Upper

REMOVAL PROCEDURE





1. Raise the vehicle. Support the vehicle with safety stands.

CAUTION: Floor jack must remain under the control arm spring seat during removal and installation to retain the spring and control arm in position. Failure to do so could result in personal injury.

2. Support the lower control arm with a jackstand.
3. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.

NOTICE: Support the caliper with a piece of wire to prevent damage to the brake line.

4. Remove the front brake caliper.





5. Remove the nut and the bolt that retains the wheel speed sensor harness bracket to the upper control arm.





6. Remove the cotter pin and the nut from the lower ball joint.
7. Using a pry bar, placed under the upper control and on top of the frame, pry upward.
8. With the aid of a helper, carefully hammer on the steering knuckle in the area of the lower ball joint stud in order to release the stud from the lower control arm.
9. Place a block under the upper control arm in order to keep the control arm and the knuckle out of the way.





10. Remove the rivets from the upper ball joint.
11. Use a 3.175 mm (1/8 in) drill in order to cut a 6.35 mm (1/4 in) deep hole in the center of each rivet.





12. Drill away the rivet heads. Use a 12.7 mm (1/2 in) drill.





13. Punch the rivets out. Use a small pin punch.
14. Remove the ball joint.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
1. Install a new upper ball joint to the upper control arm and position the wheel speed sensor harness, if equipped.





2. Position four attaching bolts and nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 24 Nm (18 ft. lbs.).

NOTICE: Always use the correct fastener in the proper location. When you replace a fastener, use ONLY the exact part number for that application. The manufacturer will call out those fasteners that require a replacement after removal. The manufacturer will also call out the fasteners that require thread lockers or thread sealant. UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, do not use supplemental coatings (paints, greases, or other corrosion inhibitors) on threaded fasteners or fastener joint interfaces. Generally, such coatings adversely affect the fastener torque and joint clamping force, and may damage the fastener. When you install fasteners, use the correct tightening sequence and specifications. Following these instructions can help you avoid damage to parts and systems.





3. Install the upper ball joint to the steering knuckle.
4. Install the ball joint to steering knuckle nut.

Tighten
^ Tighten the nut to 100 Nm (74 ft. lbs.).
^ Tighten the stud nut in order to align the slot in the stud nut with the hole in the stud.

5. Install a new cotter pin.
6. Install the grease fittings





7. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the wheel speed sensor harness bracket to the upper control arm.

Tighten
Tighten the speed sensor retaining nut to 17 Nm (13 ft. lbs.).

8. Install the front brake caliper.
9. Install the tire and wheel assembly.

Important:
^ Check the running clearance at all of the suspension components.
^ Check the front wheel alignment.

10. Lower the vehicle.