lock DODGE NEON 1999 Service User Guide

Inspect the tension strut for signs of contact with
the ground or road debris which has bent or caused
other damage to the tension strut. If the tension
strut is bent or damaged the tension strut will
require replacement.Do not attempt to repair or
straighten a tension strut.
STABILIZER BAR AND BUSHINGS
Inspect the stabilizer bar for damage or bending.
Inspect for broken or distorted stabilizer bar bush-
ings, bushing retainers, and worn or damaged stabi-
lizer bar to strut attaching links. If stabiizer bar to
rear frame rail bushing replacement is required,
bushings can be removed from sway bar by opening
slit and peeling bushing off sway bar.
STABILIZER BAR ATTACHING LINKS
Inspect the bushings and sleeves in the stabilizer
bar attaching links for damage or deterioration.
Inspect the stabilizer bar attaching link to ensure it
is not bent or broken. If any of these conditions are
present when inspecting the attaching links, replace-
ment of the attaching link is required.
SERVICE PROCEDURES
REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Refer to Front And Rear Wheel Toe Setting Proce-
dures in the Wheel Alignment Check And Adjustment
section in this group of the service manual for the
required rear wheel Toe setting procedure.
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
STRUT ASSEMBLY
REMOVE
(1) Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual, for
the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.
(2) Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly from
the vehicle.
(3) Remove hydraulic flex hose bracket, from
bracket on rear strut assembly (Fig. 6). If vehicle is
equipped with Anti-Lock brakes, the wheel speed
sensor cable routing clip is also attached to the strut
assembly bracket.
(4) Support rear knuckle, suspension and brake
components of vehicle before removing clevis bracket
to knuckle attaching bolts.Do not let weight of
rear knuckle and assembled components hang
unsupported when strut is removed.CAUTION: The knuckle to strut assembly attaching
bolts are serrated and must not be turned during
removal. Remove nuts while holding bolts station-
ary in knuckle.
(5) Remove the 2 clevis bracket bolts (Fig. 7)
attaching strut assembly to rear knuckle.
(6) Lower vehicle. Access to rear upper strut
mount to strut tower attaching bolts, is through the
trunk of the vehicle.
Fig. 6 Hydraulic Flex Hose Bracket Attachment To
Strut
Fig. 7 Knuckle To Clevis Bracket Bolts
PLSUSPENSION 2 - 43
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING (Continued)

(7) Remove carpet (if required) from top of strut
tower. Then remove rubber dust shield (Fig. 8) from
top of strut tower, this will allow easier access to
upper strut mount attaching nuts.
(8) Loosen but do not remove the 4 upper strut
mount to strut tower attaching nuts (Fig. 9). Then
while supporting the strut assembly fully remove the
4 strut mount attaching nuts.
(9) Remove strut assembly from knuckle, by slid-
ing knuckle out of clevis bracket on strut assembly.
Then remove strut assembly from vehicle.
INSTALL
(1) Position strut assembly back into vehicle with
the 4 studs on strut mount assembly through holes
in strut tower of vehicle. Install the 4 strut mount to
body attaching nuts (Fig. 9) onto mount studs.
Torque the 4 strut mount to body attaching nuts to
34 N´m (300 in. lbs).(2) Install dust shield into hole on top of strut
tower (Fig. 8). Install carpeting back on top of rear
strut tower.
(3) Raise vehicle.
CAUTION: The knuckle to strut assembly attaching
bolts are serrated and must not be turned during
installation. Install and torque nuts while holding
bolts stationary in knuckle.
(4) Install knuckle assembly into clevis bracket on
strut assembly. Install the 2 clevis bracket to knuckle
assembly attaching bolts and nuts (Fig. 7). Torque
both clevis bracket to knuckle assembly attaching
nuts to 95 N´m (70 ft. lbs.).
(5) Install hydraulic flex hose bracket, on strut
assembly bracket (Fig. 6). Install and securely
tighten bolt attaching hose bracket to strut bracket.
If vehicle is equipped with Anti-Lock brakes, the
wheel speed sensor cable routing clip is also attached
to the strut assembly bracket.
(6) Install wheel and tire assembly on vehicle.
Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper
sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specifica-
tion. Then repeat tightening sequence to full speci-
fied torque of 135 N´m (100 ft. lbs.).
