Chrysler Stratus Convertible. Manual — part 64

DISASSEMBLY

(1) If both shocks are being serviced at the same

time, mark the coil spring and shock assembly
according to which side of the vehicle the shock was
removed from, and which shock the coil spring was
removed from.

(2) Position the shock assembly in the strut coil

spring

compressor

following

the

manufacturer’s

instructions. Set the lower hooks and install the
clamp on the lower end of the coil spring, so the
shock is held in place once the shock shaft nut is
removed (Fig. 43). Lower the upper hooks and posi-
tion them on the coil spring near the top (Fig. 44).

WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE THE SHOCK ROD
NUT BEFORE THE COIL SPRING IS COMPRESSED.
THE COIL SPRING IS HELD UNDER PRESSURE
AND MUST BE COMPRESSED, REMOVING SPRING
TENSION FROM THE UPPER MOUNTING BRACKET
BEFORE THE ROD NUT IS REMOVED.

(3) Compress the coil spring until all coil spring

tension is removed from the upper mounting bracket.

(4) Hold the shock rod from rotating using special

socket Snap-On A136, or an equivalent, and remove
the retainer nut (Fig. 45).

(5) Remove the upper shock rod bushing retainer

washer from the shock rod.

(6) Remove the upper shock mount and the rod

isolator bushings as an assembly from the rod of the
shock absorber.

(7) Remove the upper coil spring isolator from the

top of the coil spring (Fig. 46).

(8) Remove the lower shock rod bushing washer

from the top of the dust boot and shock absorber rod
(Fig. 46).

(9) Remove the dust shield and cup as an assem-

bly from the shock absorber rod by pulling both
straight up and off the shock rod (Fig. 46).

(10) Remove the clamp from the bottom of the coil

spring and remove the shock absorber, lower spring

Fig. 43 Lower Hooks And Clamp

1 – LOWER HOOKS
2 – STRUT SPRING COMPRESSOR
3 – CLAMP
4 – COIL SPRING

Fig. 44 Upper Hooks Positioned

1 – COIL SPRING
2 – SPRING COMPRESSOR
3 – UPPER HOOKS
4 – UPPER MOUNT

Fig. 45 Retainer Nut Removal/Installation

1 – SHOCK ABSORBER SOCKET SNAP-ON A136
2 – CROW FOOT

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SUSPENSION

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DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

isolator, jounce bumper, and collar out through the
bottom of the coil spring.

(11) Remove the jounce bumper and the collar

(Fig. 47) from the rod of the shock absorber.

(12) Remove the lower coil spring isolator (Fig. 48)

from the lower spring seat on the shock absorber.

(13) Remove the upper shock rod isolator bushing

and sleeve from the upper shock mount (Fig. 49).

(14) Remove the lower shock rod isolator bushing

from the upper shock mount (Fig. 50).

(15) Inspect the shock assembly components for

the following and replace as necessary:

• Inspect the shock for any condition of rod bind-

ing over the full stroke of the shaft.

• Check the upper shock mount for cracks and dis-

tortion, and locating studs for any sign of damage.

• Check the upper and lower shock rod isolator

bushings for severe deterioration of the rubber.

• Check the upper and lower coil spring isolators

for severe deterioration of the rubber.

• Inspect the dust shield for rips and deteriora-

tion.

• Inspect the jounce bumper for cracks and signs

of deterioration.

• Inspect the coil spring for any sign of damage to

the coating.

Fig. 46 Upper Coil Spring Isolator, Washer And Dust

Boot

1 – WASHER
2 – CUP
3 – DUST SHIELD
4 – UPPER COIL SPRING ISOLATOR

Fig. 47 Shock Absorber Jounce Bumper And Collar

1 – COLLAR
2 – SHOCK ABSORBER ROD
3 – SHOCK ABSORBER
4 – JOUNCE BUMPER

Fig. 48 Lower Coil Spring Isolator

1 – SHOCK ABSORBER
2 – COIL SPRING ISOLATOR

Fig. 49 Shock Rod Upper Isolator Bushing

1 – UPPER BUSHING
2 – REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT
3 – SLEEVE

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SUSPENSION

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DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(16) If the coil spring needs to be serviced, release

the tension from the coil spring by backing off the
compressor drive fully. Push back the compressor
upper hooks and remove the coil spring from the
compressor.

ASSEMBLY

(1) If the coil spring has been removed from the

compressor, place the lower end (smaller diameter) of
the coil spring in the spring compressor supported by
the lower hooks at the same position as in disassem-
bly (Fig. 43), following the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.

(2) Position the upper hooks of the spring compres-

sor on the coil spring near the top as in disassembly
(Fig. 44).

(3) Compress the coil spring enough to reinstall

the shock absorber and upper mount.

