Chrysler Stratus Convertible. Manual - part 62

pattern to one-half the specified torque. Then repeat
pattern, fully tightening the stud nuts to a torque of
129 N·m (95 ft. lbs.).

(6) Lower the vehicle.

UPPER CONTROL ARM (REAR)

NOTE: The rear control arm, control arm bushings,
and pivot bar are serviced as a complete assembly
on this vehicle. Do not attempt to disassemble the
control arm from the pivot bar to service the rear
control arm bushings. The ball joint and ball joint
seal are to be replaced with the control arm
removed from the vehicle.

REMOVAL

(1) Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a

frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual, for
the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.

(2) Remove both rear wheel and tire assemblies

from the vehicle.

(3) Remove the shock absorber clevis bracket to

rear knuckle attaching bolt and nut (Fig. 21) on both
sides of the vehicle.

(4) Remove muffler support bracket from rear

frame rail (Fig. 22).

(5) Remove the rear exhaust pipe hanger bracket

from the rear suspension crossmember (Fig. 23). Let
exhaust system drop down as far as possible.

(6) On only the side of the vehicle requiring con-

trol arm removal, separate the control arm ball joint
from the rear knuckle using following procedure.

• Remove cotter pin and castle nut attaching

upper control arm ball joint to knuckle.

• Remove ball joint stud from knuckle using

Puller, Special Tool, CT- 1106 (Fig. 24). When using
puller, install castle nut on ball joint stud to protect
threads from damage.

(7) Position a transmission jack and wooden block

under the center of the rear suspension crossmember
to support and lower crossmember during removal
(Fig. 25).

Fig. 20 Hub/Bearing Assembly Retaining Nut

1 – RETAINING NUT
2 – SPINDLE
3 – HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY

Fig. 21 Shock Absorber To Knuckle Attaching

1 – ATTACHING BOLT
2 – REAR KNUCKLE
3 – SHOCK ABSORBER CLEVIS BRACKET
4 – LATERAL LINK

Fig. 22 Muffler Support Bracket

1 – REAR FASCIA
2 – MUFFLER SUPPORT BRACKET
3 – ATTACHING BOLTS
4 – MUFFLER

SUSPENSION

2 - 57

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(8) If vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes,

remove routing clips for wheel speed sensor cable
from brackets on both upper control arms (Fig. 26).

(9) Remove the 4 bolts (Fig. 27) attaching rear sus-

pension crossmember to rear frame rails.

CAUTION: When lowering rear suspension cross-
member do not put a strain on the rear brake flex
hoses.

(10) Lower the rear suspension crossmember far

enough to access the upper control arm pivot bar to
crossmember attaching bolts.

Fig. 23 Exhaust Pipe Hanger At Rear Suspension

Crossmember

1 – BOLT
2 – REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER
3 – HANGER BRACKET
4 – EXHAUST PIPE

Fig. 24 Ball Joint Stud Removal From Knuckle

1 – BALL JOINT
2 – SPECIAL TOOL CT1106
3 – BALL JOINT STUD
4 – KNUCKLE

Fig. 25 Lowering And Supporting Rear Suspension

Crossmember

1 – WOODEN BLOCK
2 – TRANSMISSION JACK
3 – REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER

Fig. 26 Speed Sensor Cable Attachment To Control

Arm

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

2 - 58

SUSPENSION

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

NOTE: One flat washer is used at each upper con-
trol arm pivot bar attaching bolt. The flat washer is
located between the pivot bar and the rear suspen-
sion crossmember. Be sure the washers are not
lost when removing the pivot bar attaching bolts
from the rear suspension crossmember.

(11) Remove the 2 bolts (Fig. 28) attaching the

upper control arm to the rear suspension crossmem-
ber.

(12) Remove the flat washers and the upper con-

trol arm from the rear suspension crossmember.

(13) Transfer any required components to the

replacement control arm.

INSTALLATION

NOTE: One flat washer is used at each upper con-
trol arm pivot bar attaching bolt. The flat washer is
located between the pivot bar and the rear suspen-
sion crossmember. Be sure 1 flat washer is used at
each bolt attaching the pivot bar to the rear suspen-
sion crossmember.

(1) Align the upper control arm pivot bar with the

mounting holes in the rear suspension crossmember.
Install the pivot bar attaching bolts and washers.
Tighten the 2 pivot bar to crossmember attaching
bolts (Fig. 28) to a torque of 108 N·m (80 ft. lbs.).