(7) Lower vehicle to the ground.
(8) Check and reset rear wheel TOE to specifica-
tions if required. Refer to Front And Rear Toe Setting
Procedure in the Wheel Alignment Check And
Adjustment section in this group of the service man-
ual for the required Toe setting procedure.
COIL SPRING
Coil springs are rated separately for each side of
vehicle depending on optional equipment and type of
service. During service procedures where both
springs are removed, mark springs (Chalk, Tape,
etc.) (Fig. 10) to ensure installation in original posi-
tion. If the coils springs require replacement.Be
sure that the springs needing replacement, are
replaced with springs meeting the correct load
and spring rate for the vehicle.
NOTE: During service procedures requiring
removal or installation of a coil spring with Spring
Compressor, Special Tool C-4838. It is required that
the first full top and bottom coil of the coil spring
be captured by the jaws of spring compressor (Fig.
10).
Replacement of the coil spring requires removal of
the strut assembly from the vehicle, and the disas-
sembly of the strut. Refer to strut assembly in the
removal and installation section in this group of the
service manual for the required removal and replace-
ment procedure for the strut assembly. Then refer to
Fig. 8 Dust Shield Removal From Strut Tower
Fig. 9 Strut Mount Attaching Nuts
2 - 44 SUSPENSIONPL
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

mount and all tension is relieved from the spring
compressors.
(11) Install the strut assembly back into the vehi-
cle. Refer to Strut Assembly Removal in Servicing
Rear Struts in this section of the service manual.
(12) Check and reset rear wheel TOE to specifica-
tions if required.
STABILIZER BAR BUSHINGS
(1) If stabilizer bar to frame rail bushings require
replacement at time of inspection, install new bush-
ings before installing stabilizer bar. Bushings are
replaced by opening slit on bushings and peeling
them off stabilizer bar. Install new bushings on sta-
bilizer bar, by spreading bushing at slit and forcing
them on stabilizer bar.Bushings must be installed
on stabilizer bar with slit in bushing facing
rear of vehicle when stabilizer bar is installed
(Fig. 37).
ADJUSTMENTS
STRUT ADJUSTMENT COMPETITION PACKAGE
SUSPENSION
The rear struts used on a vehicle equipped with
the competition package are adjustable. The adjust-
able struts use a unique strut shaft which has an
adjustment rod through the center of it (Fig. 38).
The compression dampening of the strut is
adjusted using the adjustment knob (Fig. 39) which
is supplied with the vehicle at the time of purchase.
The adjustment is done by inserting the flat on the
end of the adjustment rod into the grove on the
adjustment knob (Fig. 40). The compression dampen-
ing is increased by rotating the adjustment knob
(Fig. 39) in a counterclockwise direction and
decreased by rotating the adjustment knob in a clock-
wise direction.
Fig. 37 Correct Stabilizer Bushing Installation
Fig. 38 Adjustable Rear Strut
Fig. 39 Adjustable Strut Adjustment Knob
Fig. 40 Adjustment Knob Installation
PLSUSPENSION 2 - 53
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

the jounce and rebound travel of the front suspen-
sion.
On vehicles equipped with ABS brakes, the outer
C/V joint is equipped with a tone wheel used to
determine vehicle speed for ABS brake operation.
The inner tripod joint of both driveshafts is splined
into the transaxle side gears. The inner tripod joints
are retained in the side gears of the transaxle using
a snap ring located in the stub shaft of the tripod
joint. The outer C/V joint has a stub shaft that is
splined into the wheel hub and retained by a hub nut
using a nut lock and cotter pin.
NOTE: This vehicle does not use a rubber±lip bear-
ing seal as on previous front±wheel±drive cars to
prevent contamination of the front wheel bearing.
On these vehicles, the face of the outer C/V joint
fits deeply into the steering knuckle, using a close
outer C/V joint±to±steering knuckle fit. This design
deters direct water splash on bearing seal while
allowing any water that gets in, to run out the bot-
tom of the steering knuckle bearing bore. It is
important to thoroughly clean the outer C/V joint
and the wheel bearing area in the steering knuckle
before it is assembled after servicing.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
DRIVESHAFT DIAGNOSIS
VEHICLE INSPECTION
(1) Check for grease in the vicinity of the inboard
tripod joint and outboard C/V joint; this is a sign of
inner or outer joint seal boot or seal boot clamp dam-
age.