(4) Install the lower shock rod isolator bushing in

the bottom of the upper shock mount (Fig. 50). The
smaller end is to be pointed away form the mount.

(5) Install the upper shock rod isolator bushing

and sleeve in the upper shock mount until seated
into lower bushing (Fig. 49). The smaller end of the
bushing is to be pointed away from the mount when
installed.

(6) Install the lower coil spring isolator (Fig. 48)

on the lower spring seat of the shock absorber.

(7) Install the jounce bumper as shown on the rod

of the shock absorber (Fig. 51).

(8) Install the collar on the rod of the shock

absorber assembly with the undercut side of sleeve
facing down (Fig. 52). Push the collar down until
seated on the step of the shock absorber rod.

(9) Install the shock through the bottom of the coil

spring until the lower spring seat contacts the lower

end of the coil spring. Install the clamp temporarily
securing the shock absorber to the coil spring (Fig.
44).

(10) Install dust shield and cup over the jounce

bumper and onto the rod of the shock absorber.

(11) Install the lower shock rod bushing retainer

washer on the shock absorber rod.

(12) Install the upper spring isolator on the top of

the coil spring. The bottom of the isolator is con-
toured to fit around the inside diameter of the coil
spring (Fig. 46).

(13) Install the upper shock mount bracket and

rod isolator bushings as an assembly on the top of
the rod of the shock absorber (Fig. 44).

Fig. 50 Shock Rod Lower Isolator Bushing

1 – LOWER BUSHING
2 – REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT

Fig. 51 Jounce Bumper Installed

1 – SHOCK ABSORBER ROD
2 – SHOCK ABSORBER JOUNCE BUMPER
3 – SHOCK ABSORBER

Fig. 52 Installing Collar On Shock Absorber Rod

1 – COLLAR
2 – UNDERCUT
3 – SHOCK ABSORBER ROD STEP

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SUSPENSION

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DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(14) Install the upper shock rod bushing retainer

washer. Make sure the concave side is facing up.

(15) Install the shock assembly retainer nut. Hold

the shock rod from rotating using special socket
Snap-On A136, or an equivalent, and tighten the
retainer nut using a crow foot wrench (on the end of
a torque wrench and extension) to a torque of 55 N·m
(40 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 45).

(16) Position the upper shock mount so it’s studs

are in line with the bolt hole in the shock absorber
lower bracket (Fig. 44).

(17) 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, isolator,
and coil spring align properly. Remove the clamp
from the lower end of the coil spring and shock. Push
back the spring compressor upper and lower hooks,
then remove the shock assembly from the spring
compressor.

(18) Install shock assembly on the vehicle. Refer to

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION in this section for
the required procedure.

BALL JOINT (REAR UPPER)

The rear upper control arm must be removed from

the vehicle for replacement of the ball joint. Refer to
CONTROL ARM (REAR UPPER) in the REMOVAL
AND INSTALLATION section of this service manual
group for the required procedure.

REMOVAL

(1) Using a screw driver or other suitable tool, pry

seal boot up and off of ball joint assembly (Fig. 53).

(2) Position Receiving Cup, Special Tool 6758 to

support control arm when removing ball joint assem-
bly (Fig. 54). Install Remover/Installer, Special Tool
6804 on top of ball joint assembly (Fig. 54).

(3) Using an arbor press, press the ball joint

assembly out of the control arm.

INSTALLATION

(1) By hand, position ball joint assembly into ball

joint bore of control arm. Be sure ball joint assembly
is not cocked in the bore of the control arm, this will
cause binding of the ball joint assembly, when being
pressed into lower control arm.

(2) Position assembly in an arbor press with

Receiving Cup, Special Tool 6758 supporting lower
control arm (Fig. 55). Then install Remover/Installer,
Special Tool 6804 on the top of the ball joint assem-
bly (Fig. 55).

CAUTION: When installing the ball joint in the upper
control arm, do not press the ball joint into the con-
trol arm all the way. The lip on the ball joint must
not touch the surface of the control arm. Refer to
Step 3 below when installing the ball joint.

(3) Carefully align all pieces. Using the arbor

press, press the ball joint into the control arm until a
gap of 3mm (1/8 inch) is between lip on ball joint and
surface of lower control arm.

(4) Install a NEW ball joint assembly sealing boot

on ball joint assembly.

Fig. 53 Ball Joint Seal Boot Removal

1 – UPPER CONTROL ARM
2 – BALL JOINT SEAL
3 – SCREWDRIVER
4 – BALL JOINT

Fig. 54 Removing Ball Joint From Upper Control

Arm

1 – SPECIAL TOOL 6804
2 – CONTROL ARM
3 – SPECIAL TOOL 6758
4 – BALL JOINT

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SUSPENSION

JX

DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)