
Rear Suspension Page 4A-3
Page 4A–3
1 General Information
Independent rear suspension (IRS) is fitted as standard equipment on all MY 2004 WK Series Models, and is equipped
with variable rate minibloc coil rear springs and direct ac ting shock absorbers.
The rear suspension is contained within a rear crossmember assembly, which is attached by hydraulic rubber bushes at
each front corner to the vehicle underbody. Rear location is provided by a rear mounting block bolted to the differential
carrier assembly that is in turn, attached to the crossmember.
Two trailing arms are attached to the crossmember pivot points through rubber bushes. The trailing arms provide
attachment of the additional control arms, the rear brake components, trunnion assemblies, flanges and drive shaft outer
(rear wheel) bearings.
A decoupled type stabiliser bar is attached to the top of the crossmember by two brackets and insulating bushes. The
outer ends of the stabiliser bar are attached to each trailing arm by a link via insulating bushes.
The standard (Production Option FE1) suspension application utilises twin tube hydraulic shock absorbers that are
double acting and are mounted between the vehicle underbody and each trailing arm. The sports suspension (Production
Option FE2) application, utilises twin tube, gas pressurised shock absorbers. The level ride suspension (Production
Option FX3) application utilises the pneumatically adjustable (Superlift) type rear shock absorbers which are also
available as an accessory or as part of a 2100 kg tow bar package for select MY 2004 WK Series Models.
Numerous variable rate minibloc rear springs are fitted to MY 2004 WK Series Models, depending on the suspension
option fitted to the vehicle. The rear springs have insulating pads top and bottom, and are maintained in the correct
location by mounts on the vehicle underbody and the trailing arms.
As part of the KL7 production LPG option, MY 2004 WK Series are fitted an up-rated spring package to compensate for
the extra weight of the LPG tank.
To identify vehicles that are fitted with the KL7 LPG option, a Holden By Design (HBD) identification plate is attached to
the upper front panel, refer to Section 8A2, 1.2 Identification Plates and Warning Labels in the MY 2003 VY and V2
Series Service Information.
An additional control arm is also fitted as standard equipment to all MY 2004 WK Series Vehicles. The inner ends of the
addition control arms contain rubber bushes and are attached to brackets welded to the rear crossmember. The outer
end of the additional control arm is secured to the trailing arm by a ball joint. The purpose of the additional control arm is
to maintain the rear wheel camber and toe angles during suspension travel, whilst also providing a means of adjusting
the rear wheel toe.
The IRS as fitted to MY 2004 WK Series vehicles carries over from MY 2003 VY Series vehicles, noting the following:
• Automatic level ride (Production Option FX3) is available as an option on all WK Series vehicles.
• Sports suspension (Production Option FE2) is not available on MY 2004 WK Series Level 5 vehicles.
For information relating to the rear suspension as fitted to MY 2004 WK Series vehicles not covered in this Section, refer
to Section 4A, Rear Suspension in the MY 2003 VY and V2 Series Service Information
NOTE
For further information regarding how to identify
which suspension application (Production Option)
is fitted to a particular vehicle, refer to Section 0A,
9.3 Body and Option Identification Plate.
1.1 General Description
Automat i c Level Ride Suspension
Automatic level ride is an electronically controlled system that main tains the vehicle at a constant trim height, regardless
of vehicle load. This feature uses a specifically designed electronic ride height sensor (5), fixed to the rear crossmember
on the right-hand side. This sensor controls an electric motor driving a single cylinder air compressor (2) and an exhaust
solenoid valve. The compressor (2) supplies the necessary pressure to operate the Superlift shock absorbers (1) via
snap-on air lines (4). The Superlift shock absorbers assist the rear springs in supporting the vehicle body under all loads.
The ride height sensor (5) has an integrated electronic controller that is programmed to adjust the ride height only when
necessary, ignoring sudden changes, as experienced on bum py roads. The design of the system maintains trim at all
times when the ignition is on. As a safeguard to prevent the battery discharging, an electronic timer switches off the
compressor if it runs for a prolonged period (ie. due to an air leak in the system).