Ball Joint: Service and Repair

Remove or Disconnect

1. Raise the vehicle and support it with suitable safety stands.
2. Wheel and tire.
3. Rivets from the ball joint (115 or 127).
Brake hose and bracket (142), upper control arm only.
Use a 3.175 mm (11a-inch) drill to cut a 6.35 mm (114-inch) hole in the center of each rivet.
Drill the rivet heads away using a 12.7 mm (112-inch) drill.
Using a pin punch remove the rivets.
4. Pin (130).
5. Nut (129 or 131).
6. Ball joint (115 or 127) from the knuckle (117).
Support the knuckle.
7. Ball joint (115 or 127).

Install or Connect

1. Ball joint (115 or 127) to the control arm.
2. Bolts (B) and nuts (A) to the ball joint tighten nuts (A) to 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.).
3. Ball joints (115 or 127) to the knuckle (117).
4. Nut (129 or 131).

Tighten

1. Nut (129) to 128 Nm (94 ft. lbs.).
2. Nut (129) must be tightened with the control arm at "Z" Height. Refer to Alignment.

Alignment.

1. Tighten the nut to align the cotter pin. Do not tighten more than turn.
2. Pin (130).
3. Bend the pin ends against the nut.
4. Lower the vehicle.
5. Check front end alignment. Refer to FRONT END ALIGNMENT.