Removal

CAUTION: MAKE SURE VEHICLE IS PROPERLY SUPPORTED AND SQUARELY POSITIONED ON HOIST. TO HELP AVOID PERSONAL INJURY, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE VEHICLE THAT COMPONENTS WILL BE REMOVED FROM.

1. Raise vehicle on hoist with steering in unlocked position.
2. Remove left road wheel.





3. Remove and discard left lower control arm ball stud cotter pin.





NOTICE: Care must be taken to prevent damage to the speed sensor ring on ABS vehicles. Minor surface damage to the speed sensor ring can result in ABS system malfunctions.

NOTICE: Do not attempt to separate the joint using a wedge-type tool because the seal may be damaged.

4. Loosen (do not remove) left lower control arm ball stud castle nut, until the top of the castle nut is level with the top of the ball stud.
5. For left side of vehicle, use SA9132S (or equivalent) to separate lower control arm from knuckle.





6. For left side of vehicle, remove lower control arm ball stud castle nut.
7. Remove left side splash shield.
a. Remove two push pins.
b. Remove lower shield to cradle molded-in fasteners at cradle by gently prying at three fastener locations.

IMPORTANT: Remove front section of shield first, then rear.

IMPORTANT: If molded-in fasteners are damaged or broken, drill out with a 5/16 bit and replace with a push pin.





8. For left side of vehicle, remove lower control arm-to-cradle fastener.





9. For right side of vehicle, remove tension strut-to-lower control arm nut and washer.

IMPORTANT: The road wheel should be turned to the left to allow access to the nut.

10. Remove tension strut-to-cradle mounting bracket fasteners.

IMPORTANT: If the tension strut-to-cradle strut nut becomes damaged due to corrosion, cross-threading, etc., or is broken loose from the cradle, it can be replaced using the following procedure:





If the nut is broken loose from the cradle and the bolt is locked in the nut, proceed to steps c, d, and e.

If the nut is not broken loose from the cradle, but is damaged and the bolt is removed:
a. Distort the threads of the service bolt sufficiently to cause the bolt to lock into the nut.
b. Install bolt, and using an air impact wrench, continue turning bolt until nut is broken loose from the cradle.
c. Cut off the bolt head.
d. Retrieve the bolt shank and nut from the cradle cavity.
e. Install new bolt (PN 21010823) and repair nut (PN 21006321).
11. Remove tension strut (with left control arm) from vehicle.
12. Remove left control arm-to-tension strut nut and washer from tension strut.
13. Remove left control arm from tension strut.