Less 4 Wheel Drive

Replace

1. Raise and support vehicle.
2. Remove front wheel, caliper assembly, and front hub assembly.
3. Loosen adjusting nut at tip of strut bar, then disconnect stabilizer and strut bars from lower control arm.
4. Remove shock absorber.
5. Using tool MB990792 or equivalent, compress coil spring.
6. Remove cotter pin and slotted nut from upper and lower ball joint studs.
7. Using tool MB990635 or equivalent, loosen connection between ball joint and knuckle, tapping knuckle with plastic mallet. After disconnecting upper ball joint from knuckle, disconnect lower ball joint from knuckle. Slotted nut should be temporarily tightened to upper ball joint.
8. Loosen tool MB990792, remove coil spring, and disconnect knuckle from ball joint.
9. Remove lower arm shaft and lower arm.
10. Remove bolts connecting upper arm shaft to crossmember, then remove upper arm as an assembly. Retain camber adjusting shims.
11. Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:

Fig. 1 Installing Upper Arm To Crossmember Bolts (Less 4WD):

a. Install camber adjusting shims between upper arm shaft and crossmember. Install bolts connecting upper arm shaft to crossmember in direction shown, Fig. 15, then torque bolts to 73-86 ft. lbs.
b. Install lower arm shaft to crossmember, leaving nut to lower arm shaft loose. After completion of front suspension installation and with vehicle lowered to ground, torque nut to 6-8 ft. lbs.
c. When installing front spring, insert spring seat between coil spring upper end and crossmember, and place other end in groove of lower arm.
d. Coil springs have identification marks inscribed. Ensure that springs are paired and that they are proper springs for vehicle.
e. Using tool MB990792 or equivalent, compress springs until lower arm is brought to level position.
f. Assemble knuckle with upper and lower ball joints, then torque upper knuckle to ball joint bolt to 44-65 ft. lbs. and lower knuckle to ball joint bolt to 87-130 ft. lbs.
g. Install shock absorber and torque shock absorber to crossmember nut to 9-13 ft. lbs. and shock absorber to lower arm nuts to 6-8 ft. lbs.
h. Install strut bar to lower arm and torque nuts to 51-61 ft. lbs.
i. When installing ends of stabilizer bar, tighten first nut so that distance between face of nut and end of bolt is .87-.94 inch, then torque second nut to 19-25 ft. lbs.
j. Install front hub and caliper assemblies, then install wheel.
k. Lower vehicle to ground, then torque lower arm shaft flange to crossmember to 6-8 ft. lbs. and lower arm shaft tightening nut to 40-54 ft. lbs.

Fig. 16 Exploded view of front suspension, less 4 wheel drive:

Service

1. Remove rebound stop, Fig. 16.
2. Remove ring and dust cover from upper ball joint, then remove snap ring.
3. Using tools MB990799 and MB990800 or equivalents, remove upper ball joint.
4. Remove ring and dust cover from lower ball joint, then remove lower ball joint from lower arm.
5. Inspect all components and replace as necessary.
6. Line up upper ball joint to upper arm mating marks and, using tools MB990799 and MB990800 or equivalents, press ball joint into upper arm. Replace upper arm or ball joint is standard ball joint installation pressure is not obtained. Initial pressure should be 1550 lbs. and final pressure should be 11000 lbs.
7. Insert snap ring into groove in ball joint case. If snap ring is not tightly fitted, install new snap ring.
8. Install dust cover and ring and fit to groove of ball joint.

Fig. 3 Adjusting Upper Arm Shaft To Caster Specifications (Less 4WD):

9. Turn upper arm shaft to obtain specified dimension, Fig. 17.
10. Assemble lower ball joint to lower arm and torque bolts to 22-30 ft. lbs.
11. Install dust cover with embossed portion facing front of vehicle, then install ring into groove of ball joint case.