Rear shock absorbers

Difficulty: Easy-ish
Time: About 1 hour
Tools: Two 17mm spanners - ring and open. Long spanners may help.

As the chart below shows, it's quite normal for a shock absorber to have traces of oil around the top. However leaks like level 3 to 1 mean the shock absorber (SA) needs replacing.



Probably a good idea to replace in pairs.

As always, apply hand-brake, chock the opposite front wheel and without the vehicle raised, slightly slacken off the road wheel nuts.

Jack the vehicle up and place on an axle stand: Maintenance 4 3 Replacing Rear Shock Absorbers Rav 4 Club

Whether front or rear, strut or shock, the first thing is the vehicle must be lifted securely off the ground, please use a jack stand. Whiles some shocks are relatively easy, shock work can be very dangerous. Make sure you are using a reliable spring compression tool and that it is properly aligned and locked before you attempt to remove the spring

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.

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

If you want to replace rear shocks you'll need a socket set, jacks, jack stands, and new shock absorbers from the parts store.

Replace shocks when the rear end bounces up and down more than 3 times after depressing the bumper 6."

go online to autozone.com

check you shock absorbers

you can do a basic check that if the absorbers are leaking where the rod goes into its casing then you need new ones

but i would go to a garage to get it checked out

Loosen the wheel-nuts. Jack-up the car and support on level ground. Take out tires. Replace old shocks with new.

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

with great difficulty,three bolts hold the plate that takes the top bush/mounting .jack vehicle up and support with axle stand .Another jack under rear axle ,jack this one up till cars starts to lift then fit the spring clamps and compress the spring.Next undo the 3/4 13mm headed bolts that hold the plate to the chassis ,if you can release them???---??? ,then next using a small bottle jack take the strain on the bottom of the shock absorber and then remove the bolt ,lower the jack and the top one will lower as well ,undo the two nuts on the top mounting and pull the old shock absorber out .Or what i do if back is dancing and thats to do as above to support vehicle ,support lower of shock absorber ,remove the bolt and then jack it up ,then drill a small hole about an inch from the top of the tube and then thread it ,refill the shock absorber with a heavier oil like dextron .fit a bolt into the hole with a rubber washer and its as good as new