Lower Control Arm
REMOVAL1. Raise the vehicle.
NOTE: When removing the center cap from the wheel do not use a sharp or hard tool. Use of such a tool can mare the finish on the wheel and damage the center cap.
2. Remove the center cap from the wheel. The center cap is removed by inserting a trim stick into the notch on the center cap and prying it off the wheel.
3. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.
4. Remove the nut and bolt mounting the push rod to the lower control arm. Remove the push rod from the isolator bushing in the lower control arm.
CAUTION: When removing the front lower control arm the remaining front suspension components on that side of the vehicle must be supported. If the remaining components are not supported they will drop when the lower control arm is removed causing possible injury, and damage to the vehicle.
5. Support the suspension on the side of the vehicle that the lower control arm is to be removed from by placing a transmission jack under the brake rotor. Raise the transmission jack so it contacts the brake rotor only. Do not lift the suspension.
NOTE: The lower ball joint to steering knuckle attaching nut is not to be reused. Discard the attaching nut after it is removed.
6. Remove the nut attaching the stud of the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle.
7. Remove the nut and washer attaching the stud of the upper ball joint to the steering knuckle.
NOTE: The special nut must be installed on the stud or the upper ball joint to properly align the Remover, Special Tool 6998, with the stud of the lower ball joint. Use of the special nut will also prevent damage to the steering knuckle when pressing out the lower ball joint stud.
8. Install the correct special nut of Remover, Special Tool 6998, on the stud of the upper ball joint.
9. Install Remover, Special Tool 6998, between the special nut previously installed on the stud of the upper ball joint and the stud of the lower ball joint.
CAUTION: Do not strike the steering knuckle or apply heat to the steering knuckle when separating the ball joint stud from the steering knuckle.
10. Hold the end of the Remover, Special Tool 6998, that is against the special nut from turning with a wrench. Using a wench, turn the threaded end of the tool against the stud of the lower ball joint. This will press the stud of the lower ball joint out of the steering knuckle.
11. Remove the Remover, Special Tool 6998, and its special nut from the stud of the upper ball joint.
12. Install the original nut and washer that previously removed, back on the stud of the upper ball joint. Tighten, but do not torque the upper ball joint nut at this time.
CAUTION: When removing lower control arm, do not hammer on or bend the frame brackets. This can cause the frame bracket to break requiring frame repair or replacement.
13. Remove the pivot bolts and flag nuts attaching the lower control arm to the frame brackets.
14. Remove the lower control arm from the frame brackets.
INSTALLATION
1. Position the lower control arm in the frame brackets.
2. Loosely install the lower control arm pivot bolts and flag nuts attaching the arm to the frame. Do not tighten the bolts at this time.
CAUTION: When installing the lower ball joint on the steering knuckle, a new mounting nut must be used. This is required to provide for the proper tightening and torque retention of the ball joint attaching nut.
NOTE: The lower ball joint nut has a plastic skirt attached to the bottom of it. The skirt is used to pull the stud of the ball joint into the steering knuckle as the nut is tightened. This prevents the stud from rotating in the steering knuckle, allowing the nut to be properly torqued. The plastic skirt is made to fold up on itself as the nut is tightened.
3. Install the lower ball joint stud into the steering knuckle. Install a NEW ball joint to steering knuckle attaching nut. Tighten the attaching nut to a torque of 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.).
4. Tighten the upper ball joint to steering knuckle attaching nut and washer to a torque of 129 Nm (95 ft. lbs.).
5. Install the push rod on the lower control arm.
NOTE: When installing the push rod attaching bolt, it must be installed so the head of the bolt is facing to the rear of the vehicle, and the nut is toward the front of the vehicle. This is required to maintain clearance from the steering knuckle when the steering is turned to full lock.
6. Loosely install the push rod to lower control arm attaching bolt and nut.
7. Install the wheel and tire assembly.
8. Tighten the wheel mounting nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full specified torque of 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).
9. Install the center cap on the wheel
10. Lower the vehicle.
11. Place the vehicle on an alignment rack so the full weight of the vehicle is supported by the suspension.
NOTE: When jouncing the vehicle, the vehicle must be released at the bottom of the jounce cycle. This will ensure the vehicle's suspension will raise the vehicle to the correct curb height at the top of the jounce cycle.
12. Jounce the vehicle several times to allow the vehicle to settle at its correct curb height.
13. Tighten the push rod to lower control arm attaching nut and bolt to a torque of 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.).
14. Tighten the lower control arm pivot bolts to a torque of 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.).
NOTE: When removal and installation of the lower control arm is performed on this vehicle, the vehicle MUST have a full alignment done afterward.
15. Align the vehicle per the procedure listed in Wheel Alignment.