OEM Dodge Stratus Rear Crossmember

Dodge Stratus Rear Crossmember Parts and Q&A

• Suspension Crossmember, Rear
  4584497
  Q: How to Maintain and Fix the Rear Crossmember on Dodge Stratus?

  A:

  Lift the vehicle on either jackstands or a frame contact hoist and then take out the rear wheel and tire assemblies to start servicing the suspension crossmember. Then, remove the bolt and nut that holds the shock absorber bracket to the rear knuckle on both sides, take out the muffler support bracket from the bottom of the rear frame and remove the rear suspension crossmember hanger for the rear exhaust pipe. Slide a transmission jack underneath the rear suspension crossmember's center and place a wooden block under to support the operation. If antilock brakes are fitted, take out the routing clips for the wheel speed sensor cable from the upper Control Arm brackets. Open the four nuts and bolts securing the four Lateral Links to the knuckles and remove the four bolts from the rear suspension crossmember to the rear frame rails. Get the crossmember lowered down to the point that you can reach and unbolt the upper control arms to the crossmember, then lower the assembly as far as possible using the transmission jack and, with help, remove the rear suspension crossmember from the vehicle. The heads of the forward lateral link bolts should be towards the front of the car and the front ends of the rear bolts should point in the same direction. Place the original lateral links, stabilizer bar mounting brackets, stabilizer bar with bushings onto the substitute crossmember, tighten the stabilizer bar mounting bracket bolts to the rear crossmember to 27 N.m (20 ft.lbs.) and the 4 lateral link bolts to crossmember to 95 N.m (80 ft.lbs.). When installing, place the rear suspension crossmember, lateral arms and rear stabilizer bar together, supported by the transmission jack. Attach the upper control arm pivot bars to the holes in the rear suspension crossmember and secure them with the supplied pivot bar to crossmember bolts, applying a torque of 107 N.m (80 ft.lbs.). Lift the rear suspension crossmember to the rear frame rail and put in all 4 of its bolts, leaving them a bit loose. Position drift only sizes in the rear suspension crossmember's holes in the frame rail and then secure them with the 4 attaching bolts to 95 N.m (70 ft.lbs.), removing the drifts afterwards. Attach the knuckles to the links and put in the screws. Once set, tighten the knuckle to lateral arm bolts with a torque wrench to 95 N.m (70 ft.lbs.) Get rid of the transmission jack, fasten the muffler support bracket against the rear frame rail and reattach the rear exhaust pipe hanger to the rear suspension crossmember. If your vehicle has antilock brakes, put the wheel speed sensor cable routing clip on the upper control arm, secure it with the attaching bolt and tighten the screw. Then, fit the wheel and tire assembly to your car, always tightening 15 of the wheel mounting stud nuts to about half the specification (55 ft.lbs.), return to tighten the last 15 to the full specification (129 N.m or 95 ft.lbs.), lower the car to the ground and recheck and set the rear wheel alignment if necessary.
• Suspension Crossmember, Rear
  4895262AC
  Q: How to Service and Repair a Rear Crossmember on Dodge Stratus?

  A:

  To start, raise the vehicle using jack stands or a frame contact hoist and remove both rear tire and wheel assemblies. Then, remove the clevis bracket from the shock absorbers to the rear knuckle bolts and nuts and take out the muffler bracket from the rear frame rail, as well as the back exhaust hanger from the rear suspension, so the exhaust system can come down as far as possible. Place a transmission jack over a wooden block set under the middle of the rear suspension crossmember while pulling it away. If antilock brakes are installed, remove the clips holding the wheel speed sensor cable at the top of the Control Arm brackets. Take out the nuts and bolts at each of the 4 Lateral Links near the knuckles, disconnect the clips connecting the line bundles to the crossmember and remove the 4 bolts joining the rear suspension crossmember to the frame rails. Let down the crossmember to remove the 4 bolts holding the upper control arms, then drop the assembly onto the transmission jack and remove the back suspension crossmember with help. Make sure the heads of the forward attaching bolts for lateral links on the crossmember are in the front of the car and the reverse is true for the rear lateral link bolts. Use the lateral links, stabilizer bar mounting brackets and bushings from the old crossmember to the new crossmember before it is installed. Connect the rear stabilizer bar mounting bracket to clubby attaching bolts at a force of 27 N.m (20 ft.lbs.). Use a transmission jack to lower the full assembly for the rear suspension crossmember, lateral arms and rear stabilizer bar into place in the vehicle. Connect the upper control arm pivot bars to the crossmember through the mounting holes and use an opening force of 107 N.m (80 ft.lbs.) to tighten four bolts. Be careful not to pinch any lines when moving the crossmember into place. Place the rear suspension crossmember against the rear frame and tighten the 4 attaching bolts loosely. Connect the provided clips to the crossmember and, using a drift, align the rear suspension crossmember along the frame first, then tighten the attaching bolts to 95 N.m (70 ft.lbs.). Bring the lateral links up to where they line up with the knuckles, then insert the bolts attaching the lateral arm to the knuckles. Tighten them to 95 N.m (70 ft.lbs.). Uninstall the transmission jack, hook the muffler support bracket to the rack rail on the rear frame and attach the rear exhaust pipe hanger to the only rear suspension crossmember. If the car has antilock brakes, place the wheel speed sensor cable routing clip onto the upper control arm mounting bracket and make sure you secure the clip with the bolt. After that, install the wheel and tire combination, tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts following the right order to 129 N.m (95 ft.lbs.), drive the vehicle back onto the ground and adjust the rear wheel alignment as needed.