(2) Using transmission jack, raise rear suspension

crossmember up to the rear frame rails and loosely
install the 4 attaching bolts (Fig. 27).

(3) Position an appropriate size drift into the posi-

tioning hole in each side of rear suspension cross-
member and crossmember locating holes in frame
rails of the vehicle (Fig. 29). This is required to prop-
erly position rear suspension crossmember in the
body of the vehicle. Then tighten the 4 crossmember
to frame rail attaching bolts to 108 N·m (80 ft. lbs.).
Remove drifts from rear suspension crossmember.

(4) Install upper ball joint stud in knuckle. Install

and tighten the ball joint stud castle nut to a torque
of 85 N·m (63 ft. lbs.). Install cotter pin in ball joint
stud.

Fig. 27 Crossmember Attachment To Frame Rails

1 – ATTACHING BOLTS
2 – ATTACHING BOLTS
3 – REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER

Fig. 28 Upper Control Arm Attachment To

Crossmember

1 – SHOCK ABSORBER
2 – ATTACHING BOLTS
3 – UPPER CONTROL ARM PIVOT BAR
4 – REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER
5 – UPPER CONTROL ARM

Fig. 29 Locating Rear Suspension Crossmember In

Vehicle

1 – POSITIONING HOLE
2 – FRAME RAIL
3 – REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER
4 – DRIFT
5 – SHOCK ABSORBER
6 – UPPER CONTROL ARM

SUSPENSION

2 - 59

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(5) Remove transmission jack supporting rear sus-

pension crossmember.

(6) Install muffler support bracket on rear frame

rail (Fig. 22). Install rear exhaust pipe hanger on
rear suspension crossmember (Fig. 23).

(7) Install the wheel speed sensor cable routing

clip on upper control arm mounting bracket. Install
and securely tighten attaching bolt (Fig. 26).

(8) Install the shock absorber clevis brackets (Fig.

21) on the rear knuckles. Tighten the shock absorber
mounting bolts to a torque of 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.).

(9) Install wheel and tire assembly on vehicle.

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.).

(10) Lower vehicle to the ground.
(11) Check and reset if required, rear wheel Cam-

ber and Toe to preferred specifications.

LATERAL LINKS

The rear suspension lateral links (Fig. 30) are only

serviced as complete assemblies. The isolator bush-
ings used in the lateral links are not serviced as sep-
arate components.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to straighten or repair a
lateral link. Do not apply heat to the lateral link
adjusting screws or to the jam nuts, when loosen-
ing or adjusting the lateral links.

FORWARD LATERAL LINK

REMOVE

(1) Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a

frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual, for

the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.

(2) Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from

the side of the vehicle requiring lateral link removal.

(3) Remove the rear stabilizer bar attaching link

from the forward lateral link (Fig. 31).

(4) Remove the nut, bolt and washer (Fig. 31)

attaching the forward lateral link to the knuckle.

(5) Remove the nut and bolt attaching the lateral

link to the rear suspension crossmember (Fig. 32).

(6) Remove the forward lateral link from the vehi-

cle.

INSTALL

(1) Install the lateral link and the attaching nut

and bolt at rear suspension crossmember (Fig. 32).
The forward lateral link is to be installed with
the cup in cast portion facing down and toward
rear knuckle (Fig. 31).

(2) Install the lateral link and attaching nut, bolt

and washer at rear knuckle (Fig. 31).

(3) Torque both lateral link attaching bolts to 108

N·m (80 ft. lbs.).

(4) Install the rear stabilizer bar attaching link,

isolator bushings and attaching nut on the forward
lateral link (Fig. 31). Tighten the attaching nut to a
torque of 35 N·m (26 ft. lbs.).

(5) Install wheel and tire assembly on vehicle.

Fig. 30 Rear Suspension Lateral Links

1 – FORWARD LATERAL LINK
2 – REAR LATERAL LINK

Fig. 31 Stabilizer Bar To Lateral Link Attachment

1 – WASHER
2 – BOLT AND WASHER
3 – KNUCKLE
4 – STABILIZER BAR
5 – FORWARD LATERAL LINK
6 – STABILIZER BAR ATTACHING LINK

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SUSPENSION

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

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