differently on each side of the vehicle. Left
hand side bolts are to be installed from vehicle rear
to front. Right side bolts are to be installed from
vehicle front to rear.
(2) Align strut assembly with steering knuckle.
Position arm of steering knuckle into strut assembly
clevis bracket. Align the strut assembly clevis
bracket mounting holes with the steering knuckle
mounting holes. Install the 2 strut assembly to steer-
ing knuckle attaching bolts (Fig. 43).If strut assem-
bly is attached to steering knuckle using a cam
bolt, the cam bolt must be installed in the lower
slotted hole on strut clevis bracket.Tighten the
strut clevis-to-steering knuckle attaching bolts to atorque of 81 N´m (60 ft. lbs.) plus an additional 1/4
(90É) turn after specified torque is met.
(3) Install the stabilizer bar link mounting stud
through the bracket on the strut assembly (Fig. 42).
CAUTION: When installing the nut on the mounting
stud of the stabilizer bar link, do not allow the stud
to rotate in it's socket. Hold the stud from rotating
by placing an open-end wrench on the flat
machined into the stud (Fig. 42).
(4) Hand thread the nut on the end of the stabi-
lizer bar link stud. Hold the stud from turning by
placing an open-end wrench on the flat machined
into the link's mounting stud, then tighten the nut
while holding the wrench in place (Fig. 42). Tighten
the nut to a torque of 88 N´m (65 ft. lbs.).
(5) Install the hydraulic brake hose and speed sen-
sor cable routing brackets on the strut assembly
brackets (Fig. 41). Tighten the routing bracket
attaching bolts to a torque of 13 N´m (10 ft. lbs.).
(6) Install the wheel/tire assembly on the vehicle.
(7) Install and 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.).
RSFRONT2-25
STRUT (Continued)
ProCarManuals.com

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)
ProCarManuals.com

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)
ProCarManuals.com