Dodge Neon / Neon SRT-4. Manual — part 18

SPECIFICATIONS

REAR SUSPENSION FASTENER TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS

DESCRIPTION

TORQUE

STRUT ASSEMBLY:

Tower Attaching Nuts

34 N·m (300 in. lbs.)

Knuckle Attaching Bolts

88 N·m (65 ft. lbs.)

Strut Assembly Shaft Nut

75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)

Brake Hose Bracket
Mounting Bolt

31 N·m (275 in. lbs.)

KNUCKLE:

Brake Support Plate
Mounting Bolts

75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)

Disc Brake Adapter
Mounting Bolts

75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)

HUB AND BEARING:

To Knuckle Retaining Nut

217 N·m (160 ft. lbs.)

Wheel Mounting Nuts

109-150 N·m (80-110 ft.
lbs.)

LATERAL ARM:

Nut At Crossmember

88 N·m (65 ft. lbs.)

Nut At Knuckle

95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.)

TENSION STRUT:

Rear Nut

95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.)

Frame Rail Bolts

95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.)

Parking Brake Cable Nut

28 N·m (250 in. lbs.)

STABILIZER BAR:

Cushion Retainer Bolts

34 N·m (300 in. lbs.)

Link Bolt Nut

23 N·m (200 in. lbs.)

SPECIAL TOOLS

REAR SUSPENSION

HUB / BEARING

DESCRIPTION

The hub and bearing is mounted on the rear

knuckle’s spindle (Fig. 1). The hub and bearing
adapts the tire and wheel assembly to the knuckle.
It’s bearing allows the tire and wheel assembly to
rotate freely on the vehicle.

All vehicles are equipped with permanently lubri-

cated and sealed for life rear wheel bearings. There
is no periodic lubrication or maintenance recom-
mended for these units.

The only serviceable components of the hub and

bearing are the wheel mounting studs.

If a vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes, the

tone wheels for the rear wheel speed sensors are
pressed onto the hub.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - HUB AND
BEARING (REAR)

The hub and bearing is designed for the life of the

vehicle and requires no type of periodic maintenance
(Fig. 1). The following procedure may be used for
diagnosing the condition of the hub and bearing.

With the wheel, disc brake rotor or brake drum

removed, rotate the hub. Any roughness or resistance
to rotation may indicate dirt intrusion or a failed hub
bearing. If the bearing exhibits any of these condi-
tions during diagnosis, the hub and bearing will
require replacement. The bearing is not serviceable
alone.

Damaged bearing seals and the resulting excessive

grease loss may also require hub and bearing

1 - VEHICLE STRUT TOWER
2 - STRUT ASSEMBLY
3 - TENSION STRUT
4 - LATERAL ARMS
5 - KNUCKLE
6 - HUB AND BEARING
7 - WHEEL ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENT CAM
8 - STRUT

9 - LOWER SPRING ISOLATOR
10 - COIL SPRING
11 - STABILIZER BAR
12 - JOUNCE BUMPER
13 - DUST SHIELD
14 - UPPER MOUNT
15 - STABILIZER BAR LINK
16 - STABILIZER BAR CUSHION AND RETAINER

Socket/Wrench Strut Rod Nut 6864

2 - 34

REAR SUSPENSION

PL/SRT-4

REAR SUSPENSION (Continued)

replacement. Moderate grease weapage from the
bearing is considered normal and should not require
replacement of the wheel bearing.

To diagnose a bent hub, (Refer to 5 - BRAKES/HY-

DRAULIC/MECHANICAL/ROTORS

-

DIAGNOSIS

AND TESTING) for the procedure on measuring hub
runout.

REMOVAL

NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure,
(Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/REAR - WARNING).

(1) Raise the vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION &

MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE).

(2) Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from

the

vehicle

(Refer

to

22

-

TIRES/WHEELS

-

REMOVAL).

(3) If the vehicle is equipped with rear drum

brakes, remove any retainer clips from the wheel
mounting studs, then pull the brake drum off the
hub and bearing.

