Dodge D150 1990 Service Manual page 771

1 7 - 4 SPRINGS/SHOCK ABSORBERS
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SHOCK ABSORBER REMOVAL/INSTALLATION
SERVICE INFORMATION
The f r o n t and r e a r shock absorbers cannot be re-
filled o r disassembled. W h e n service is required, re-
move t h e shock absorber and i n s t a l l a replacement
u n i t .
A shock absorber should be replaced only i f i t has
lost i t s resistance t o s p r i n g movement (i.e., does not
dampen) or i f there i s a f l u i d leak. E x i s t e n c e of a
thin f l u i d c o a t i n g o n the outside of the s h o c k a b -
s o r b e r c y l i n d e r i s n o t c a u s e t o r e p l a c e t h e s h o c k
a b s o r b e r .
FRONT/2WD VEHICLES-REMOVAL
(1) Raise t h e vehicle. Position supports a t t h e ex-
treme f r o n t ends o f t h e frame r a i l s and t h e n lower
the f r o n t of the vehicle onto t h e supports.
(2) T u r n t h e wheels i n t h e direction necessary to
provide the best possible access t o the shock absorber
upper bracket.
(3) Remove t h e shock absorber stud (upper) n u t
and the upper r e t a i n e r (Fig. 4).
FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER J9017-29
Fig. 4 Front Shock Absorber & Coil Spring (2WD)
(4) Remove the t w o lower r e t a i n i n g bolts, guide the
shock absorber d o w n t h r o u g h t h e coil s p r i n g and re-
move i t f r o m t h e vehicle t h r o u g h the lower suspen-
sion a r m (Fig. 4).
FRONT/2WD VEHICLES-INSTALLATION
(1) E x t e n d t h e shock absorber completely, i n s t a l l
the lower retainer o n t h e shock absorber stud (Fig.
4). Inspect the b u s h i n g a n d t h e sleeve t o ensure they
are i n proper position a n d n o t excessively w o r n or
broken (Fig. 4).
(2) C a r e f u l l y guide the shock absorber u p t h r o u g h
the lower suspension a r m and the coil spring, and i n -
sert t h e stud t h r o u g h the bushing (Fig. 4).
(3) I n s t a l l the upper retainer and the n u t (Fig. 4).
T i g h t e n t h e n u t w i t h 34 N»m (25 ft-lbs) torque.
(4) A l i g n t h e lower end o f the shock absorber w i t h
the holes i n t h e lower suspension a r m and i n s t a l l t h e
r e t a i n i n g bolts. T i g h t e n the bolts " f i n g e r - t i g h t " .
(5) Raise t h e vehicle, remove t h e supports a n d
lower t h e vehicle t o t h e surface. T i g h t e n t h e r e t a i n -
i n g bolts w i t h 23 N n n (17 ft-lbs/200 in-lbs) torque.
FRONT/4WD VEHICLES-REMOVAL
(1) Raise t h e vehicle. Position supports a t t h e ex-
treme f r o n t ends o f the frame r a i l s and t h e n lower
the f r o n t o f the vehicle onto the supports.
(2) T u r n t h e wheels i n t h e direction necessary t o
provide t h e best possible access to the shock absorber
upper bracket (Fig. 5).
(3) Remove the t w o nuts and bolts t h a t attach the
shock absorber upper bracket to the frame r a i l (Fig.
5). R e m o v e t h e b r a c k e t l o w e r n u t a n d bolt, r e -
move t h e u p p e r n u t , r o t a t e t h e b r a c k e t u n t i l
there i s sufficient c l e a r a n c e b e t w e e n t h e s h o c k
a b s o r b e r a n d the u p p e r bolt for r e m o v a l , a n d r e -
move t h e u p p e r bolt.
(4) Remove the shock absorber lower a t t a c h i n g n u t
and t h e outer r e t a i n e r . Remove t h e shock absorber
and t h e i n n e r r e t a i n e r from the stud (Fig. 5).
(5) A f t e r r e m o v i n g the shock absorber w i t h the up-
per bracket f r o m t h e vehicle, remove t h e bracket
from the shock absorber i f the shock absorber is be-
i n g replaced (Fig. 5).
FRONT/4WD VEHICLES-INSTALLATION
(1) I f applicable, before i n s t a l l i n g a replacement
shock absorber o n t h e vehicle, attach t h e upper
bracket to the shock absorber (Fig. 5).
(2) Before i n s t a l l i n g t h e shock absorber, ensure
t h a t t h e b u s h i n g i s inserted i n t h e shock absorber
" e y e " .
E n s u r e that t h e s h o c k a b s o r b e r i s positioned
on t h e s t u d w i t h t h e r e t a i n e r s c o r r e c t l y located
o n e i t h e r s i d e o f t h e b u s h i n g ( F i g . 5).
(3) Position the large I D retainer and the shock ab-
sorber "eye" on t h e stud. Position t h e s m a l l I D r e -
t a i n e r on the stud a n d install the a t t a c h i n g n u t (Fig.
5). T i g h t e n the n u t " f i n g e r - t i g h t " .
(4) Position t h e shock absorber and t h e upper
bracket a t the frame r a i l and i n s t a l l the bracket up-
per b o l t and n u t . Rotate the bracket u n t i l the lower
bolt hole is aligned w i t h the frame r a i l bolt hole and
i n s t a l l t h e lower b o l t and n u t (Fig. 5). T i g h t e n t h e
nuts " f i n g e r - t i g h t " .