Honda Civic Service Manual: Rear Trailing Arm Removal and Installation (Drum Brake except Natural Gas models)

1.

Raise the vehicle on a lift, and make sure it is securely supported.

1.

Remove the rear wheel.

1.

Remove the rear floor undercover (A).

1.

Disconnect the brake line (A) from the wheel cylinder.

NOTE: After removal, plug the ends of the hoses and the joints to prevent spilling brake fluid.

2.

Remove the wheel speed sensor (B).

NOTE: Do not disconnect the wheel speed sensor connector.

3.

Remove the brake hose mounting bracket (C).

1.

Position a floor jack at the connecting point of the trailing arm (A) and the knuckle (B).

2.

Raise the floor jack until the suspension begins to compress.

1.

Remove the damper mounting bolt (A).

1.

Remove the flange bolt (A).

2.

Disconnect the upper arm (B) from the knuckle (C).

1.

Mark the cam positions of the adjusting bolt (A) with the frame.

2.

Mark the cam positions of the adjusting cam plate (B) with the frame.

3.

Remove the self-locking nut (C), the adjusting cam plate, and the adjusting bolt.

4.

Remove the flange bolt (D).

5.

Disconnect the knuckle from the trailing arm.

1.

Remove the flange nut (A) while holding the respective joint pin (B) with a hex wrench (C).

2.

Disconnect the stabilizer link (D) from the trailing arm.

1.

Remove the trailing arm front mounting bolts (A).

2.

Lower the floor jack gradually.

3.

Remove the spring mounting cushion (A).

4.

Remove the spring (B).

5.

Remove the lower spring seat (C).

1.

Remove the parking brake cable mounting bolt (A).

2.

Remove the trailing arm rear mounting bolt (A).

3.

Lower the jack, and remove the trailing arm (B).

1.

Install the trailing arm (A).

2.

Loosely install the new trailing arm rear mounting bolt (B).

3.

Install the parking brake cable mounting bolt (A).

1.

Install the spring (A) on the spring mounting cushion (B) by aligning the upper end (C) of the spring with the ledge portion (D) of the spring mounting cushion.

2.

Install the lower spring seat (A).

3.

Install the spring mounting cushion (B) and the spring (C).

4.

Align the bottom of the spring (A) and the lower spring seat (B) with the trailing arm (C) as shown.

5.

Loosely install the new trailing arm front mounting bolts (A).

1.

Connect the stabilizer link (A) to the trailing arm.

2.

Install the new flange nut (B), and tighten them to the specified torque while holding the respective joint pin (C) with a hex wrench (D).

1.

Connect the knuckle to the trailing arm.

2.

Loosely install the new flange bolt (A).

3.

Loosely install the new self-locking nut (B), the adjusting cam plate (C), and the new adjusting bolt (D).

NOTE: Align the cam positions of the adjusting bolt and the adjusting cam plate with the marked positions when tightening the self-locking nut.

1.

Connect the upper arm (A) to the knuckle (B).

2.

Loosely install the new flange bolt (C).

1.

Loosely install the new damper mounting bolt (A).

1.

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

2.

Tighten all mounting hardware to the specified torque.

1.

Install the brake hose mounting bracket (A).

2.

Install the wheel speed sensor (B).

3.

Connect the brake line (C) to the wheel cylinder.

NOTE:

1.

Make sure the brake fluid level in the reservoir tank (A) is at the MAX (upper) level line (B).

2.

Start the bleeding at the driver's side of the front brake system.

NOTE: Bleed the calipers in the sequence shown.

3.

Attach a length of clear drain tube (A) to the bleed screw (B).

4.

Submerge the other end of the drain tube into a clear plastic catch bottle of brake fluid (C).

5.

Have an assistant slowly pump the brake pedal several times then apply steady continuous pressure.

6.

Loosen the bleed screw slowly to bleed the fluid into the plastic catch bottle. The brake pedal will travel toward the floor as the fluid is bled from the system.

7.

When the brake pedal reaches the floor, have the assistant hold the pedal in that position, then tighten the bleed screw. The brake pedal can now be released.

8.

Check and refill the master cylinder reservoir tank to the MAX (upper) level line. Be sure to reinstall the master cylinder reservoir cap.

9.

Repeat steps 5 thru 8 until the brake fluid in the clear drain tube appears fresh and there are no air bubbles in the fluid.

10.

Repeat this procedure for each brake in the bleeding sequence.

1.

Install the rear floor undercover (A).

1.

Install the rear wheel.

NOTE: Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surfaces between the brake disc or the brake drum and the inside of the wheel.

For proper inspection and adjustment of the wheel alignment, do these checks:

1.

Release the parking brake to avoid an incorrect measurement.

2.

Make sure the suspension is not modified.

3.

Make sure the fuel tank is full, and that the tire repair kit, the spare tire, the jack, and the tools are in place on the vehicle.

4.

Check the tire size and tire pressure according to tire information.

Use commercially available computerized four wheel alignment equipment to measure wheel alignment (caster, camber, toe, and turning angle). Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions.

1.

Check the camber angle.

USA and Canada models

Mexico models

Use commercially available computerized four wheel alignment equipment to measure wheel alignment (caster, camber, toe, and turning angle). Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions.

1.

Release the parking brake to avoid an incorrect measurement.

2.

Check the toe.

Rear toe-in: 2+2-1 mm (0.08+0.08-0.04 in)

1.

Test-drive the vehicle.

1.

After 5 minutes of driving, torque the self-locking nut again to the specified torque.