Control Arm: Service and Repair

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.
2. Remove road wheel.
3. Remove and discard lower control arm ball stud cotter pin.





4. Loosen lower control arm ball stud castle nut, until top of castle nut is level with top of ball stud.





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.

5. Using SA9132S (or equivalent), separate lower control arm from knuckle.
6. Remove lower control arm ball stud castle nut.





7. Remove front inner fender 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.

LEFT SIDE
^ Remove front section of shield first, then rear.

RIGHT SIDE
^ Remove rear section of shield first, then front.

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





8. Remove the lower control arm-to-cradle fastener.
9. Remove tension strut nut at lower control arm.
10. Remove lower control arm from vehicle.

INSTALLATION





1. Install control arm onto tension strut.

IMPORTANT: Do not install fastener nut at this time.

2. Position end of control arm into the cradle and install fastener.

Bolt:
Torque: 125 Nm (92 ft. lbs.)

Nut:
Torque: 100 Nm (74 ft. lbs.)

3. Install control arm-to-tension strut fastener nut.

Torque: 144 Nm (106 ft. lbs.)

IMPORTANT: Lower control arm ball stud threads must be thoroughly cleaned and lubricated before installing and tightening nut.





4. Connect ball stud to steering knuckle with fastener. Torque and install new cotter pin.

Torque: 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.)

IMPORTANT: If it is necessary to rotate the castle nut after tightening to orient it to the hole in the stud, always tighten the nut to align it; never loosen it.





5. Install front inner fender splash shield.

IMPORTANT: On left side, install rear section of shield first, then front. On right side, install front section of shield first, then rear.

6. Install tabs in body cut-out.
7. Align molded-in shield fasteners with holes in cradle. Push straight in to install.
8. Install push pins.

IMPORTANT: Make sure shield flaps are tucked in at body locations.

NOTICE: Before installing wheels, remove rust or corrosion from wheel mounting surfaces and brake rotors/drums. Failure to do so can cause wheel lug nuts to loosen in service.

9. Position wheel onto hub.
10. Install wheel nuts and tighten in a crisscross pattern. Repeat tightening pattern to make sure torque is correct.

Torque: 140 Nm (103 ft. lbs.)

11. Lower vehicle from hoist.
12. Perform vehicle wheel alignment.