Lower Ball Joint Seal Boot
LOWER BALL JOINT SEAL BOOTREMOVAL
CAUTION: The replacement of the lower ball joint seal boot can only be done in the event that the seal boot is damaged while performing a service procedure on the vehicle.
CAUTION: Under no circumstances can a lower ball joint seal boot be replaced if it is determined that the vehicle had been driven with the seal boot damaged. If the vehicle has been driven with a damaged seal boot contamination of the ball joint has occurred. When contamination of the ball joint has occurred the lower control arm must be replaced. This is to ensure excessive wear of the ball joint does not occur from the contamination present in the ball joint.
CAUTION: Excessive wear in the ball joint can lead to a separation of the ball joint from the lower control arm.
CAUTION: The procedure must be carefully followed when replacing the ball joint seal in the event it is damaged while servicing a vehicle.
CAUTION: The ball joint used in the lower control arm of this vehicle is a lubricated for life ball joint. This ball joint does not required any additional lubrication for the life of the vehicle. Do not alter the lower control arm or ball joint in an attempt to lubricate the lower control arm ball joint. If it is determined that the ball joint is lacking proper lubrication, the lower control arm will need to be replaced.
1. Remove lower control arm assembly from vehicle.
2. Wrap a shop towel around the ball joint and seal boot. This is to prevent dirt and cleaning solvent to enter ball joint when cleaning area around ball joint.
3. Using ONLY a solvent such as Mopar Foamy Engine Degreaser or an equivalent, thoroughly clean lower control arm in area around ball joint and seal. Then using a shop towel saturated with the engine degreaser, carefully wipe off the ball joint seal boot.
4. Using 2 screwdrivers (Fig. 13) remove the ball joint seal retaining ring from the bottom of the ball joint seal.
5. Remove ball joint seal from ball joint.
INSTALLATION
CAUTION: The replacement of the lower ball joint seal boot can only be done in the event that the seal boot is damaged while performing a service procedure on the vehicle.
CAUTION: Under no circumstances can a lower ball joint seal boot be replaced if it is determined that the vehicle had been driven with the seal boot damaged. If the vehicle has been driven with a damaged seal boot contamination of the ball joint has occurred. When contamination of the ball joint has occurred the lower control arm must be replaced. This is to ensure excessive wear of the ball joint does not occur from the contamination present in the ball joint.
CAUTION: Excessive wear in the ball joint can lead to a separation of the ball joint from the lower control arm.
CAUTION: The procedure must be carefully followed when replacing the ball joint seal in the event it is damaged while servicing a vehicle.
CAUTION: The ball joint used in the lower control arm of this vehicle is a lubricated for life ball joint. This ball joint does not required any additional lubrication for the life of the vehicle. Do not alter the lower control arm or ball joint in an attempt to lubricate the lower control arm ball joint. If it is determined that the ball joint is lacking proper lubrication, the lower control arm will need to be replaced.
CAUTION: When replacing ball joint seal, do not use any other type of grease to lubricate ball joint other than the lubricant provided in the Mopar Ball Joint Seal service kit.
1. Apply grease from the ball joint seal kit, to the specified areas of the ball joint stud and seal (Fig. 14). Be sure no grease is present on the seal boot installation section of the seal boot or lower control arm (Fig. 14).
2. Slide ball joint seal boot with upper seal ring installed, (Fig. 14) down tapered section of ball joint stud (Fig. 14). Seal boot is to be installed on stud of ball joint until seal boot is sitting on seal groove in lower control arm.
3. Carefully position ball joint seal boot in seal retaining groove on lower control arm. After installing seal boot in retaining groove, carefully bleed air out of sealing boot without getting grease pushed into seal boot retaining groove in lower control arm.
4. Place Retaining Ring Installer, Special Tool, 6875-1 over ball joint seal boot (Fig. 15). Using adjusting knob, adjust tool so bottom edge of tool is even with top of retaining ring groove in seal boot (Fig. 15).
5. Place seal boot retaining ring on Installer, Special Tool, 6875- 1 (Fig. 16). Then place expandable collar from Installer, Special Tool, 6875 over tapered cone of the special tool (Fig. 16).
6. Using the expandable collar of Installer, Special Tool, 6875 (Fig. 17) push the seal boot retaining ring down the cone of Installer, Special Tool, 6875.
7. Continue pushing retaining ring down Installer, Special Tool, 6875, until it is installed in the retaining ring groove of the seal boot (Fig. 18)
8. Remove Installer, Special Tool, 6875 from the ball joint seal boot. When removing tool from seal boot be careful not to damage the seal boot with the tool.
9. Check retaining ring installation on seal boot to ensure it is fully seated in seal boot groove and the ends are not twisted (Fig. 19). Also, make sure upper sealing ring is on seal boot and correctly installed (Fig. 19). Check seal boot for damage before installing back on car.
10. Install lower control arm assembly back on vehicle.