Control Arm: Service and Repair
LOWER CONTROL ARMREMOVAL
1. Raise vehicle.
2. Remove tire and wheel assembly.
NOTE: Removing the outer tie rod from the steering knuckle allows the steering knuckle to be turned further. This allows better access to the steering knuckle when striking it to remove the ball joint stud from the steering knuckle.
3. Remove nut attaching the outer tie rod to steering knuckle. Remove nut from tie rod end by holding tie rod stud with a socket while loosening and removing nut with wrench.
4. Remove outer tie rod from steering knuckle using Remover, Special Tool C-3894-A.
5. Remove cotter pin and castle nut from lower ball joint stud.
CAUTION: No tool is to be inserted between the steering knuckle and the lower ball joint to separate the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle. The steering knuckle is to be separated from the ball joint only using the procedure as described in step Step 6 below.
CAUTION: When striking the steering knuckle, do not hit the heat shield covering the ball joint grease seal. Bending the heat shield against the ball joint grease seal will cause the grease seal to fail.
6. Turn steering knuckle so front of steering knuckle is facing as far outboard in the wheel opening as possible. Using a hammer, strike steering knuckle boss until steering knuckle separates from lower ball joint. When striking steering knuckle, care MUST be taken not to hit lower control arm or hall joint grease seal.
CAUTION: Pulling the steering knuckle outward from the vehicle after releasing it from the ball joint, can separate driveshaft inner C/V joint, thus damaging it.
7. Remove shock absorber clevis to lower control arm bushing, nut and through-bolt. Separate clevis from lower control arm.
8. Remove nut attaching stabilizer bar link to lower control arm. When removing nut, hold stud of stabilizer bar link from turning by inserting an alien wrench in end of stud.
9. Remove bolts attaching closest stabilizer bar bushing clamp to front suspension crossmember and body of vehicle.
10. Lower that side of stabilizer bar away from lower control arm and body of vehicle.
11. Remove nut and bolt attaching rear of lower control arm to front suspension crossmember.
12. Remove nut and bolt attaching the front of lower control arm to front suspension crossmember.
CAUTION: When removing lower control arm from crossmember care must be taken to prevent hitting lower ball joint seal against steering knuckle, causing damage to the ball joint seal.
13. Remove front of lower control arm from suspension crossmember first, then remove rear of lower control arm from suspension crossmember. When removing rear of lower control arm from crossmember, keep control arm as level as possible. This will keep rear bushing from binding on crossmember making it easier to remove control arm from crossmember.
INSTALLATION
1. Position rear of lower control arm into front suspension crossmember first, then install front of lower control arm in front suspension crossmember. Install bolts and nuts attaching front and rear of lower control arm to front suspension crossmember. Do not tighten front attaching bolt at this time. Tighten lower control arm rear attaching nut and boltto 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.) torque.
2. Install lower control arm ball joint stud into steering knuckle. Install the steering knuckle to ball joint stud castle nut. Do not tighten nut at this time.
CAUTION: When installing tie rod on steering knuckle, the heat shieldmust be installed. If heat shield is not installed, tie rod seal boot can fail due to excessive heat from brake rotor.
3. Install outer tie rod stud into steering knuckle. Start outer tie rod-to-steering knuckle attaching nut onto tie rod stud. While holding stud of tie rod end stationary, tighten nut using a crowfoot and 11/32 socket. Tighten nut to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.) torque.
4. Tighten lower control arm ball joint castle nut to 74 Nm (55 ft. lbs.) torque. Install cotter pin.
5. Position stabilizer bar link into its lower control arm mounting hole.
6. Align stabilizer bar bushing clamp with mounting holes in front suspension crossmember and body of vehicle. Install and tighten bushing clamp mounting bolts to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.) torque.
7. Install and tighten stabilizer bar link-to-lower control arm nut to 102 Nm (75 ft. lbs.) torque. When tightening nut, hold stud of link from turning using an alien wrench.
8. Align shock absorber clevis with bushing in lower control arm and install thru-bolt and nut. Do not tighten nut at this time.
CAUTION: When supporting lower control arm with jack stand, do not position jack stand under the ball joint cap on the lower control arm. Position stand in area of lower control arm shown.
9. Position a jack stand under lower control arm, so that when arm is lowered onto it, vehicle will be at curb height.
10. Lower vehicle with jack stand positioned under lower control arm. Continue to lower vehicle until total weight of that corner of vehicle is supported by jack stand and lower control arm.
CAUTION: When tightening the thru-bolt and nut, do not turn the bolt in the clevis. The serrations on the bolt and the hole in the clevis will be damaged.
11. With the vehicle's suspension at curb height, tighten the clevis-to-lower control arm bushing thru bolt nut to 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.) torque.
12. Tighten front lower control arm nut and boltto 182 Nm (135 ft. lbs.) torque.
13. Raise vehicle and remove jack stand from under lower control arm.
14. Install wheel and tire assembly. Install wheel mounting (lug) nuts and progressively tighten in proper sequence to 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.) torque.
15. Lower vehicle.
16. Check wheel alignment specifications and set front toe to preferred specifications.