How to fix broken knob for rear trunk door

Removal & Installation

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Support the rear axle and slightly lower the vehicle enough to lessen tension on the shock absorber.
3. Remove the lower shock absorber retaining nut and washer.
4. Disconnect the lower end of the shock absorber from the mounting stud.
5. Remove the shock absorber upper end retaining nut and washer.
6. Remove the shock absorber from the vehicle.

To install:

1. Install the shock absorber onto the upper and lower mounting studs of the vehicle.
2. Install the washers and retaining nuts. Tighten the upper and lower retaining nuts to 22-30 ft. lbs. (30-41 Nm) on 2001-02 models or 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) for the upper bolts and 47 ft. lbs. (64 Nm) on the lower bolts.
3. Lower the vehicle.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION 1983-86 Models

1. On 4-door sedan, remove the package tray and vent duct.
2. On hatchback, remove the speaker grilles.
3. Disconnect the brake line from the wheel cylinder. CAUTION
   Brake fluid contains polyglycol ethers and polyglycols. Avoid contact with the eyes and wash your hands thoroughly after handling brake fluid. If you do get brake fluid in your eyes, flush your eyes with clean, running water for 15 minutes. If eye irritation persists, or if you have taken brake fluid internally, IMMEDIATELY seek medical assistance.
   
4. Remove the brake line from the brake hose.
5. Disconnect the brake hose from its bracket on the shock absorber.
6. Loosen, but do not remove, the nut holding the suspension support to the shock absorber.
7. Unbolt the shock absorber from the rear arm.
8. Unbolt and extract the shock absorber from the body. To install:
   
9. Attach the shock absorber to the body and tighten the 3 nuts to 17 ft. lbs. (25 Nm).
10. Engage the shock absorber bracket with the carrier and install the hardware. Tighten the nuts to 119 ft. lbs. (162 Nm).
11. Tighten the center suspension support nut to 36 ft. lbs. (49 Nm). There is a bearing located under the suspension support dust cover. Remove the dust cover and pack the bearing with multi-purpose grease. Once packed, reinstall the dust cover.
12. The remainder of installation is the reverse of removal. Tighten each component to specifications.
13. Have the rear wheel alignment checked.

1987-88 Models

1. On wagon models, remove the toneau cover holder.
2. Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts, raise the rear of the vehicle and support it safely. Block the front wheels.
3. Remove the rear wheels.
4. Using the proper size flare nut wrench, disconnect the backing plate hardware.
5. With a flare nut and a back-up wrench, disconnect the brake tube from the brake hose and use a small plastic container to collect the brake fluid.
6. Undo the clip and disconnect the brake hose from the shock absorber. NOTE: Before the axle bolts are removed, the axle carrier must be supported with a jack.
   
7. Support the axle carrier with a floor jack and remove the mounting bolts and nut. Disconnect the axle carrier from the shock absorber.
8. Support the shock absorber firmly by hand and remove the three mounting nuts. Remove the shock absorber from the body. To install:
   
9. Position the shock absorber onto the body and support it firmly by hand. Install the three nuts and tighten them to 23 ft. lbs. (31 Nm).
10. Attach the axle carrier to the shock absorber with the nuts and bolts. Tighten the nuts to 166 ft. lbs. (226 Nm).
11. The remainder of installation is the reverse of removal. Tighten each component to specifications.
12. Bleed the brake lines as described in Section 9.
13. Have the rear wheel alignment checked.

1989-96 Models

1. On the 4-door sedan, remove the package tray and vent duct. On 1992-96 models, it will be necessary to remove the rear seat back.
2. On the hatchback, remove the speaker grilles.
3. On the wagon models remove the tonnue cover and rear seat back.
4. Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts, raise the rear of the vehicle and support it safely. Block the front wheels.
5. Remove the rear wheels.
6. Disconnect the brake hose and the ABS speed sensor from the shock absorber.
7. If equipped with ABS, disconnect the Load Sensing Proportioning Valve (LSPV) spring from the lower arm.
8. Disconnect the stabilizer bar link from the shock absorber.
9. Support the rear axle and loosen the 2 bolts from the lower end of the shock absorber.
10. From inside the vehicle, unbolt the upper support. Fig. 1: A rubber cap covers the rear shock absorber tower nut
    Fig. 2: The upper shock absorber tower is retained by the center nut (circled) and three surrounding nuts
    
    
11. Lower the rear axle carrier and remove the two bolts.
12. Remove the shock absorber from the vehicle. To install:
    
13. Install the shock absorber assembly onto the vehicle.
14. Connect the brake hose and the ABS speed sensor to the shock absorber.
15. Connect the stabilizer bar link to the shock absorber.
16. Install the wheel and tire assembly.
17. During installation, please observe the following tighten specifications:
    1. Tighten the shock absorber-to-body bolts to 29 ft. lbs. (39 Nm).
    2. Tighten the shock absorber-to-axle carrier nuts to 166 ft. lbs. (226 Nm) on 1988-91 vehicles and 188 ft. lbs. (255 Nm) on 1992-96 vehicles.
    3. Tighten the suspension support-to-shock absorber nut to 36 ft. lbs. (49 Nm) on 1988-91 vehicles. On 1992-96 models, tighten the stabilizer bar link to shock absorber retainers to 47 ft. lbs. (64 Nm).
18. Install the rear seat back, vent duct and the package tray as required.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION Fig. 1: After you open the trunk lid, use a suitable prytool to remove the trim cover
Fig. 2: Some vehicles have a cover which must be removed to access the shock retaining nuts
Fig. 3: Unfasten the upper shock attaching nuts

