GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Coil Spring Replacement All Wheel Drive

Tools Required

J 41820 Ball Joint/Stud Separator

Removal Procedure

  1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
  2. Remove the rear wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
  3. Inspect the rear ball joints. Refer to Ball Joint Inspection .
  4. Remove the brake caliper and support the brake caliper. Do not disconnect the brake hose. Refer to Rear Brake Caliper Replacement .
  5. Disconnect the tie rod from the knuckle. Refer to Tie Rod Replacement .

  6. Object Number: 629521  Size: SH
  7. Use a utility stand in order to support the lower control arm.
  8. Disconnect the height sensor link from the lower control arm as necessary.

  9. Object Number: 629523  Size: SH
  10. Disconnect the speed sensor harness from the control arm.
  11. Remove the speed sensor connector mounting bracket.
  12. Remove the stabilizer shaft link from the lower control arm. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement .
  13. Disconnect the shock absorber from the lower control arm. Refer to Shock Absorber Replacement .

  14. Object Number: 378908  Size: SH
  15. Use the J 41820 in order to disconnect the ball joint from the knuckle.

  16. Object Number: 629211  Size: SH
  17. Remove the lower ball joint nut.
  18. Use the utility stand in order to lower the lower control arm and relieve the coil spring tension.
  19. Remove the utility stand.

  20. Object Number: 629214  Size: SH

    Notice: Care should be taken to avoid chipping or scratching the spring coating when handling the rear suspension coil spring. Damage to the coating can cause premature failure.

  21. Carefully remove the coil spring (2).

Installation Procedure


    Object Number: 629214  Size: SH
  1. Install the spring jounce bumper to the spring.
  2. Index and install the spring insulator to the spring (2).
  3. Index and install the spring assembly to the control arms (1).

  4. Object Number: 629521  Size: SH
  5. Use the utility stand in order to raise the lower control arm.

  6. Object Number: 629211  Size: SH
  7. Install the lower ball joint to the knuckle.
  8. Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.

  9. Install the lower ball joint nut.
  10. Tighten
    Tighten the lower ball joint nut to 35 N·m (26 lb ft) plus 130 degrees.

  11. Install the stabilizer shaft link to the lower control arm. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement .

  12. Object Number: 629523  Size: SH
  13. Connect the tie rod to the knuckle. Refer to Tie Rod Replacement .
  14. Install the speed sensor connector mounting bracket.
  15. Connect the speed sensor harness to the control arm.
  16. Connect the speed sensor harnesses .
  17. Connect the shock absorber to the lower control arm. Refer to Shock Absorber Replacement .
  18. Connect the height sensor link to the lower control arm as necessary.
  19. Install the brake caliper . Refer to Rear Brake Caliper Replacement .

  20. Object Number: 1715698  Size: SH

    Important: Maintain proper rear park brake cable routing and clearances. Verify the rear park brake cables have a minimum of 10 mm and a maximum of 12 mm of clearance to the wheel drive shafts (1). Maintain this clearance using retention straps or equivalent retention (2).

  21. Install the rear wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
  22. Lower the vehicle.

Coil Spring Replacement FRONT WHEEL DRIVE WITH AXLE

Removal Procedure

Caution: When removing the rear springs, do not use a twin-post type hoist. The swing arch tendency of the rear axle assembly when certain fasteners are removed may cause it to slip from the hoist which may cause personal injury.

  1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
  2. Remove the brake hose bracket screw from the control arm. Refer to Rear Brake Hose Replacement in Hydraulic Brakes.
  3. Use the utility stand in order to support the center of the rear axle.
  4. Remove the shock absorber lower bolts and nuts. Refer to Shock Absorber Replacement .
  5. Remove the rear axle tie rod from the rear axle. Refer to Tie Rod Replacement .

  6. Object Number: 185822  Size: MH

    Notice: Do not suspend the rear axle by the brake hoses. Damage to the brake hoses may result.

  7. Use the utility stand in order to lower the rear axle.
  8. Notice: Care should be taken to avoid chipping or scratching the spring coating when handling the rear suspension coil spring. Damage to the coating can cause premature failure.

