Front Suspension

The front suspension is designed to allow each wheel to compensate for changes in the road surface level without appreciably affecting the opposite wheel. Each wheel is independently connected to the frame by a steering knuckle, ball joint assemblies, and upper and lower control arms. The control arms are specifically designed and positioned to allow the steering knuckles to move in a prescribed three dimensional arc. The front wheels are held in proper relationship to each other by two tie rods that are connected to steering arms on the knuckles and to an intermediate rod.
Two wheel drive vehicles have coil chassis springs that are mounted between the spring housings on the frame and the lower control arms. Ride control is provided by double, direct-acting, shock absorbers mounted inside the coil springs and attached to the lower control arms by bolts and nuts. The upper portion of each shock absorber extends through the upper control arm frame bracket and is secured with two grommets, two grommet retainers, and a nut.

Side roll of the front suspension is controlled by a spring steel stabilizer shaft. The stabilizer shaft is mounted in rubber bushings that are held to the frame side rails by brackets. The ends of the stabilizer shaft are connected to the lower control arms by link bolts isolated by rubber grommets.

The upper control arm is attached to a cross shaft through isolating rubber bushings. The cross shaft, in turn, is bolted to frame brackets.
A ball joint assembly is riveted to the outer end of the upper arm. It is pre-loaded by a rubber spring to ensure proper seating of the ball in the socket. The upper ball joint is attached to the steering knuckle by a castellated nut and cotter pin.

The inner ends of the lower control arm have pressed-in bushings. Bolts, passing through the bushings, attach the arm to the frame. The lower ball joint assembly is a press fit in the lower control arm and attaches to the steering knuckle with a castellated nut and cotter pin. Rubber grease seals are provided at ball socket assemblies to keep dirt and moisture from entering the joint and damaging bearing surfaces.
Four wheel drive models have a front suspension consisting of control arms, stabilizer bar, shock absorber and a right and left torsion bar. Torsion bars are used instead of conventional coil springs. The front end of the torsion bar is attached to the lower control arm. The rear of the torsion bar is mounted into an adjustable arm at the torsion bar crossmember. Vehicle trim height is controlled by this arm adjustment.
Four wheel drive models have sealed front wheel bearings. These bearings are preadjusted and require no maintenance. Darkened areas on the bearing assembly are caused by the heat treatment process and does not mean that the bearing requires replacement.