Your Chrysler Town & Country has a leaf spring rear suspension. Replacing the leaf springs on a Chrysler Town & Country is challenging but can be accomplished by a careful novice with jack stands or ramps and a wrench set. Allow yourself an entire afternoon to work, and make certain to keep careful track of loose fasteners.
Raise and support the rear of your Chrysler Town & Country on jack stands, ramps or other safety stands designed to allow you to work underneath a minivan-sized vehicle. Place the safety stands underneath the frame contact points to allow yourself comfortable working space. Never work underneath a vehicle supported only by a jack.
Support the rear axle, independently of the Support in Step 1. This is intended to only just relieve the weight on the springs; do not attempt to support the weight of the minivan by the rear axle. Take careful note of how the lower leaf spring isolate is oriented.
Disconnect the lower ends of the shock absorbers at the rear axle bracket, then loosen and remove the bolts holding the axle plate (at the end of the leaf spring) onto the axle. Then lower the support under the rear axle assembly sufficient to let the springs hang free.
Remove the four bolts that mount the front spring hanger in place, supporting the spring as you work. Next remove the rear spring shackle nuts and plate, then remove the leaf spring from the shackle.
Take the leaf spring out of the vehicle. Take the front pivot bolt out of the front leaf spring mount. Begin installing the new leaf spring by installing the front spring mount onto the front of the leaf spring eye, then install the pivot bolt and nut. Fasten the pivot nuts only loosely. Verify that the pivot bolt is facing inboard; installing it incorrectly may cause structural damage.
Lift the front of the spring and install the four hanger mounting bolts you removed in Step 4. Tighten them to 45 foot pounds of torque. Install the rear of the spring onto the rear spring shackle and loosely attack the shackle plate. Check to be certain the lower leaf spring isolator is in its proper position.
Align the axle assembly under the leaf spring locator post. Install the rear axle plate bolts and tighten them to 80 foot pounds of torque. Reattach the rear shock absorber to the lower brackets, and lower your minivan to the ground until the springs support its full weight. Finally, tighten the front pivot bolt to 115 foot pounds, the shackle nuts to 45 foot pounds, and the shock absorber bolts to 75 foot pounds of torque.