(2) A light film of grease may appear on the right
inner tripod joint seal boot; this is considered normal
and should not require replacement of the seal boot.
The right inner tripod joint seal boot is made of sili-
cone rubber; which will allow the weeping (sweating)
of the joint lubricant to pass through it while in oper-
ation.
NOISE AND/OR VIBRATION IN TURNS
A clicking noise and/or a vibration in turns could
be caused by one of the following conditions.
(1) Damaged outer C/V or inner tripod joint seal
boot or seal boot clamps. This will result in the loss
and/or contamination of the joint grease, resulting in
inadequate lubrication of the joint.
(2) Noise may also be caused by another compo-
nent of the vehicle coming in contact with the drive-
shafts.
CLUNKING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION
This noise may be a result of one of the following
conditions:
(1) A torn seal boot on the inner or outer joint of
the driveshaft assembly.
(2) A loose or missing clamp on the inner or outer
joint of the driveshaft assembly.
(3) A damaged or worn driveshaft C/V joint.
SHUDDER OR VIBRATION DURING
ACCELERATION
(1) A worn or damaged driveshaft inner tripod
joint.
(2) A sticking tripod joint spider assembly (inner
tripod joint only).
(3) Improper wheel alignment. See Wheel Align-
ment in this group for alignment checking and set-
ting procedures and specifications.
VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS
(1) Foreign material (mud, etc.) packed on the
backside of the wheel(s).
(2) Out of balance front tires or wheels. See Group
22, Wheels And Tires for the required balancing pro-
cedure.
(3) Improper tire and/or wheel runout. See Group
22, Wheels And Tires for the required runout check-
ing procedure.
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
FRONT DRIVESHAFTS
CAUTION: Boot sealing is vital to retain special
lubricants and to prevent foreign contaminants
from entering the C/V joint. Mishandling, such as
allowing the assemblies to dangle unsupported, or
pulling or pushing the ends can cut boots or dam-
age C/V joints. During removal and installation pro-
cedures, always support both ends of the driveshaft
to prevent damage.
REMOVAL
CAUTION: The driveshaft, when installed, acts as a
bolt and secures the front hub/bearing assembly. If
vehicle is to be supported or moved on its wheels
with a driveshaft removed, install a PROPER±SIZED
BOLT AND NUT through front hub. Tighten bolt and
nut to 203 N´m (150 ft. lbs.). This will ensure that
the hub bearing cannot loosen.
(1) Remove cotter pin, nut lock, and spring washer
(Fig. 2) from the end of the outer C/V joint stub axle.
(2) Loosen (but do not remove) stub axle±to±hub/
bearing retaining nut (Fig. 3). Loosen hub nut while
3 - 2 DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINEPL
GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)

vehicle is on the floor with the brakes applied. The
front hub and driveshaft are splined together and
retained by the hub nut.
(3) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a
frame contact±type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section for required lifting
procedure to be used for this vehicle.
(4) Remove front tire and wheel assembly from the
hub.
(5) Remove front disc brake caliper assembly to
steering knuckle bolts (Fig. 4).
(6) Remove disc brake caliper assembly from steer-
ing knuckle. Caliper is removed by first lifting bot-
tom of caliper away from steering knuckle, and then
removing top of caliper out from under steering
knuckle.
(7) Support brake caliper/adapter assembly using a
wire hook,not by the brake flex hose(Fig. 5).
(8) Remove braking disc from front hub.
(9) Remove nut attaching outer tie rod end to
steering knuckle.Nut is to be removed from tie
rod end using the following procedure: Hold tierod end stud with a 11/32 socket while loosen-
ing and removing nut.
(10) Remove the tie rod end stud from steering
knuckle arm using Special Tool MB-991113 (Fig. 6).
Fig. 2 Cotter Pin, Nut Lock and Spring Washer
Fig. 3 Loosening Front Hub Retaining Nut
Fig. 4 Front Disc Brake Caliper Assembly Bolts
Fig. 5 Supporting Brake Caliper
Fig. 6 Tie Rod End Removal From Steering Knuckle
PLDIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE 3 - 3
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(4) Clean all debris and moisture out of steering
knuckle (Fig. 15).
