Control Arm: Service and Repair

NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, review SERVICE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS found under Service Precaution.

REMOVAL
1. Raise the vehicle, refer to Maintaince for procedure.
2. Remove the front tire and wheel assembly.






3. Remove both stabilizer bar links from the vehicle. Remove each link by holding the upper retainer/nut with a wrench and turning the link bolt.
4. Rotate the forward ends of the stabilizer bar downward. It may be necessary to loosen the stabilizer bar cushion retainer bolts a little to ease any turning resistance.






5. Remove the nut and pinch bolt clamping the hall joint stud to the steering knuckle (Fin. 15).

CAUTION: After removing the steering knuckle from the ball joint stud, do not pull outward on the knuckle. Pulling the steering knuckle outward at this point can separate the inner ON joint on the driveshaft.

NOTE: Use caution when separating the ball joint stud from the steering knuckle, so the ball joint seal does not get cut.

6. Separate the ball joint stud from the steering knuckle by prying down on lower control arm and up against the ball joint boss on the steering knuckle.






7. If the right lower control arm is being serviced, remove the bolts mounting the engine torque strut in place, then remove the engine torque strut from the vehicle.





8. Remove the front pivot bolt attaching the lower control arm to the front suspension crossmember. Remove the rear pivot bolt attaching the lower control arm to the front suspension crossmember and frame rail. Remove the lower control arm from the crossmember.

INSTALLATION
1. Position the lower control arm into the crossmember. Install, but do not fully tighten, the rear pivot bolt attaching the lower control arm to the front suspension crossmember and frame rail. Install the front pivot bolt attaching the lower control arm to the front suspension crossmember.
2. Tighten the lower control arm rear pivot (and suspension crossmember) bolt to a torque of 203 Nm (150 ft. lbs.), then tighten the lower control arm front pivot bolt to a torque of 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.).
3. Install the ball joint stud into the steering knuckle aligning the bolt hole in the knuckle boss with the notch formed in the side of the ball joint stud.
4. If the right lower control arm has been serviced, install the engine torque strut. Follow the procedure described in Engine to properly align and tighten the torque strut.
5. Install a new ball joint stud pinch bolt and nut. Tighten the nut to a torque of 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.).
6. Rotate the forward ends of the stabilizer bar into mounting position.
7. Install both stabilizer bar links back on vehicle. Start each stabilizer bar link bolt with bushing from the bottom, through the stabilizer bar, inner link bushings, lower control arm, and into the upper retainer/nut and bushing. Do not fully tighten the link assemblies at this time.
8. Lower the vehicle to ground level.

NOTE: It may be necessary to put the vehicle on a platform hoist or alignment rack to gain access to the stabilizer bar mounting bolts with the vehicle at curb height.

9. Tighten each stabilizer bar link by holding the upper retainer/nut with a wrench and turning the link bolt. Tighten each link bolt to a torque of 23 Nm (200 inch lbs.).
10. If previously loosened, tighten the stabilizer bar cushion retainer bolts to a torque of 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.).