(4) If the vehicle is equipped with rear disc brakes

(Fig. 16), perform the following:

• Remove the two guide pin bolts securing the

front disc brake caliper to the steering knuckle.

• Remove the disc brake caliper from the knuckle

and brake rotor.

• Hang the caliper out of the way using a wire

hanger or cord. Do not support the caliper by letting
it hang by the hydraulic hose.

• Remove any retainer clips from the wheel

mounting studs, then pull the brake rotor off the hub
and bearing.

(5) Remove the dust cap from the hub and bearing

assembly (Fig. 16).

(6) Remove the retaining nut, then the hub and

bearing from the knuckle’s spindle (Fig. 16).

INSTALLATION

NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure,
(Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/REAR - WARNING).

(1) Install the hub and bearing on the knuckle’s

spindle, then install a new retaining nut (Fig. 16). Do
not reuse the original nut. Tighten the nut to a
torque of 217 N·m (160 ft. lbs.).

(2) Install the dust cap on the end of the hub and

bearing (Fig. 16).

(3) If the vehicle is equipped with rear disc brakes

(Fig. 16), install the brake rotor and disc brake cali-
per on the knuckle. Install the two guide pin bolts
securing the front disc brake caliper to the steering
knuckle. Tighten the guide pin bolts to a torque of 22
N·m (192 in. lbs.).

(4) Install the tire and wheel assembly (Refer to 22

- TIRES/WHEELS - INSTALLATION). Tighten the
wheel mounting nuts in proper sequence until all
nuts are torqued to half specification. Repeat the
tightening sequence, this time, to full specified
torque of 135 N·m (100 ft. lbs.).

(5) Lower the vehicle to ground level.

KNUCKLE

DESCRIPTION

A forged rear knuckle bolts to each rear strut

assembly (Fig. 1). The rear knuckle’s spindle sup-
ports the rear hub and bearing. Together they sup-
port the rear tire and wheel. The movement of the
rear knuckle is controlled laterally using two lateral
arms attached to the knuckle. Fore and aft move-
ment of the knuckle is controlled by using a tension
strut.

Although the knuckle used for the SRT-4 appears

to be the same as the standard knuckle, it is not
interchangeable. The mounting hole for the tension
strut is moved inboard (toward center of vehicle) on
the SRT-4 knuckle. This allows for the difference in
the rear camber setting.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - KNUCKLE (REAR)

The rear knuckle is not a repairable component of

the rear suspension. Upon visual inspection, if it is
determined that the knuckle is cracked, bent or bro-
ken, no attempt is to be made to repair or to
straighten

the

knuckle.

The

knuckle

must

be

replaced if found to be damaged in any way.

REMOVAL - KNUCKLE (REAR)

NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure,
(Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/REAR - WARNING).

(1) Raise the vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION &

MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE)

(2) Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from

the

vehicle

(Refer

to

22

-

TIRES/WHEELS

-

REMOVAL).

(3) If the vehicle is equipped with rear drum

brakes, remove the screw securing the brake hose
bracket to the rear of the strut assembly (Fig. 2).

(4) If the vehicle is equipped with the antilock

brake system (ABS), remove the screw securing the
ABS wheel speed sensor bracket to the rear of the
strut assembly (Fig. 3).

(5) If the vehicle is equipped with rear drum

brakes, remove any retainer clips from the wheel
mounting studs, then pull the brake drum off the
hub and bearing.

PL/SRT-4

REAR SUSPENSION

2 - 35

HUB / BEARING (Continued)

(6) If the vehicle is equipped with rear disc brakes

(Fig. 4), perform the following:

• Remove the two guide pin bolts securing the

front disc brake caliper to the steering knuckle.

• Remove the disc brake caliper from the knuckle

and brake rotor.

• Hang the caliper out of the way using a wire

hanger or cord. Do not support the caliper by letting
it hang by the hydraulic hose.

• Remove any retainer clips from the wheel

mounting studs, then pull the brake rotor off the hub
and bearing.