(5) Ensure that front of outer C/V joint, which fits
into steering knuckle (Fig. 16), is free of debris and
moisture before assembling into steering knuckle.
(6) Slide driveshaft back into front hub. Install
steering knuckle onto the ball joint stud (Fig. 17).
(7) Install aNEWsteering knuckle to ball joint
stud bolt and nut (Fig. 18). Tighten the nut and bolt
to 95 N´m (70 ft. lbs.).
(8) Install tie rod end into steering knuckle. Start
tie rod end to steering knuckle nut onto stud of tie
rod end. While holding stud of tie rod end stationary,
tighten tie rod end to steering knuckle nut. Then,
using a crowfoot and 11/32 socket, tighten tie rod end
nut to 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.).
(9) Install braking disc back on hub and bearing
assembly.
(10) Install disc brake caliper assembly on steering
knuckle. Caliper is installed by first sliding top ofcaliper under top abutment on steering knuckle.
Then installing bottom of caliper against bottom
abutment of steering knuckle.
(11) Install caliper assembly to steering knuckle
bolts (Fig. 19). Tighten to 31 N´m (23 ft. lbs.).
(12) Clean all foreign matter from threads of outer
C/V joint stub axle. Install washer and hub nut onto
the threads of the stub axle and tighten nut.
(13) Install spring washer, nut lock, and cotter pin
on outer C/V joint stub axle (Fig. 20).
(14) With vehicle brakes applied to keep axle shaft
from turning, tighten hub nut to 203 N´m (150 ft.
lbs.).
(15) Install front wheel and tire assembly. Install
front wheel lug nuts and tighten to 135 N´m (100 ft.
lbs.).
(16) Check for correct fluid level in transaxle
assembly. Refer to Group 21 Transaxle, for the cor-
Fig. 15 Steering Knuckle to C/V Joint Sealing Area
Fig. 16 Outer C/V Joint Inspection
Fig. 17 Driveshaft Installation Into Hub And Steering
Knuckle
Fig. 18 Tighten Steering Knuckle Clamp Bolt
3 - 6 DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINEPL
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

rect fluid level checking procedure for the type of
transaxle being checked.
(17) Lower vehicle.
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY
DRIVESHAFT RECONDITION
NOTE: The only service that is to be performed on
the driveshaft assemblies is the replacement of the
driveshaft seal boots.
If any failure of internal driveshaft components is
diagnosed during a vehicle road test or disassembly
of the driveshaft, the driveshaft will need to be
replaced as an assembly.
NOTE: Lubricant requirements and quantities are
different for inner joints than for outer joints. Use
only the recommended lubricants in the required
quantities when servicing driveshaft assemblies.
See (Fig. 21) for the exploded view of the front
driveshaft components.
Fig. 19 Front Disc Brake Caliper Assembly Bolts
Fig. 20 Spring Washer, Nut Lock And Cotter Pin
Installation
PLDIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE 3 - 7
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(9) Insert a trim stick between the tripod joint and
the sealing boot to vent inner tripod joint assembly
(Fig. 33).When inserting trim stick between tri-
pod housing and sealing boot, ensure trim stick
is held flat and firmly against the tripod hous-
ing. If this is not done, damage to the sealing
boot can occur.If inner tripod joint has a Hytrel
(hard plastic) sealing boot, be sure trim stick is
inserted between soft rubber insert and tripod hous-
ing, and not the hard plastic sealing boot and soft
rubber insert.
(10) With trim stick inserted between sealing boot
and tripod joint housing, position inner tripod joint
on driveshaft until correct sealing boot edge to edge
length is obtained for type of sealing boot material
being used (Fig. 34) (Fig. 35). Then remove the trim
stick.
(11) Clamp tripod joint sealing boot to tripod joint
using required procedure for type of boot clamp
application. If seal boot uses crimp type boot clamp,clamp sealing boot onto tripod housing using crimper,
Special Tool C-4975-A. Place crimping tool C- 4975-A
over bridge of clamp (Fig. 36). Tighten nut on crimp-
ing tool C- 4975-A until jaws on tool are closed com-
pletely together, face±to±face (Fig. 37).
