Rear Suspension CROSSMEMBER: Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Dodge Stratus and 2005 Chrysler Sebring. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist. Refer to STANDARD PROCEDURE .
Remove both rear wheel and tire assemblies from the vehicle.

Remove the shock absorber clevis bracket to rear knuckle attaching bolt and nut on both sides of the vehicle. See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Shock Absorber To Knuckle Attaching

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - ATTACHING BOLT

2 - REAR KNUCKLE

3 - SHOCK ABSORBER CLEVIS BRACKET

4 - LATERAL LINK

Remove muffler support bracket from rear frame rail. See Fig 2.

Fig 2: Muffler Support Bracket

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - REAR FASCIA

2 - MUFFLER SUPPORT BRACKET

3 - ATTACHING BOLTS

4 - MUFFLER

Remove the rear exhaust pipe hanger from the rear suspension crossmember. See Fig 3. Let exhaust system drop down as far as possible.

Fig 3: Exhaust Pipe Hanger At Rear Suspension Crossmember

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - BOLT

2 - REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER

3 - HANGER BRACKET

4 - EXHAUST PIPE

Position a transmission jack and wooden block under the center of the rear suspension crossmember to support and lower crossmember during removal. See Fig 4.

Fig 4: Lowering And Supporting Rear Suspension Crossmember

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - WOODEN BLOCK

2 - TRANSMISSION JACK

3 - REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER

If vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes, remove routing clips for wheel speed sensor cable from brackets on upper control arm. See Fig 5.

Fig 5: Speed Sensor Cable Attachment To Control Arm

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - UPPER CONTROL ARM

2 - SHOCK ABSORBER

3 - SPEED SENSOR CABLE ROUTING CLIPS

4 - BOLT

5 - SPEED SENSOR CABLE

6 - BRAKE FLEX HOSE BRACKET

7 - BOLT

8 - BRAKE DRUM

Remove the nuts and bolts on each side of vehicle attaching the 4 lateral links to the knuckles.
Disconnect the clips attaching line bundle to crossmember. See Fig 6.

Fig 6: Rear Crossmember
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - ATTACHING LINE BUNDLE CLIPS

2 - REAR CROSSMEMBER

Remove the 4 bolts attaching the rear suspension crossmember to rear frame rails. See Fig 7.

Fig 7: Suspension Crossmember Attachment To Frame Rails

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - ATTACHING BOLTS

2 - ATTACHING BOLTS

3 - REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER

Lower the rear suspension crossmember enough to access the upper control arm pivot bar to crossmember attaching bolts. See Fig 8. Remove the 4 bolts attaching the upper control arms to the suspension crossmember. Remove the control arms from the crossmember.

Fig 8: Upper Control Arm Attachment To Crossmember

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - SHOCK ABSORBER

2 - ATTACHING BOLTS

3 - UPPER CONTROL ARM PIVOT BAR

4 - REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER

5 - UPPER CONTROL ARM

Lower the rear suspension crossmember, lateral arms and stabilizer bar as far as possible using the transmission jack. Then with the aid of a helper remove rear suspension crossmember from the vehicle.
NOTE: When installing the lateral links on the crossmember, the lateral link attaching bolts must be installed as listed below. Install the forward lateral link to crossmember bolts so that the head of the bolt will be toward the front of the vehicle when the crossmember is installed. Install the rear lateral link to crossmember bolts so that the threaded end of the bolt will be facing toward the front of the vehicle when the crossmember is installed.
Transfer the lateral links, stabilizer bar mounting brackets and the stabilizer bar and bushings to the replacement crossmember before installing the replacement crossmember in the vehicle. Tighten the stabilizer bar mounting bracket to rear crossmember mounting bolts to 27 N.m (20 ft. lbs.) torque. Tighten the 4 lateral link to crossmember attaching bolts to 95 N.m (80 ft. lbs.) torque.