GM 19299843
Shock Absorber, Rear

One must begin by raising and supporting the vehicle and removing its tire and wheel before starting the Shock Absorber replacement. After securing the Control Arm with a jack stand disconnect the automatic level control air tube connecting to the Shock Absorber. Start by removing the lower Shock Absorber retaining bolts before you remove the trunk trim in order to access the upper mounting nuts of the Shock Absorber. The Shock Absorber replacement process requires removing the upper Shock Absorber cover then the upper retaining nuts before the upper reinforcement and shock can be pulled from the vehicle. When installing the parts choose the correct fasteners and keep them in their specified positions because new components require exact matched part numbers for usage. Paints along with lubricants and corrosion inhibitors should never be applied to fasteners or their mounting surfaces because they interfere with both torque and clamping force. Start by seating the shock and installation of reinforcement elements along with retaining nuts before you apply force of 20 nm (15 lb ft) to the upper retaining nuts. The technician must install the upper cover along with trunk trim before tightening the lower retaining bolts to 24 nm (18 lb ft). Proceed with reconnecting the automatic level control air tube to the shock before reinstallation of tire and wheel and vehicle final lowering.

Removing the snap ring from within the top of the tube brings danger of personal injury due to rapid gas expulsion so do not attempt this with gas charged shock absorbers. You need to use safety glasses during both centerpunching and drilling operations since it will protect against getting injured and guard against damage to the shock absorber tube. Start by placing a 10 mm (0.4 inch) deep indentation at the bottom of the tube through the use of a centerpunch. Arrange the shock absorber inside a vise with its rod completely extended during clamping operations. Drill a 5 mm (3/16 inch) hole at the mark from the centerpunch by allowing gas or gas/oil mixture to escape through shop towels. Use the centerpunch on the middle of the tube to create an indentation then use the drill and same drill bit to make a second hole at this second mark which must be covered by shop towels while draining. Complete draining oil from the shock absorber requires holding it horizontally above a drain pan with holes facing downward. Use the rod to move back and forth through the tube while doing this procedure.

Make an indentation in the middle of the tube with a centerpunch and drill a second hole at this centerpunch using the same drill bit.

Install the shock cover and the trunk trim.

Lower the vehicle and install the strut back into place, ensuring to tighten the strut mount to body bolts to 47 Nm (35 ft. lbs.).

Raise the vehicle again and install the strut to the steering knuckle retaining bolts and the nuts, tightening them to 185 Nm (136 ft. lbs.).

Do not remove the snap ring from inside the top of the tube, as this may result in the contents being expelled with extreme force, leading to personal injury.

Create another indentation in the middle of the tube with a centerpunch.

Use shop towels to contain the escaping oil.

Ensure the wheel nuts are tightened to 140 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).

Clamp the shock absorber in a vise horizontally with the shock absorber rod completely extended.

Remove the brake line bracket from the strut on the left side, followed by the three strut-to-knuckle bolts and one nut, then take the strut out of the vehicle.

Safety glasses.

Install the upper shock absorber cover and the trunk trim.

The shock absorber reinforcement.

Raise and support the vehicle, then remove the tire and wheel.

Make another indentation in the middle of the tube with a center punch and drill a second hole at this mark.

First, raise and support the vehicle, then remove the wheel and tire.

Install the lower shock bolts, tightening them to 25 Nm (18 ft. lbs.), connect the Electronic Air Control air tube to the shock, and connect the electrical connector while routing the wiring on the control arm (FE3 and FE45).

Raise the vehicle again and install new strut to steering knuckle bolts and nuts, tightening them to 147 Nm (108 ft. lbs.).

Remove the shock absorber from the vise, hold it over a drain pan horizontally with the holes down, and move the rod in and out of the tube to completely drain the oil.

Install the 3 strut tower bolts and washers, tightening them to 66 Nm (49 ft. lbs.).

Reinstall the wheel and tire, tightening the wheel nuts to 125 Nm (80 ft. lbs.).

Remove the shock absorber from the vise, hold it over a drain pan horizontally with the holes facing down, and move the rod in and out of the tube to completely drain the oil.

Disconnect the wheel speed sensor electrical connector, the brake wear sensor electrical connector, and remove the wheel speed sensor bracket and retaining bolt from the strut, followed by the brake line bracket and retaining bolt.

Pull back the trunk trim.

Use a 5 mm (3/16 inch) drill bit.