Who else wants to learn how to replace 04 navigator rear struts and air springs?
You, right?
Here, you will discover just how to replace the rear air suspension on your 2004 Lincoln Navigator car. The tools needed to do a good job and a visual demonstration of how to go about it yourself.
Ready?
Let’s hit the ground running.
First off, let’s delve deeper into the replacement of rear struts and air springs in an 04 Navigator vehicle from Vigorairride.
How To Replace 04 Navigator Rear Struts And Air Springs
Prep Activities
- Here, you know your safety is paramount to us. So, before we lay hands on any other thing. First, put on your protective eyewear and gloves. Done?
Now we can get started.
- Power off the car engine, align the car tires in a straightforward manner. Then, open the car trunk to disconnect the car batteries. Doing this protects you from getting shocked when working on the car.
- Identify the appropriate lifting positions on your vehicle and with the use of appropriate lifting tools, raise the car up to a level that allows you to work from beneath the car without hindrances. I usually recommend the use of vehicle lifts as lifting tools.
- Have you done that now?
We can now proceed to the removal of the wheel. Using a lug nut remover or electric impact driver, remove the nuts holding the wheel to the rear axle.
In the case where you observe the nuts to be difficult to remove, apply rust breaker/lubricant and leave for a few minutes before removing.
- Carefully take the wheel off, and please ensure you keep the lug nuts in a safe place so it does not get missing.
Removing The Old Air Springs
- We can now proceed to disconnect the air lines from the air spring. The airlines are valves through which pressurized, dried air passes from the air tank to the air bladder.
- Disconnect the electrical connectors from the solenoid of the air spring. Push the solenoid cover inside, and pull out the air lines.
- Loosen and remove the top three nuts on the upper mount of the rear wheel. Then loosen and remove the ball joint nut to separate the spindle from the ball joint. You can now loosen and separate the bottom mounting nut holding the air springs in position.
- You can now remove the air struts from the vehicle.
- The next thing to do is…
Remove the air spring from the rear struts. Remove the top retaining nut on the top of the struts. Turn the air strut assembly upside down and with the aid of a flathead screwdriver, depress the securing tabs to dislodge the piston.
- Remove the air shocks from the air spring assembly.
- Disconnect the retainer pins attaching the upper mount to the air spring and pry the mount off, using the same flathead screwdriver
The next section focus on the replacement of 04 navigator rear struts and air springs on your vehicle. But before you latch onto the lessons there. First, ensure you had adhered to the above instructions.
The Installation Of 04 Navigator Rear Struts And Air Springs
- Remove the old o-rings on the upper mount detached from the air spring with new ones.
- Install the bumper, replace the washer, and rubber spacer.
- Lubricate the o-rings, carefully.
- Install the top mount onto the air spring, ensure, they are sitting tight against one another. Then, go ahead to replace the mount retainer pins.
- Double-check that both the mount and the air springs are tightly fitted. You can use a wooden mallet to lightly hit both together.
Please, use a light mallet and hit on the plastics carefully
- Install the new air spring onto the shock absorber. Then carefully engage the securing tab holding both in position.
- Remount and tighten the top mounting nuts earlier removed.
- Now gently remove the old o-rings from the solenoid and replace them with new ones. You should use a flathead screwdriver to do this.
- Go ahead with installing new o-rings on the solenoid and then lubricate.
- Install the air spring to the air spring assembly, ensure you secure it with retaining clips.
- When installing the electrical connector, ensure it faces away from the shocks.
- Make sure you tighten all nuts and bolts earlier removed to the manufacturer’s specification in this order;
- Replace and tighten the three upper mount nuts and reconnect the electrical connector to the solenoid of the air spring.
- Reattach the air lines. Replace the bottom mounting bolts.
- Go ahead and replace the wheel and tighten the lug nuts to the manufacturer’s specification.
- Lower the vehicle to the standard height, reconnect the battery and take the car for a test drive.
Sneaky tip:
I strongly recommend that you lower the vehicle to standard height, wait for two minutes after starting the engine then can go on for a test drive.
Also;
It is in your best interest to take your car for alignment to enhance performance and ensure your safety.
Here is a visual demonstration of the exact step by step procedure I have highlighted in this post by Arnott Air Suspensions showing you how to replace the 04 navigator rear struts and air springs
(Video)
Tools For Carrying Out This Task
- Protective gloves
- Goggle
- Flathead screwdriver
- Prying par
- Lubricant or Rust breaker
- Lugnut remover or impact driver
- Vehicle lift
- Air spring kit
In Conclusion
By now, you should be able to change your 04 navigator rear struts and air springs. Follow the instructions provided in this post, endeavor to get the tools listed, and don’t forget to watch the videos therein.
That’s all there is to get started with this DIY task.
So, what are you waiting for?
