Front

Replacement

Special Tools Required
Ball joint remover, 28 mm 07MAC-SL00200

Removal
1. Raise the front of the vehicle, and make sure it is securely supported. Remove the front wheels.





2. Remove the cotter pin (A) from the tie-rod end ball joint anti remove the nut (B).
3. Disconnect the tie-rod end from the steering arm on the damper using the special tool.





4. Remove the bolts, and remove the wheel sensor harness bracket (A) and brake hose bracket (B) from the damper. Do not disconnect the wheel sensor connector.





5. Remove the damper pinch bolts (A) while holding the nuts (B).





6. Remove the flange nuts (A) from the top of the damper.
7. Lower the lower arm, and remove the damper assembly (B).

Disassembly/Inspection





1. Compress the damper spring with the commercially available strut compressor (A) according to the manufacturer's instructions, then remove the self-locking nut (B) while holding the damper shaft (C) with a hex wrench (D). Do not compress the spring more than necessary to remove the nut.
2. Release the pressure from the strut spring compressor, then disassemble the damper.
3. Reassemble all the parts, except for the spring.





4. Compress the damper assembly by hand, and check for smooth operation through a full stroke, both compression and extension. The damper should extend smoothly and constantly when compression is released. If it does not, the gas is leaking and the damper should be replaced.
5. Check for oil leaks, abnormal noises, and binding during these tests.

Reassembly





1. Install all the parts except the self-locking nut onto the damper unit by referring to the Exploded View. Align the bottom of the spring (A) and the stepped part of the lower spring seat (B) as illustrated. Align the upper spring seat so that the small hole (C) in it is on the out side when it is installed in the body.
2. Install the damper assembly on a commercially available strut spring compressor (C).
3. Compress the damper spring with the spring compressor.





4. Install a new self-locking nut (A) on the damper shaft.
5. Hold the damper shaft with a hex wrench (B), and tighten the self-locking nut to the specified torque.

Installation





1. Lower the lower arm, and position the damper assembly in the body. Turn the damper mounting base so that the "(triangle)L" mark (A) faces toward the outside of the vehicle.
2. Loosely install flange nuts (B) onto the top of the damper.





3. Position the damper bottom on the knuckle, and install the damper pinch bolts (A) and nuts (B), and lightly tighten the nuts.
4. Place the floor jack under the lower arm ball joint, and raise the suspension to load it with the vehicle's weight.

NOTICE: Do not place the jack against the flat section of the lower arm. Lifting the arm in this area might bend it.

5. Tighten the flange nuts on the top of the damper to the specified torque.
6. Tighten the damper pinch nuts to the specified torque.





7. Connect the tie-rod end to the steering arm, and tighten the nut (A) to the specified torque. Install the cotter pin (B) after tightening, and bend its end.
8. Install the brake hose bracket and the flange bolt onto the damper, and tighten the bolt to the specified torque.
9. Clean the mating surface of the brake disc and the inside of the wheel, then install the front wheels.
10. Check the wheel alignment, and adjust it if necessary.