Control Arm: Service and Repair
REMOVAL-LOWER CONTROL ARM1. Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist.
2. Remove wheel and tire assembly.
3. Remove the steering knuckle.
4. Remove the bolts fastening the power steering cooler to the front suspension cradle crossmember reinforcement (Fin. 22).
5. Remove the lower control arm rear bushing retainer bolts located on each side of each lower control arm rear bushing.
NOTE: The bolts fastening the cradle crossmember reinforcement are of two different thread sizes. Note the location of the various sizes.
6. Remove the bolts attaching the cradle crossmember reinforcement to the front suspension cradle crossmember. Remove the 2 bolts fastening the reinforcement and rear of cradle crossmember to the body of the vehicle. Remove the reinforcement.
7. Remove the pivot bolt attaching the front bushing of the lower control arm to the front suspension cradle crossmember.
8. Remove the lower control arm.
INSTALLATION-LOWER CONTROL ARM
1. Position lower control arm assembly into front suspension cradle crossmember guiding bushings into mounting position.
2. Install NEW pivot bolt attaching front bushing of lower control arm to front suspension cradle crossmember. Do not tighten or torque pivot bolt at this time.
3. Install the reinforcement on the front suspension cradle crossmember and install the bolts attaching the reinforcement to the cradle crossmember. Tighten the M-14 size bolts to a torque of 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.). Tighten the M-12 size bolts to a torque of 108 Nm (80 ft. lbs.).
4. Install the lower control arm rear bushing retainer bolts through reinforcement on each side of each lower control arm rear bushing. Tighten bolts to a torque of 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).
5. Install the two bolts and bushings attaching the reinforcement and rear of cradle crossmember to body of vehicle. Tighten bolts to a torque of 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.).
6. Install the power steering cooler. Tighten bolts to a torque of 11 Nm (100 inch lbs.).
7. Reinstall steering knuckle, brake rotor and caliper.
CAUTION: When locating jack stands under lower control arms, do not place the jack stands under the ball joints.
8. Position jack stands under the lower control arms as close to the ball joints as possible. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands until the jack stands are supporting the total weight of the vehicle.
9. Tighten front lower control arm pivot bolt to a torque of 183 Nm (135 ft. lbs.).
10. Install the wheel and tire assembly. Install and tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full specified torque of 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).
11. Raise vehicle, remove jack stands and lower vehicle to the ground.
12. Perform front wheel alignment as necessary.