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Open the trunk lid and remove the trim cover. If equipped, remove the nut cover.
3. Remove the upper shock attaching nut(s). If removing both shocks, remove one at a time.
4. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
5. Unfasten the lower shock absorber mounting bolts. One wrench will have to be placed on the bolt head side to retain the bolt as you loosen the nut. Usually a 15mm wrench is used to remove them. To install: Fig. 4: After the vehicle is raised and safely supported, use a socket to unfasten the lower retaining bolt
   Fig. 5: Remove the retaining bolt, then . . .
   Fig. 6: . . . remove the shock absorber assembly from the vehicle
   
6. Connect the shock absorbers at the lower attachment and install the attaching bolt.
7. Lower the vehicle enough to guide the shock absorber upper stud through the body opening, then fasten the upper shock absorber attaching nut loosely. Tighten the lower shock absorber mounting bolt to 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm).
8. Remove the axle support, then carefully lower the vehicle. Tighten the shock absorber upper nut to 21 ft. lbs. (29 Nm).
9. If equipped, install the retaining nut cover, then install the rear trim cover. Close the trunk lid.
10. Connect the negative battery cable.

Shock Absorber -The rear already has air shocks on the 1999 Cadillac Deville: REMOVAL & INSTALLATION Rear

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Rear wheel Fig. 1: Exploded view of the rear shock absorber mounting
     
     
   • Negative battery cable
   • Shock absorber electrical connector from the rear suspension support, If equipped
3. Support the lower control arm with a jack to relieve the tension on the shock absorber.
4. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Lower shock absorber mounting bolt and nut
   • Upper mounting nut, retainer, and insulator
   • Shock absorber compress by hand and remove through the upper control arm
   To install:
   
5. Position the top of the shock absorber with the insulator attached into the suspension support.
6. Install or connect the following:
   • Upper shock insulator, retainer and nut. Torque the nut to 55 ft. lbs. (74 Nm).
   • Shock absorber lower mounting nut/bolt. Torque the nut to 75 ft. lbs. (102 Nm).
   • Shock absorber electrical connector to the rear suspension support, if equipped
   • Rear wheel
   • Negative battery cable

There is a rubber grommet that has broken. Take to a shop as those can do a lot of damage.

Answer
REMOVAL - SHOCK ASSEMBLY
NOTE: Access for the nuts attaching the rear shock assembly upper mount to the vehicle is through the inside of the trunk.

Roll back carpeting on top of the rear shock tower to access shock mounting nuts.
Remove plastic cover from the top of the shock assembly.
Remove 2 nuts attaching the shock assembly upper mount/spring seat to the shock tower.
Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a frame contact type hoist. (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCEDURE)
Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.
Remove two fasteners holding the splash shield to the shock assembly upper mount.
Remove bolt attaching shock absorber to rear knuckle (Shock Absorber Attachment To Knuckle).
Remove the shock absorber from the rear knuckle first when removing the shock absorber from vehicle by pushing down on the rear suspension.
Move shock assembly downward and tilt top of shock outward, then remove shock assembly from vehicle through top of wheel opening

In order of probability:
1 Muffler/tail pipe
2. Shock absorber (broken or loose bushing)
3. something (car jack) is loose in the storage pocked under the floor of the trunk - or in the side storage behind the wheel well in the trunk...
-Jim

unbolt from inside trunk lift car and then remove bolt from bottom, remove top mount off old shock and install on new shock take note of postion install same way on new one, reinstall new shock, may have to lower car slowly while aglining top holes, do the same on other side, hope this helps, good luck.

Removal & Installation

1. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.
2. Support the control arm with a jack stand.
   
   Fig. Use support bracket tool J-23028-01 mounted on a jack to support the rear lower control arm
   
3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   Electronic Ride Control (ELC) air tube from the shock Two bolts securing the shock to the control arm Trunk trim to gain access to the shock upper mounting nuts. Cover, the two nuts, and the reinforcement from the top of the shock Shock from the vehicle
   
   Fig. Remove the cover to gain access to the upper shock absorber mounting components-rear suspension
   
   
   Fig. Exploded view of the lower shock absorber mounting to the knuckle assembly-rear suspension
   
   

To install:
Install or connect the following:

Shock, reinforcement, and the two nuts. Tighten the mounting nuts to 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm). Shock cover Trunk trim Shock-to-control arm bolts and tighten the bolts to 18 ft. lbs. (24 Nm) ELC air tube to the shock. Tire and wheel assembly

This is a dangerous job if you do not have the proper equipment for compressing the spring that is around the rear shock. I do not recomend performing this job without the proper equipment. Unloading the spring without it compressed can cuase injury.

If you have the proper equipment this is how you do it.

REMOVAL - SHOCK ASSEMBLY NOTE: Access for the nuts attaching the rear shock assembly upper mount to the vehicle is through the inside of the trunk.

1. Roll back carpeting on top of the rear shock tower to access shock mounting nuts.
2. Remove plastic cover from the top of the shock assembly.
3. Remove 2 nuts attaching the shock assembly upper mount/spring seat to the shock tower.
4. Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a frame contact type hoist.
5. Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.
6. Remove two fasteners holding the splash shield to the shock assembly upper mount.
7. Remove bolt attaching shock absorber to rear knuckle
8. Remove the shock absorber from the rear knuckle first when removing the shock absorber from vehicle by pushing down on the rear suspension.
9. Move shock assembly downward and tilt top of shock outward, then remove shock assembly from vehicle through top of wheel opening.