(12) If seal boot uses low profile latching type boot
clamp, clamp sealing boot onto tripod housing using
clamp locking tool, Snap-OntYA3050 (or an equiva-
lent). Place prongs of clamp locking tool in the holes
of the clamp (Fig. 38). Squeeze tool together until top
band of clamp is latched behind the two tabs on
lower band of clamp (Fig. 39).
(13) Install the driveshaft requiring boot replace-
ment back on the vehicle. See Servicing Driveshaft in
this section for the required driveshaft installation
procedure.
Fig. 33 Trim Stick Inserted for Venting Tripod Joint
Fig. 34 Sealing Boot End to End Length with Hytrel
Boot
Fig. 35 Sealing Boot End to End Length with
Silicone Boot
Fig. 36 Crimping Tool Installed on Sealing Boot
Clamp
3 - 12 DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINEPL
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

BRAKES
CONTENTS
page page
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM±TEVES MARK 20 . 69
BASE BRAKE SYSTEM..................... 2GENERAL INFORMATION................... 1
GENERAL INFORMATION
INDEX
page
GENERAL INFORMATION
BASE BRAKE SYSTEM DESCRIPTION........ 1
GENERAL INFORMATION
BASE BRAKE SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
Typical brake equipment consists of:
²Double pin floating caliper disc front brakes.
²Rear automatic adjusting drum brakes.
²Brake Fluid Level Switch.
²Master cylinder.
²Vacuum power booster.
²Double pin floating caliper rear disc brakes are
available on some models.
²Hand operated auto adjust park brake lever.
²Front disc brake pads are semi-metallic.
Vehicles equipped with the optional antilock brake
system (ABS) use a system designated Mark 20 and
is supplied by Teves. This system shares the base
brake hardware with vehicles not equipped withABS. A vehicle equipped with ABS does however use
a different vacuum booster, master cylinder and
brake tubes. Also included in the ABS system is an
integrated control unit (ICU), four wheel speed sen-
sors, and an electronic controller referred to as the
controller antilock brakes (CAB). These components
will be described in detail in the Teves Mark 20 ABS
brake section in this group of the service manual.
The hydraulic brake system is diagonally split on
both the Non-ABS and ABS braking system. With the
left front and right rear brakes on one hydraulic sys-
tem and the right front and left rear on the other.
The master cylinder is anodized, lightweight alu-
minum. On vehicles equipped with front disc brakes
and rear drum brakes, the master cylinder bore is
21.0 mm. On vehicles equipped with four wheel disc
brakes, the master cylinder bore is 22.2 mm.
PLBRAKES 5 - 1

operating cable configuration as the drum brake
equipped vehicles, but different cables.
PROPORTIONING VALVES
NON-ANTILOCK BRAKES
Proportioning valves balance front to rear braking
by controlling at a given ratio, the increase in rear
brake system hydraulic pressure above a preset level
(split point). Under light pedal application, the pro-portioning valve allows full hydraulic pressure to be
applied to the rear brakes.
The non-antilock master cylinder is a four outlet
design with two screw-in proportioning valves (Fig.
9) attached directly to the inboard side of the master
cylinder housing.
There are two proportioning valve assemblies used
in each vehicle. Due to differences in thread sizes,
each proportioning valve has a different part number.
During any service procedures identify valve assem-
blies by supplier part number and or the color iden-
tification band (Fig. 10).
ANTILOCK BRAKES PROPORTIONING VALVES
The master cylinder on vehicles equipped with
antilock brakes is a two outlet design. This antilock
brakes master cylinder does not have the proportion-
ing valves mounted on it.
On vehicles equipped with antilock brakes the pro-
portioning valves are located at the rear of the vehi-
cle (Fig. 11). The proportioning valves are mounted
directly in-line with the chassis brake tube going to
each rear brake of the vehicle (Fig. 11).
There are two proportioning valves used in each
vehicle. Due to differences in thread sizes, each pro-
Fig. 7 Park Brake Assembly With Rear Disc Brakes
Fig. 8 Drum In Hat Rotor
Fig. 9 Master Cylinder And Proportioning Valves For
Non Antilock Equipped Vehicles
Fig. 10 Non-Antilock Proportioning Valve
PLBRAKES 5 - 5
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)