Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
DODGE Caliber Hatchback 2.2 CRD, DODGE Caliber Hatchback 2.4 Turbo, DODGE Caliber Hatchback 2.0 CRD, DODGE Caliber Hatchback 2.4, DODGE Caliber Hatchback 1.8 … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change rear shock absorbers DODGE CALIBER TUTORIAL | AUTODOC

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – Dodge Caliber SRT4. Tools you need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Ceramic grease
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      HEX bit no.H5
                    
                      Combination spanner #15
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Drive socket # 10 
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #19
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Adjustable wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Flat Screwdriver
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Dodge Caliber SRT4. AUTODOC recommends:

Both shock struts of the rear suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the rear suspension.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: suspension strut – Dodge Caliber SRT4. Use the following procedure:

Step 1

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 2

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19.
Step 3

Raise the rear of the car and secure on supports.
Step 4

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. Dodge Caliber SRT4
Step 5

Remove the wheel.
Step 6

Clean all joints of the stabiliser link. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 7

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the control arm. Use a combination spanner #15. Use HEX No.H5. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 8

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 9

Clean the lower fastener of the suspension strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 10

Unscrew the lower fasteners of the suspension strut. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 11

Remove the fastening bolt.

Step 12

Clean the fasteners connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 13.1

Unscrew the subframe bracket bolts.

Step 13.2

Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 14

Remove the subframe bracket.

Step 15

Unscrew the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 16

Remove the fastening bolt. Use a crowbar.
Step 17

Detach the control arm. Use a crowbar.

Step 18

Lower the car.
Step 19

Open the luggage compartment.
Step 20

Remove the boot front lower lining.
Step 21

Remove the side plastic cover.
Step 22.1

Remove the electronic control unit.

Step 22.2

Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 23

Detach the boot side lining. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 24

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 25

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a combination spanner #15.

AUTODOC recommends:
Dodge Caliber SRT4 – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts.
Step 26

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 27

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Dodge Caliber SRT4. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 28

Compress the spring.
Step 29

Remove the suspension strut mount cap. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 30

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 31

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a combination spanner #15. Use an adjustable wrench.
Step 32

Release the coil spring.

Step 33

Remove the shock absorber mount, dust boot, and bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Dodge Caliber SRT4. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 34

Remove the spring.
Step 35

Remove the rubber spring spacer.

AUTODOC recommends:
Inspect the rubber mounts of the suspension spring. Replace if necessary.
Step 36

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – Dodge Caliber SRT4. Tip:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 37

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 38

Install the rubber spring spacer.
Step 39

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 40

Install the mount, dust boot, and bump stop on a new shock absorber.
Step 41

Compress the spring.
Step 42

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a combination spanner #15. Use an adjustable wrench. Tighten it to 24 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – Dodge Caliber SRT4. AUTODOC recommends:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 43

Install the suspesion strut mount cap.
Step 44

Decompress the spring.
Step 45

Remove the assembled shock strut.

Step 46

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 47

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 48

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when screwing the fastening bolts in.
Step 49

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a combination spanner #15. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 48 Nm torque.
Step 50

Attach the side lining of the boot.
Step 51.1

Install the electronic control unit.

Step 51.2

Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 52

Install the side plastic panel.
Step 53

Install the boot front lower lining.
Step 54

Close the luggage compartment.
Step 55

Raise the rear of the car and secure on supports.
Step 56

Attach the control arm.
Step 57

Install the fastening bolt.

Step 58

Screw the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 59

Install the fastening bolt. Use a crowbar.
Step 60

Support the rear control arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 61

Tighten the lower fasteners of the suspension strut. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 99 Nm torque.
Step 62

Tighten the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 95 Nm torque.
Step 63

Remove the support from under the rear control arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – Dodge Caliber SRT4. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 64

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.

Step 65

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer bar with the control arm. Use a combination spanner #15. Use HEX No.H5. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 58 Nm torque.
Step 66.1

Install the subframe bracket. Tighten its bolts.

Step 66.2

Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 67

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Treat all joints of the arm. Treat all joints of the stabiliser link. Use copper grease.

Step 68

Treat the surface where the wheel rim contacts the brake drum. Use copper grease.
Step 69

Install the wheel.

Replacement: suspension strut – Dodge Caliber SRT4. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 70

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19.
Step 71

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 135 nm torque.
Step 72

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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