Ball Joint: Service and Repair

BALL JOINT

Tools Required:
J 38892 Ball Joint Separator









Remove

1. Raise vehicle and suitably support.
2. If suspension contact hoist is used:

- Place jack stands under suspension supports.
- Lower vehicle slightly so weight of vehicle rests on the suspension supports and not the control arms.

3. Tire and wheel assembly.

Note: Care must be exercised to prevent the axle shaft joints from being over-extended. When either end of the shaft is disconnected, over-extension of the joint could result in separation of internal components and possible joint failure. Failure to observe this can result in interior joint or boot damage and possible joint failure.


4. Cotter pin and nut from ball joint.
5. Separate ball joint from steering knuckle using J 38892.


Note: Use only the recommended tool for separating the ball joint from knuckle. Failure to use the recommended tool may cause damage to the ball joint and seal.


6. Drill out three rivets retaining ball joint to lower control arm. Use a 3 mm (1/8 in.) drill bit to make a pilot hole through the rivets. Finish drilling rivets with 13 mm (1/2 in.) drill bit.

Note: Do not damage drive axle boot when drilling out ball joint rivets.

7. Nut attaching link to stabilizer shaft.
8. Ball joint from steering knuckle and control arm.


Install

1. Piston ball joint control arm.
2. Three (3) ball joint bolts and nuts as shown on instruction sheet in ball ball joint kit and tighten ball joint bolts to specification.
3. Ball joint and through steering knuckle.
4. Ball joint nut.


- Stabilizer shaft insulator clamp nuts to 22 Nm (16 lbs. ft.).
- Ball joint to steering knuckle nut to 55 Nm (41 lbs. ft.) minimum torque - 65 Nm (50 lbs. ft.) maximum torque to install cotter pin.

- Do not loosen nut any time during installation.

5. Cotter pin.
6. Nut attaching stabilizer link to stabilizer shaft.

Tighten

- Nut to 17 Nm (13 lbs. ft.).

7. Tire and wheel assembly.
8. Check front end alignment.