Rear Suspension Cadillac Eldorado X

DESCRIPTION

Independent rear suspension uses coil springs to bear vehicle weight. (Scheme 1) Hub and bearing assembly on knuckle is a sealed unit. If faulty, entire assembly must be replaced. Suspension support is a subframe that supports all other suspension components. (Scheme 2) Entire suspension support can be removed if necessary.

Note. For information on electrical/electronic part of suspension, see SUSPENSION - ELECTRONIC CV ROAD SENSING article in SUSPENSION.

Scheme 1

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Note. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

WHEEL BEARING

Note. Hub and bearing assembly is sealed and non-serviceable. Replace as a complete assembly.

Bearing Looseness Check

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Free brake pads from rotor or remove caliper and wire aside. Reinstall 2 wheel nuts to secure rotor to hub. Mount dial indicator to lower control arm.
2. Position dial indicator plunger onto outer lip of hub (not onto rotor surface). Grasp rotor outer edges and, using a push-pull movement, note dial indicator readings. If looseness exceeds .005" (.13 mm), replace complete hub assembly.

RIDING HEIGHT

Note. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

Removal

1. Remove hub and bearing assembly. See «HUB & BEARING ASSEMBLY»(/cadillac/eldorado/x-1992-2002/remont/suspension-rear/#rear-suspension). Support outer end of lower control arm with a jack to keep coil spring in position. (Scheme 1)
2. Remove bolt securing shock absorber to lower control arm. Disconnect stabilizer bar from lower control arm. Remove bolt securing toe link to knuckle. Discard bolt. Remove bolts securing knuckle to upper and lower control arms. Disconnect wheel speed sensor and remove knuckle.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Lower vehicle to ground before tightening NEW bolt securing toe link to knuckle. Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.

Removal & Installation

Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheels. Remove stabilizer link between stabilizer bar and lower control arm. (Scheme 1) Remove stabilizer bar brackets and bushings from frame. Disconnect and lower the exhaust system at rear as necessary for removal. Remove stabilizer bar. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.

Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove and discard caliper mount bolts, suspend caliper by wire, leaving brake hose connected. Remove rotor. Remove bolts securing hub and bearing assembly to knuckle. (Scheme 1) Remove hub and bearing assembly. To install, reverse removal procedure. Install NEW caliper mount bolts. Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. At suspension support, disconnect shock absorber electrical connector (if equipped). Support outer end of lower control arm with a jack to relieve coil spring tension. (Scheme 1)
2. Remove bolt securing shock absorber to lower control arm. Disconnect electrical connector at top of shock absorber (if equipped). Remove nut, retainer and insulator from top of shock absorber. Compress shock absorber by hand and remove it through upper control arm.

To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.

Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove bolt securing toe link to knuckle. (Scheme 1) Discard bolt. Remove bolt and nut securing toe link to suspension support. Remove toe link. Installation

Install toe link using new bolt at knuckle. DO NOT tighten fasteners. Place a jack under outer end of lower control arm and lift it to simulate normal riding height (lift it until jack bears weight of vehicle). Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Install wheel. Align rear wheels. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Support inner end of lower control arm with transmission jack. (Scheme 1) Position brackets on jack to securely hold control arm. Disconnect stabilizer bar link from lower control arm.
2. Disconnect shock absorber from lower control arm. Remove bolts securing lower control arm to suspension support. Slowly lower transmission jack and remove coil spring.

Note. To ensure proper installation of spring, place spring (without insulator) on a flat surface. Spring will stand up straight when resting on its lower end, but will lean or tip when resting on its upper end.

1. To install, reverse removal procedure. Before tightening bolts securing lower control arm to suspension support, place a jack under outer end of lower control arm and lift it to simulate normal riding height (lift it until jack bears weight of vehicle).
2. Tighten fasteners to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(/cadillac/eldorado/x-1992-2002/remont/suspension-rear/#rear-suspension) table. Install wheel. Align rear wheels. See «SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES»(/cadillac/eldorado/x-1992-2002/remont/wheel-alignment/#wheel-alignment-specifications-procedures) article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

Remove coil spring. See COIL SPRING . Remove bolt securing lower control arm to knuckle, and remove lower control arm. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Align rear wheels. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. If removing left upper control arm, disconnect ELC height sensor link from upper control arm. In any case, remove Road Sensing Suspension (RSS) sensor and bracket (if equipped) from shock tower. Remove bolts securing upper control arm to suspension support and knuckle. (Scheme 1) Slide control arm up over shock tower.

To install, reverse removal procedure. Before tightening bolts securing upper control to suspension support and knuckle, place a jack under outer end of lower control arm and lift it to simulate normal riding height (lift it until jack bears weight of vehicle). Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheels. Remove and discard left brake caliper mount bolts, suspend caliper by wire, leaving brake hose connected. (Scheme 1) Remove any suspension components that will interfere with removal of suspension support. Disconnect parking brake intermediate cable from equalizer, and move cable out of way.
2. Disconnect rear brake crossover pipe and left rear brake hose from bracket. Disconnect rear chassis electrical connector from main harness. Place a jack stand under each end of suspension support. Remove bolts securing suspension support to frame at forward arm bushings. (Scheme 2) Remove bolts securing suspension support to frame at insulators. Slowly lower suspension support, being careful not to damage brake hoses and pipes.

To install, reverse removal procedure. Forward arm bolts must be installed so nut is on right side of arm, with cupped washer installed on left arm only. Install NEW caliper mount bolts. Bleed brakes. See appropriate article in BRAKES. Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.

Scheme 2

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheels. Remove brake hose bracket. Remove Road Sensing Suspension (RSS) sensor from shock tower (if equipped). If replacing right bushing, move exhaust system out of way. In any case, position jack under forward arm of suspension support. (Scheme 1)and (Scheme 2). Remove forward arm bushing bolts.
2. Slowly lower forward arm, but only as far as necessary to replace bushings. Remove bushings using Remover/Installer (J-21474 and J-35739). Install bushings from outboard side of arm and draw inward, using remover/installer, ensuring notches on bushings are at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions. (Scheme 3) To install suspension support, reverse removal procedure. Ensure upper suspension support insulator is in proper position. Tighten fasteners to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(/cadillac/eldorado/x-1992-2002/remont/suspension-rear/#rear-suspension) table.

Scheme 3

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

See also:
• SUSPENSION - ELECTRONIC CV ROAD SENSING
• SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES
• HUB & BEARING ASSEMBLY