Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3L Repair Information

Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3L Rear End Repair Information

Here you can find information regarding repairs to the Chevy Silverado 1500 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 Silverado 1500 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 59 ft-lbs plus an additional 130 degree turn. 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 nut gets tightened down to 148 ft-lbs. The shackle nuts get tightened down to 70 ft-lbs and the hanger bolts tighten to 37 ft-lbs. The center spring holder pin can be torqued down to 30 ft-lbs. This ensures that the leaf springs all stay stacked together.

Chevy Silverado 1500 Rear Axle U-Bolts Torque Specs : 59 ft-lbs + 130°

Chevy Silverado 1500 Leaf Spring Mounting Nut Torque Spec : 148 ft-lbs

Chevy Silverado 1500 Shackle Nut Torque Spec : 70 ft-lbs

Chevy Silverado 1500 Spring Hanger Bolt Torque Spec : 37 ft-lbs

Chevy Silverado 1500 Leaf Spring Center Pin Torque Spec : 30 ft-lbs

 

Rear Differential Torque Specs

On the Chevy Silverado 1500 the rear end 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 Silverado 1500 Rear End Ring Gear Torque Specs : 95 ft-lbs

Chevy Silverado 1500 Rear Carrier Bearing Caps Torque Specs : 80 ft-lbs

Chevy Silverado 1500 Rear Differential Drain Plug Torque Specs : 24 ft-lbs

Chevy Silverado 1500 Rear Diff Backing Plate Torque Specs : 30 ft-lbs

 

Rear Shocks Installation

To replace the rear shocks on a Chevy Silverado 1500 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 both bolts to 85 ft-lbs.

Chevy Silverado 1500 Rear Shock Upper Bolt Torque Specs : 85 ft-lbs

Chevy Silverado 1500 Rear Shock Lower Bolt Torque Specs : 85 ft-lbs

 

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Rear Leaf Spring Torque Specs
Rear Axle U-Bolts Torque Spec	74 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Mounting Nut Torque Spec	148 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Shackle Nut Torque Spec	70 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Hanger Bolts Torque Spec	37 ft-lbs
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 Bolt Torque Spec	85 ft-lbs
Rear Shock Lower Bolt Torque Spec	85 ft-lbs