Lower Control Arm
REMOVE1. Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist.
2. Remove the tire and wheel assembly from the vehicle.
Fig. 44:
3. If the vehicle is equipped with 15 inch wheels the heat shield will need to be removed before the lower control arm can be separated from the steering knuckle. Use the following procedure to remove the heat shield.
Fig. 28:
Fig. 46:
4. Remove the 2 bolts attaching the disc brake caliper to the steering knuckle. Remove the disc brake caliper from the steering knuckle. Using wire or an equivalent, hang caliper from upper control arm so weight of caliper is not supported by the brake flex hose.
5. Remove the 2 bolts attaching the heat shield to the steering knuckle. Remove heat shield from steering knuckle.
6. Remove brake rotor from front hub/bearing assembly.
Fig. 35:
7. Remove cotter pin and castle nut from stud of lower ball joint.
CAUTION: No tool is to be inserted between the steering knuckle and the lower ball joint to separate the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle. The steering knuckle is to be separated from the ball joint only using the procedure as described in step Step 8 below.
Fig. 36:
8. Turn steering knuckle so the front of the steering knuckle is facing as far outboard in the wheel opening as possible. Using a hammer strike steering knuckle boss until steering knuckle separates from the lower ball joint. When striking steering knuckle care MUST be taken not to hit lower control arm or ball joint grease seal.
CAUTION: Pulling the steering knuckle outward from the vehicle after releasing it from the ball joint, can separate inner C/V joint. See Driveshafts.
Fig. 49:
9. Remove the shock absorber clevis to lower control arm bushing thru-bolt. Separate clevis from lower control arm.
Fig. 50:
10. Remove nut attaching stabilizer bar link to lower control arm. When removing nut, hold stud of stabilizer bar link from turning by inserting an alien wrench in the end of the stud.
Fig. 51:
11. Remove the bolts attaching one stabilizer bar bushing clamp to the front suspension crossmember and the body of the vehicle.
12. Lower the one side of the stabilizer bar away from the lower control arm and body of vehicle.
Fig. 52:
13. Remove the nut and bolt attaching the lower control arm to the front suspension crossmember.
Fig. 53:
14. Remove nut and bolt attaching the front of the lower control arm to the front suspension crossmember.
CAUTION: When removing lower control arm from crossmember care must be taken to prevent hitting lower ball joint seal against steering knuckle, causing damage to the ball joint seal.
15. Remove the front of the lower control arm from the front suspension crossmember first.
16. Then, remove the rear of the lower control arm from the front suspension crossmember. When removing rear of lower control arm from crossmember, keep control arm as level as possible. This will keep rear bushing from binding on crossmember making it easier to remove control arm from crossmember.
INSTALL
1. Position rear of lower control arm into front suspension crossmember first. Then install front of lower control arm in front suspension crossmember. Install bolts and nuts attaching the front and rear of lower control arm to front suspension crossmember. Do not tighten front attaching bolt at this time.
2. Tighten rear lower control arm nut and bolt to a torque of 115 Nm (85 ft. lbs.).
3. Install lower control arm ball joint stud into steering knuckle. Install steering knuckle to ball joint stud castle nut. Torque castle nut to 74 Nm (55 ft. lbs.). Install cotter pin in ball joint.
4. Position sway bar link into its lower control arm mounting hole.
5. Align sway bar bushing clamp with mounting holes in front suspension crossmember and body of vehicle. Install and tighten the bushing clamp mounting bolts to a torque of 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).
NOTE: When tightening and torquing the attaching nut, hold stud of attaching link from turning by holding it with an alien wrench.
6. Install the stabilizer bar attaching link to lower control arm attaching nut. Tighten the attaching nut to a torque of 105 Nm (77 ft. lbs.).
7. Install the clevis on the lower control arm. Loosely install the clevis to bushing thru-bolt.
Fig. 54:
CAUTION: When supporting lower control arm with jack stand, do not position jack stand under the ball joint cap on the lower control arm. Position in area of lower control arm shown in.
8. Lower vehicle until jack stand positioned under lower control arm is supporting the vehicle. Continue to lower vehicle until the total weight of the vehicle is supported by the jack stand on the side of the vehicle with the tire removed and by the tire on the opposite side of the vehicle.
9. With the vehicle's suspension at curb height, tighten the clevis to lower control arm bushing thru-bolt to a torque of 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.).
10. Tighten front lower control arm nut and bolt to a torque of 182 Nm (135 ft. lbs.).
11. If vehicle is equipped with 15 inch wheels the heat shield MUST be installed on steering knuckle and mounting bolts securely tighten before rotor and caliper is installed on steering knuckle.
12. Install rotor on hub/bearing assembly.
13. Install disc brake caliper on steering knuckle. Install and tighten the disc brake caliper mounting bolts to a torque of 22 Nm (16 ft. lbs.).
14. Install wheel and tire assembly.
15. Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full specified torque of 129 Nm (95 ft. lbs.).
16. Remove jack stand from under lower control arm and lower vehicle to the ground.
17. Check the vehicles alignment specifications and set front Toe to preferred specifications.