Control Arm: Service and Repair

1. Raise and support front of vehicle.
2. Remove undercover.
3. Remove tension strut to control arm bolts, Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 Tension Strut & Lower Control Arm:

4. Remove stabilizer control link bolt.
5. Remove cotter pin from ball joint stud.
6. Check lower arm for damage/cracks, deteriorated bushings, wear/dust boot damage, then replace as required.
7. Check ball joint turning torque as described in Ball Joint Inspection.
8. Remove shock absorber lower bolt.
9. Remove control arm to suspension arm rear bolt.
10. Remove ball joint dust boot and clip.
11. Loosen ball joint nut until flush with top of stud, separate ball joint/knuckle using ball joint puller tool No. 49S231575, or equivalent, Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 Ball Joint Removal:

12. Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
a. Fill inside new dust boot with grease.
b. Using clip guide tool No. 49 J034 202, or equivalent, install new clip, Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 Dust Boot & Clip Installation: