Control Arm: Service and Repair
REMOVE1. Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist. Remove wheel and tire assembly from side of vehicle requiring service to lower control arm.
2. Remove the steering knuckle to ball joint ball stud, clamping nut and bolt.
3. Remove the 2 attaching links connecting the stabilizer bar to the lower control arms.
4. Loosen but do not remove bolts attaching stabilizer bar retainers to front suspension crossmember. Then rotate stabilizer bar and attaching links away from lower control arms
CAUTION: Pulling steering knuckle out from vehicle after releasing from ball joint can separate inner C/V joint.
5. Using a pry bar, separate steering knuckle from ball joint stud. Use caution when separating ball joint stud from steering knuckle, so ball joint seal does not get cut.
6. Remove front lower control arm bushing to crossmember attaching nut and bolt. Remove rear lower control arm to crossmember and frame rail attaching bolt. Then remove lower control arm from crossmember.
INSTALL
1. Position lower control arm into front crossmember. Then install rear lower control arm to crossmember and frame rail attaching bolt. Do not tighten rear attaching bolt at this time. Then install front lower control arm to crossmember nut and bolt.
2. Torque front lower control arm nut and bolt to 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.), first and then torque rear lower control arm attaching bolt to same torque specification.
3. Install ball joint stud into steering knuckle. Then install steering knuckle to ball joint stud clamping bolt and nut. Torque clamping bolt to 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.).
4. Assemble stabilizer bar to lower control arm link assemblies and bushings as shown.
5. Rotate stabilizer bar into position, installing the stabilizer bar link assemblies into the lower control arms. Then install the top stabilizer bar link bushings and nuts. DO NOT TIGHTEN LINK ASSEMBLIES AT THIS TIME
6. Lower vehicle so suspension is supporting the total weight of the vehicle.
7. Torque the stabilizer bar to lower control arm link assemblies to 28 Nm (21 ft. lbs.).
8. Torque the 2 stabilizer bar bushing retainer, to crossmember attaching bolts to 28 Nm (21 ft. lbs.).