Control Arm: Service and Repair

Lower Control Arm Replacement

- Tool Required
- J 24319-B Steering Linkage and Tie Rod Puller
- J 36607 Upper Ball Joint Separator

Removal Procedure





1. Raise the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
2. Remove the tire and wheel.
3. Remove the torsion bar.
4. Remove the stabilizer shaft link.
5. Remove the shock absorber lower mounting bolt.
6. Compress the shock absorber.
7. Remove the rotor.





8. Remove the wheel drive shaft retaining nut and the washer from the wheel hub and bearing.





9. Disengage the wheel drive shaft from the wheel hub and bearing.
9.1. Place a brass drift against the outer end of the wheel drive shaft in order to protect the wheel drive shaft threads.
9.2. Sharply strike the brass drift with a hammer. Do not attempt to remove the wheel drive shaft from the wheel hub and bearing at this time.





10. Remove the outer tie rod cotter pin and retaining nut.





11. Remove the outer tie rod from the steering knuckle using the J24319-B.
12. Disconnect the wheel speed sensor electrical connector.
13. Remove the wheel speed sensor bracket retaining bolts at the frame and upper control arm.
14. Disconnect the wheel speed sensor wiring harness clips form the upper control arm.
15. Remove the upper ball joint cotter pin and retaining nut.





16. Install the J 36607 to the upper control arm and steering knuckle.
17. Disconnect the upper control arm from the steering knuckle using the J 36607.





18. Remove the lower ball joint cotter pin and retaining nut.
19. Using a pry bar, placed on top of the upper control arm and on the bottom of the frame, pry downward.
20. 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 steering knuckle.
21. Remove the steering knuckle and wheel hub and bearing.





22. Remove the lower control arm mounting nuts and the washer.
23. Remove the lower control arm mounting bolts.
24. Remove the lower control arm from the vehicle.
25. Remove the lower control arm brace from the lower control arm.

Installation Procedure





1. Install the lower control arm brace to the lower control arm.

Important: Install the front leg of the lower control arm to the crossmember before installing the rear leg to the frame bracket.

2. Install the lower control arm to the crossmember and frame bracket.
3. Install the lower control arm bolts in the proper direction.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.

Important: Tighten the nuts with the control arm at Z height.

4. Install the new nuts and the washers.
4.1. Tighten the lower control arm nuts and bolts with the front suspension loaded.
4.2. Tighten the lower control arm front mounting nuts to 133 Nm (98 ft. lbs.).
4.3. Tighten the lower control arm rear mounting nuts to 133 Nm (98 ft. lbs.)
5. Install the steering knuckle and the wheel hub and bearing to the lower ball joint.





6. Install the lower ball joint retaining nut.
7. Connect the upper ball joint to the steering knuckle.
8. Install the upper ball joint retaining nut.
- Tighten the upper ball joint retaining nut to 98 Nm (72 ft. lbs.).
- Tighten the lower ball joint retaining nut to 128 Nm (95 ft. lbs.).
9. Install new cotter pins to the upper and lower ball joints. Tighten the nut up to an additional 1/6 amount in order to insert the cotter pin through the upper and lower ball joint studs. Bend the cotter pin ends flat against the nut.
10. Connect the wheel speed sensor wiring harness clips to the upper control arm.
11. Install the wheel speed sensor wiring harness bracket retaining bolts at the steering knuckle and the frame.
12. Connect the wheel speed sensor electrical connector.





13. Connect the outer tie rod to the steering knuckle.
14. Install the outer tie rod retaining nut and cotter pin.
- Tighten the outer tie rod retaining nut to 49 Nm (36 ft. lbs.).





15. Install the wheel drive shaft washer and the retaining nut to the wheel hub and bearing.
- Tighten the wheel drive shaft retaining nut to 200 Nm (147 ft. lbs.).
16. Install the rotor.





17. Install the shock absorber lower mounting bolt.
- Tighten the lower shock mounting bolt to 62 Nm (42 ft. lbs.).
18. Install the stabilizer shaft link.
19. Install the torsion bar.
20. Install the tire and wheel.
21. Lower the vehicle.
22. Check the front wheel alignment.