Installation
FRONT SUSPENSIONLOWER BALL JOINT SEAL BOOT
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: This 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.
Fig.14 Grease Correctly Applied To Ball Joint Stud And Seal Boot:
(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.
Fig.15 Correctly Installed Ball Joint Seal Retaining Ring Tool:
(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).
Fig.16 Retaining Ring And Expandable Collar Installed On Tool:
(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).
Fig.17 Installing Seal Boot Retaining Ring:
(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.
Fig.18 Retaining Ring Installed In Ball Joint Seal Boot:
(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.
Fig.19 Properly Installed Ball Joint Seal Boot:
(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.