Ford 5G1Z-18125-AA
Shock Absorber

The first step to service an AWD shock absorber and spring assembly starts with taking a measurement of hub center to fender lip distance while the vehicle stands on flat ground. To reach the upper shock absorber nut you need to eliminate the interior trim material and discard that specific nut. Move to the next step by taking out the wheel with attached tire unit. Support the rear brake caliper while it is in position to avoid straining the flexible hose. Uninstall the caliper guide-pins before setting the caliper to the side for later installation when torque it to 31 Nm (23 ft. lbs.). Set the vehicle on a raised position and insert a V-topped transmission jack under the wheel knuckle to attach it to the trailing arm point before compressing the shock absorber and spring. First remove the trailing arm-to-knuckle bolt then discard it while you loosen the trailing arm-to-subframe bolt and finally discard the lower arm-to-knuckle bolt. First lower the transmission jack until the lower shock absorber and spring assembly-to-knuckle bolt becomes loose enough to push the assembly off the lower arm and remove it. During installation tape the spring to an upper rubber spring seat before you insert a 76-mm (3-inch) rubber hose piece onto the shock absorber stud and place the spring assembly onto the shock absorber. Position the shock absorber and spring assembly onto the lower arm by using a new bolt which must receive a torque of 142 Nm (105 ft. lbs.). Use the transmission jack to lift the lower arm as you ensure the upper shock absorber stud enters the bushing with the help of an assistant then install a new lower arm-to-knuckle bolt loosely. You should lift the jack until the wheel hub reaches the specified curb height before using a torque wrench to set the lower arm-to-knuckle bolts to 90 Nm (66 ft. lbs.). Position the jack under the trailing arm attachment point and then raise it to install a new trailing arm-to-knuckle bolt which should be tightened to 105 Nm (77 ft. lbs.). The installation process includes tighening the trailing arm-to-subframe bolt to 110 Nm (81 ft. lbs.) followed by brake caliper and guide pin bolt installation to 31 Nm (23 ft. lbs.) before rubber hose removal for new shock absorber nut installation and tightness control to 83 Nm (61 ft. lbs.). After lowering the vehicle and reinstalling the wheel and tire assembly it is necessary to install a new shock absorber nut that should be tightened to 83 Nm (61 ft. lbs.) and then replace the interior trim panel.

Service of AWD shock absorbers requires you to measure the center hub to fender lip distance when the vehicle stands on even ground. The interior trim needs removal to access the upper shock absorber nut before throwing away the nut. Start the service operation by taking out the wheel combined with tire unit. Handling the rear brake caliper requires support instead of hanging from the flexible hose until guide-pin bolts are removed and reinstallation torque is set to 31 Nm (23 ft. lbs.). A V-topped transmission jack fitted beneath the wheel knuckle at the trailing arm point allows you to compress the shock absorber and spring when the vehicle rests elevated. The service procedure requires removal of the trailing arm-to-knuckle bolt before loosening the trailing arm-to-subframe bolt along with the lower arm-to-knuckle bolt disposal. Lower the transmission jack and discard both the lower shock absorber spring assembly-to-knuckle bolt before pushing the assembly off the lower arm for removal purposes. The installation process begins with spring taping to the upper rubber spring seat and inserting 76 mm (3 inch) rubber hose on the upper shock absorber stud before placing spring and upper rubber seat onto shock absorber. Use a new bolt to fasten the shock absorber and spring assembly onto the lower arm but tighten it to 142 Nm (105 ft. lbs.). The transmission jack should be used to lift the lower arm while an assistant guides the upper shock absorber stud into the bushing before installing the new lower arm-to-knuckle bolt loosely. The jack needs to be elevated until the wheel hub reaches the previously recorded curb height and next tighten the lower arm-to-knuckle bolts to 90 Nm (66 ft. lbs.). After raising the jack under the trailing arm attachment point install a new bolt on the trailing arm-knuckle connection then tightness to 105 Nm (77 ft. lbs.) before setting the trailing arm-subframe bolt to 110 Nm (81 ft. lbs.). Install the brake caliper followed by the guide pin bolts then torque them to 31 Nm (23 ft. lbs.). Install the new shock absorber nut on the rubber hose then secure it to 83 Nm (61 ft. lbs.). End the process by first removing the transmission jack and then installing the wheel with tire assembly below the vehicle before installing a new shock absorber nut. Tighten this new nut to 83 Nm (61 ft. lbs.) and lastly reinstall the interior trim.

Use the transmission jack to align the shock absorber and spring assembly with the upper mount, then swing the lower arm into position.