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Shock Absorbers

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

1970–80 Models
  1. Remove the wheel cover and loosen the lug nuts.
  2. Set the parking brake and block the rear wheels. Raise the rear of the car and support it with jackstands.

    CAUTION
    Be sure that the car is securely supported.

  3. Remove the lug nuts and the rear wheels.
  4. Fully loosen the ride height adjustment bolt on all 1971 ff–1 models and on 1971–72 ff–1 and 1300G station wagons.
  5. Loosen the two upper shock absorber mounting nuts. Remove the washer and the bushing, being sure to note their correct assembly sequence for installation.
  6. Remove the nut on the trailing arm pin (nut and bolt on later models) and remove the shock absorber. Note the installing positions of the washers.

    To install:

  7. Reverse Steps 1 through 5.
  8. Do not fully tighten the upper mounting nuts until the lower shock nut has been installed with the washer and the pin shoulder contacting each other.
  9. Torque the upper nuts to 22–32 ft. lbs. (29–43 Nm). Adjust ride height bolts, if so equipped.
1981–84 Models

Semi-trailing arms mounted to torque tubes, which act on an internal torsion bar, are used. Shock absorbers are mounted to the trailing arm, close to the stub axle.

  1. Raise and support the rear of the vehicle with jackstands.
  2. Set the parking brake and blocking the front wheels. Remove the wheel cover and loosen the lug nuts.
  3. Remove the lug nuts and the rear wheels.
  4. Loosen the upper shock absorber-to-chassis nuts.
  5. Remove the washer and the bushing, being sure to note their correct assembly sequence for installation.
  6. Remove the shock absorber-to-trailing arm pin nut (nut and bolt on later models) and the shock absorber. Note the installation positions of the washers.
  7. To install, reverse Steps 1 through 6.
  8. Torque the shock absorber-to-chassis nuts to 22–32 ft. lbs. (29–43 Nm). Adjust the ride height bolts, if equipped.

    NOTE: DO NOT fully tighten the upper mounting nuts until the lower shock nut has been installed with the washer and the pin shoulder contracting each other.

    Fig. 1: Loosen the upper shock absorber-to-chassis nuts

    Fig. 2: Loosen and remove the lower shock absorber nut and bolt

    Fig. 3: Rear suspension — 4WD vehicles (common)

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