(7) Remove the dust cap from the hub and bearing

assembly (Fig. 4).

(8) Remove the retaining nut, then the hub and

bearing from the knuckle’s spindle (Fig. 4).

(9) If vehicle is equipped with rear drum brakes,

remove the four bolts attaching the rear brake sup-
port plate to the knuckle (Fig. 5). Next, remove the
brake support plate, brake shoes and wheel cylinder
as an assembly from the rear knuckle, then hang it
out of the way using a wire hanger or cord. Do not
overextend the brake hose when being hung. It is not
necessary to remove the brake hose from the wheel
cylinder when removing the support plate.

(10) If the vehicle is equipped with rear disc

brakes, remove the four bolts mounting the disc
brake adapter to the rear knuckle (Fig. 6). Next,
remove the adapter, rotor shield, parking brake shoes
and parking brake cable as an assembly from the
knuckle, then hang it out of the way using a wire
hanger or cord.

CAUTION: The strut-to-knuckle attaching bolts are
serrated and must not be turned during removal.
Hold the bolts stationary in the steering knuckle
while removing the nuts, then tap the bolts out
using a pin punch.

(11) Loosen , but do not completely remove the two

nuts and bolts attaching the rear knuckle to the
strut (Fig. 7).

(12) Remove the nuts and bolt attaching the rear

knuckle to the lateral arms (Fig. 7).

Fig. 2 Rear of Strut Assembly

1 - BRAKE HOSE BRACKET SCREW
2 - STABILIZER BAR LINK
3 - NUT
4 - STRUT ASSEMBLY

Fig. 3 Rear of Strut Assembly with ABS

1 - ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR BRACKET SCREW
2 - STABILIZER BAR LINK
3 - NUT
4 - STRUT ASSEMBLY

Fig. 4 Rear Disc Brakes

1 - DISC BRAKE CALIPER
2 - DISC BRAKE ADAPTER
3 - GUIDE PIN BOLTS
4 - HUB AND BEARING
5 - BRAKE ROTOR
6 - RETAINER CLIP
7 - DUST CAP
8 - NUT

2 - 36

REAR SUSPENSION

PL/SRT-4

KNUCKLE (Continued)

(13) Disconnect the tension strut from the knuckle.

To do this, first hold the tension strut from turning
by using a wrench on the flat on the tension strut
and then remove the nut from the rear of the tension
strut (Fig. 8). Next, remove the tension strut
retainer, then the rear tension strut bayonet bushing
from the tension strut.

(14) Remove the two nuts and bolts attaching the

rear knuckle to the strut (Fig. 7). Tap the bolts from
the knuckle using a pin punch.

(15) Remove the knuckle.

INSTALLATION - KNUCKLE (REAR)

NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure,
(Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/REAR - WARNING).

NOTE: Although the knuckle used for the SRT-4
appears to be the same as the standard knuckle, it
is not interchangeable.

(1) To install the knuckle on the vehicle, first align

the hole in the lower end of the rear knuckle with
the forward bayonet bushing on the tension strut. Be
sure the stepped area of the bushing is squarely

Fig. 5 Support Plate

1 - BRAKE SHOES
2 - WHEEL CYLINDER
3 - KNUCKLE
4 - BRAKE SUPPORT PLATE MOUNTING BOLTS
5 - BRAKE SUPPORT PLATE

Fig. 6 Disc Brake Adapter Mounting

1 - DISC BRAKE ADAPTER
2 - KNUCKLE
3 - MOUNTING BOLTS

Fig. 7 Rear Knuckle Mounting

1 - STRUT ASSEMBLY
2 - KNUCKLE
3 - LATERAL ARMS
4 - NUT
5 - NUTS

Fig. 8 Tension Strut Nut Removal/Installation

1 - KNUCKLE
2 - TENSION STRUT
3 - FLAT

PL/SRT-4

REAR SUSPENSION

2 - 37

KNUCKLE (Continued)