Chevy Colorado 5.3L Repair Information

Chevy Colorado 5.3L Rear End Repair Information

Here you can find information regarding repairs to the Chevy Colorado rear end system. These repairs include the rear control arms installation, the rear swaybar information and bolt torque specs, the rear diff fluid change procedures, and the rear end watts system installation. All of these repairs and procedures include in depth details on how to perform the replacement and or repair. They also contain all the detailed torque specs needed for each bolt involved in the repair.

Rear Leaf Spring Installation

The rear suspension of the Chevy Colorado consists of leaf springs and shock absorbers. The leaf springs are held together using a series of mounts and shackles. To start off the springs get held to the rear axle through the use of giant u bolts. These U-bolts contain nuts on the bottom of them that must be torqued down to 74 ft-lbs. I always use some loctite on these nuts as if they come off your entire rear end will come loose. Besides the U-bolts the rear suspension has a series of mounts that connect the leaf springs themselves to the vehicles frame. The leaf spring mounting nuts gets tightened down to 177 ft-lbs. The shackle nuts get tightened down to 118 ft-lbs and the anchor plate bolts gets tighten down to 59 ft-lbs and then an additional 125 degree turn. The center spring holder pin can be torqued down to 30 ft-lbs. This ensures that the leaf springs all stay stacked together.

Chevy Colorado Rear Axle U-Bolts Torque Specs : 74 ft-lbs

Chevy Colorado Leaf Spring Mounting Nut Torque Spec : 177 ft-lbs

Chevy Colorado Shackle Nuts Torque Spec : 118 ft-lbs

Chevy Colorado Spring Anchor Plate Torque Spec : 59 ft-lbs + 125°

Chevy Colorado Leaf Spring Center Pin Torque Spec : 30 ft-lbs

 

Rear Differential Torque Specs

On the Chevy Colorado the ring gear bolts get tightened down to 95 ft-lbs. The rear carrier bearing caps can be tightened down to 80 ft-lbs. The differential drain plug should be tightened down to 24 ft-lbs. While the backing plate to the differential get tightened down to 30 ft-lbs.

Chevy Colorado Rear End Ring Gear Torque Specs : 95 ft-lbs

Chevy Colorado Rear Carrier Bearing Caps Torque Specs : 80 ft-lbs

Chevy Colorado Rear Differential Drain Plug Torque Specs : 24 ft-lbs

Chevy Colorado Rear Diff Backing Plate Torque Specs : 30 ft-lbs

 

Rear Shocks Installation

To replace the rear shocks on a Chevy Colorado you will need to remove two sets of bolts/nuts located at the bottom and top of the shock. Both of these fasteners can be accessed from underneath the vehicle by jacking it up and removing the wheel. To uninstall the old shock simply just remove both of the fasteners and the part will come out. When installing the new part reverse the procedure and tighten up the lower bolt to 118 ft-lbs and then the upper bolts to 85 ft-lbs.

Chevy Colorado Rear Shock Upper Bracket Bolt Torque Specs : 85 ft-lbs

Chevy Colorado Rear Shock Lower Bolt Torque Specs : 118 ft-lbs

 

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Rear Leaf Spring Torque Specs
Rear Axle U-Bolts Torque Spec	74 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Mounting Nuts Torque Spec	177 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Shackle Nuts Torque Spec	118 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Anchor Plate Bolts Torque Spec	59 ft-lbs + 125°
Leaf Spring Center Pin Torque Spec	30 ft-lbs
Rear Differential / Axle Torque Specs
Rear End Ring Gear with E-locker Torque Spec	95 ft-lbs
Rear Carrier Bearing Cap Torque Spec	80 ft-lbs
Rear Differential Drain Plug Torque Spec	24 ft-lbs
Rear Axle Backing Plate Torque Spec	30 ft-lbs
Rear Shock Torque Specs
Rear Shock Upper Bolts Torque Spec	85 ft-lbs
Rear Shock Lower Bolt Torque Spec	118 ft-lbs