  9. Remove the springs (4) and the insulators (5).

Installation Procedure


    Object Number: 185822  Size: MH

    Notice: Care should be taken to avoid chipping or scratching the spring coating when handling the rear suspension coil spring. Damage to the coating can cause premature failure.

    Important: Position the spring so that the paint stripe (6) is facing rearward and centered to the shock absorber.

  1. Install the springs (4) and the insulators (5) to the rear axle.
  2. Use the utility stand in order to raise the rear axle.
  3. Install the rear axle tie rod to the rear axle. Refer to Tie Rod Replacement .
  4. Install the shock absorbers to the rear axle. Refer to Shock Absorber Replacement .
  5. Install the brake hose bracket to the control arm. Refer to Rear Brake Hose Replacement in Hydraulic Brakes.
  6. Remove the utility stand.
  7. Lower the vehicle.

Coil Spring Replacement Front Wheel Drive without Axle

Tools Required

J 41820 Ball Joint/Stud Separator

Removal Procedure

  1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
  2. Remove the rear wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
  3. Inspect the rear ball joints. Refer to Ball Joint Inspection .
  4. Remove the brake caliper and support the brake caliper. Do not disconnect the brake hose. Refer to Rear Brake Caliper Replacement .
  5. Disconnect the tie rod from the knuckle. Refer to Tie Rod Replacement .

  6. Object Number: 629521  Size: SH
  7. Use a utility stand in order to support the lower control arm.
  8. Disconnect the height sensor link from the lower control arm as necessary.

  9. Object Number: 629523  Size: SH
  10. Disconnect the speed sensor harness from the control arm.
  11. Remove the speed sensor connector mounting bracket.
  12. Remove the stabilizer shaft link from the lower control arm. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement .
  13. Disconnect the shock absorber from the lower control arm. Refer to Shock Absorber Replacement .

  14. Object Number: 378908  Size: SH
  15. Use the J 41820 in order to disconnect the ball joint from the knuckle.

  16. Object Number: 629211  Size: SH
  17. Remove the lower ball joint nut.
  18. Use the utility stand in order to lower the lower control arm and relieve the coil spring tension.
  19. Remove the utility stand.

  20. Object Number: 629214  Size: SH

    Notice: Care should be taken to avoid chipping or scratching the spring coating when handling the rear suspension coil spring. Damage to the coating can cause premature failure.

  21. Carefully remove the coil spring (2).

Installation Procedure


    Object Number: 629214  Size: SH
  1. Install the spring jounce bumper to the spring.
  2. Index and install the spring insulator to the spring (2).
  3. Index and install the spring assembly to the control arms (1).

  4. Object Number: 629521  Size: SH
  5. Use the utility stand in order to raise the lower control arm.

  6. Object Number: 629211  Size: SH
  7. Install the lower ball joint to the knuckle.
  8. Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.

  9. Install the lower ball joint nut.
  10. Tighten
    Tighten the lower ball joint nut to 35 N·m (26 lb ft) plus 130 degrees.

  11. Install the stabilizer shaft link to the lower control arm. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement .

  12. Object Number: 629523  Size: SH
  13. Connect the tie rod to the knuckle. Refer to Tie Rod Replacement .
  14. Install the speed sensor connector mounting bracket.
  15. Connect the speed sensor harness to the control arm.
  16. Connect the speed sensor harnesses .
  17. Connect the shock absorber to the lower control arm. Refer to Shock Absorber Replacement .
  18. Connect the height sensor link to the lower control arm as necessary.
  19. Install the brake caliper . Refer to Rear Brake Caliper Replacement .

  20. Object Number: 1715698  Size: SH

    Important: Maintain proper rear park brake cable routing and clearances. Verify the rear park brake cables have a minimum of 10 mm and a maximum of 12 mm of clearance to the wheel drive shafts (1). Maintain this clearance using retention straps or equivalent retention (2).

  21. Install the rear wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
  22. Lower the vehicle.