Service Procedure
NOTES:^ Before starting this procedure, use Service Comm to confirm if the vehicle you are working on is affected by this campaign.
^ The following service procedure provides steps for replacing the driver's side transverse link.
^ Once the driver's side is done, use the same procedure for replacing the passenger side transverse link.
1. Place the vehicle on a lift - do not raise the vehicle yet.
2. Turn the ignition key to the ON position and record all radio station pre-sets.
3. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
4. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
5. Turn the ignition key to the ON position and leave it in the ON position for now.
NOTE:
The reason for leaving the ignition key in the ON position is to allow the front hub and rotor assembly to be turned side to side (with the vehicle raised on the lift) during this procedure.
6. Raise the vehicle on the lift.
7. Remove both front tire\wheel assemblies.
8. Turn the hub and rotor assembly all the way left against the steering stop (see Figure 1)
CAUTION:
Make sure you don't pull on or bend the brake dust shield.
9. Remove and throw away the lower ball joint cotter pin (see Figure 2).
10. Loosen, but do not remove at this time, the lower ball joint nut using the "Torque Adapter" tool J-46207 and a suitable length breaker bar (see Figure 3).
WARNING:
^ Make sure the Torque Adapter is positioned squarely (not angled) on the nut when loosening it (see "OK" and "NG" in Figure 3)
^ DO NOT use a "crowfoot" type tool to loosen the ball joint nut
11. Remove the nut that secures the stabilizer link to the lower control arm (see Figure 4).
CAUTIONS:
When doing the above step:
^ Use a back-up wrench to hold the stabilizer link ball stud during nut removal
^ Do not use an air-operated tool
12. Loosen, but do not remove at this time, the center bolt of the transverse link's bush link pin (see Figure 5). Then remove and throw away the remaining 3 bolts (see Figure 5).
13. Remove the 2 bolts that secure the transverse link rear bracket (see Figure 5).
14. Tap on the transverse link with a hammer to separate the ball joint tapered shaft from the steering knuckle tapered seat (see Figure 6).
CAUTIONS:
^ Use suitable eye and face protection when using the hammer
^ Be careful when using the hammer not to damage any surrounding brake, steering, or axle components
15. Remove the ball joint nut (see Figure 7a).
16. While supporting the transverse link, remove and throw away the one remaining bolt from the bush link pin (see Figure 7b).
17. Remove the transverse link from the vehicle.
18. Lock the bush link in a sturdy vise (equipped with jaw protectors) as shown in Figure 8.
19. Using a 27 mm socket:
^ Remove and throw away the bush link pin nut (see Figure 8)
^ Remove and save the washer (see Figure 8)
20. Remove the transverse link from the bush link pin. Leave the bush link pin locked in the vise for now.
21. Make the old transverse link useless (i.e., make it un-usable) by doing the following:
^ Damaging the rear bracket holes with an air chisel (see Figure 9a)
OR
^ Applying bright-colored spray paint to both sides of the transverse link (see Figure 9b)
22. Install the new transverse link onto the bush link pin (which is still locked in the vise) as follows:
A. Slide the transverse link onto the bush link pin.
B. Install the old washer and a new nut (finger-tight only at this time).
C. Hold the transverse link so it is aligned ("straight up and down") with the flat side of the bush link pin (see Figure 10).
D. Tighten the bush link pin nut to 118 - 147 N-M (12 - 15 Kg-m, 87 - 108 ft-lbs).
23. Put the new transverse link (with original bush link pin) on the vehicle as follows:
A. Put the transverse link ball joint into the steering knuckle bottom hole. Thread the ball joint nut onto the ball joint a few threads by hand (see Figure 11).
B. Install the 4 new bush link pin bolts finger-tight (see Figure 12).
C. Install the 2 transverse link rear bracket bolts finger-tight (see Figure 13).
D. Re-install the stabilizer link mounting nut finger-tight (see Figure 14).
E. Tighten the 4 bush link pin mounting bolts:
^ To 176-216 N-m (18-22 Kg-m, 130-159 ft-lbs)
^ According to the "Tightening Order" shown in Figure 15
F. Tighten the 2 transverse link rear bracket mounting bolts:
^ To 88 - 119 N-m (9.0 - 12 Kg-m, 65 - 87 ft-lbs)
^ According to the "Tightening Order" shown in Figure 15
G. Using a back up wrench, tighten the stabilizer link mounting nut to 48-57 N-m (4.9 - 5.9 Kg-m, 36-42 ft-lbs).
H. Tighten the ball joint nut as follows:
1. Measure your torque wrench between the center of the handle and the center of the square drive (see Figure 16).
2. Look up this length (in inches) on the chart (Figure 17) to determine the 1st and 2nd torque value of the ball joint nut.
IMPORTANT:
The readings given in the chart will "compensate" for the torque adapter tool length.
3. Install Torque Adapter J-46207 on your torque wrench making sure it is in-line (not angled) with the torque wrench (see "OK" and "NG" in Figure 18).
WARNING:
Do NOT use a "crowfoot" type tool to tighten the ball joint nut.
4. First, tighten the ball joint nut to the 1st torque value (from the chart in Figure 17).
5. Then, tighten the ball joint nut to the 2 nd torque value (from the chart in Figure 17).
6. Install a new cotter pin in the ball joint stud (see Figure 19).
24. Perform steps 8 through 23 for passenger side transverse link replacement.
25. Turn the steering to the straight-ahead position, then apply grease to both steering stopper brackets (at the point where the adjustment bolt touches). See Figure 20.
26. Install both wheel\tire assemblies and tighten the lug nuts to 99-127 N-m (10-13 Kg-m, 73-94 ft-lbs).
27. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
28. Re-connect the negative battery cable.
29. Turn the ignition key to the ON position and re-program all radio station pre-sets.
30. If equipped, re-set the sunroof memory as follows:
A. If the sunroof is open, press the tilting switch repeatedly toward tilt "Down" to fully close the sunroof (see Figure 21).
B. After the sunroof has closed all the way, keep pressing the tilting switch toward tilt "Down" for more than one second.
31. Check wheel alignment and adjust as necessary. Refer to "ON VEHICLE SERVICE - Front Wheel Alignment" in the "SU" section of the applicable Service Manual.