Front Lower
REMOVAL PROCEDURE- Tools Required
- J 43828 Ball Joint Separator
NOTICE: Use only the recommended tools for separating the ball joint from the knuckle. Failure to use the recommended tools may cause damage to the ball joint and seal.
1. Raise the vehicle. Support the vehicle by the frame. Allow the control arms to hang free. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
2. Remove the wheel and the tire.
3. Disconnect the stabilizer link to control arm bolt.
4. Remove the cotter pin (1). Loosen the nut (2) from the ball stud.
NOTICE: Care must be exercised to prevent Tri-Pot joints from being over-extended. When either end of the shaft is disconnected, over-extension of the joint could result in separation of internal components and possible joint failure. Drive axle joint seal protectors should be used any time service is performed on or near the drive axles. Failure to observe this can result in interior joint or seal damage and possible joint failures.
5. Use the J 43828 in order to remove the ball joint from the steering knuckle.
6. Remove the control arm mounting bolts.
7. Remove the control arm from the frame.
INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
1. Install the control arm to the frame.
IMPORTANT: Do not tighten the control arm nuts at this time. Before tightening the control arm mounting nuts, support the weight of the vehicle by the control arms in order to obtain the vehicle design trim heights.
2. Install the bolts, washers and nuts.
3. Connect the stabilizer link to the control arm.
4. Connect the ball joint to the knuckle.
5. Install the cotter pin.
- Tighten the stabilizer shaft link assembly nut to 17 Nm (13 ft. lbs.).
- Tighten the ball joint nut to 10 Nm (88 inch lbs.). Then, tighten the two flats to a minimum of 55 Nm (41 ft. lbs.) in order to align the cotter pin slot.
NOTICE: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.
6. Install the wheel and tire.
- Tighten wheel nuts to 140 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).
7. Lower the vehicle.
8. Inspect the trim height. Refer to Trim Height Specifications.
Tighten the control arm nuts in the following sequence:
8.1 Tighten the rear mounting bolt to 158 Nm (117 ft. lbs.).
8.2 Tighten the front mounting nut to 126 Nm (93 ft. lbs.).