Honda CR-V: Damper/Spring

Damper/Spring Removal and Installation

Removal

1. Raise the rear of the vehicle, and support it with safety stands in the proper locations.

2. Remove the rear wheel.

3. Remove the lid (A) on the cargo area side trim panel by releasing the hooks (B).

4. Remove the flange nuts (C) from the top of damper.

5. Remove the flange bolts (A), then remove the brake hose bracket (B).

6. Position a floor jack under the trailing arm (A).

Raise the floor jack until the suspension begins to compress.

7. Disconnect the stabilizer link (B) from the trailing arm.

8. Remove the flange bolt (C) from the bottom of the damper.

9. Remove the flange bolt (A), then remove the parking brake cable (B).

10. Remove the trailing arm mounting bolts (C).

11. Lower the rear suspension, then remove the damper assembly (A) from the vehicle.

Installation

1. Position the damper assembly (A) between the body and the trailing arm. Note the direction of the damper mounting base so that the hook or the paint mark (B) on it is toward the outside of the vehicle.

2. Loosely install new flange nuts (A) to the top of the damper.

NOTE: Install the lid (B) by pushing the hooks (C) into place securely after tightening the flange nuts to the specified torque value.

3. Loosely install new trailing arm mounting bolts (A).

4. Install the parking brake cable (B), then install the flange bolt (C).

5. Position a floor jack under the trailing arm (A).

Raise the floor jack until the hole in the trailing arm aligns with the hole in the damper.

6. Loosely install a new flange bolt (B) on the bottom of the damper (C).

7. Connect the stabilizer link (D) to the trailing arm.

8. Raise the rear suspension with a floor jack to load the suspension with the vehicle's weight.

9. Tighten the flange nuts and the flange bolts to the specified torque values.

10. Install the brake hose bracket (A), then install the flange bolts (B).

11. Install the lid.

12. Clean the mating surface of the brake disc/drum and the inside of the wheel, then install the rear wheel.

13. Check the wheel alignment. and adjust it if necessary.

Damper/Spring Disassembly, Inspection, and Reassembly

Exploded View

Disassembly

1. Compress the damper spring, then remove the 10 mm nut (A) while holding the damper shaft with a hex wrench (B). Do not compress the damper spring more than necessary to remove the nut.

2. Release the pressure from the strut spring compressor, then disassemble the damper as shown in the Exploded View.

Inspection

1. Reassemble all the parts, except the upper spring mounting cushion, the bump stop, and the damper spring.

2. Compress the damper assembly by hand, and check for smooth operation through a full stroke, both compression and extension. The damper should extend smoothly and constantly when compression is released. If it does not, the gas is leaking and the damper should be replaced.

3. Check for oil leaks, abnormal noises, and binding during these tests.

Reassembly

NOTE: Assemble each of the disassembled parts by referring to the Exploded View.

1. Compress the damper spring with the spring compressor.

2. Install all the parts except the damper mounting washer and self-locking nut onto the damper unit (A) by referring to the Exploded View.

3. Align the bottom of the damper spring (B) with the stepped part (C) of the lower spring seat.

4. Align the bottom (A) of the damper and the damper mounting base (B) as shown so that the hook or the paint mark (C) on it is toward the outside of the vehicle.

Left side:

Right side:

5. Install the damper mounting washer (A) and a new self-locking nut (B).

6. Hold the damper shaft using a hex wrench (C), and tighten new self-locking nut to the specified torque value.

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