Front

Fig. 1 Front suspension assembly:

Coil Spring
Removal
1. Raise the vehicle on a hoist, allowing the control arms to hang free.
2. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
3. Remove the brake caliper, then wire it out of the way to obtain working room. Brake Caliper
4. Disconnect the tie rod assembly from the steering spindle using TOOL 329O-C or equivalent.
5. Disconnect stabilizer bar link from lower arm.
6. Remove the steering gear bolts if necessary, and position the gear so that the suspension arm bolt may be removed.
7. Using Spring Compressor Tool T82P-5310-A or equivalent (Fig. 4), place the upper plate in position into the spring pocket cavity on the crossmember (Fig. 5). The hooks on the plate should be facing the center of the vehicle.
8. Install the compression rod into the lower arm spring pocket hole, through the coil spring, into the upper plate.
9. Install the lower plate, lower ball nut thrust washer and bearing, and forcing nut onto the compression rod (Fig. 6).
10. Tighten the forcing nut on the compressor tool until a drag on the nut is felt.
11. Remove the suspension arm to crossmember nuts and bolts. The compressor tool forcing nut may have to be tightened or loosened for easy bolt removal.
12. Loosen the compression rod forcing nut until spring tension is relieved and remove the forcing nut (Fig. 7).
13. Remove the compression rod and coil spring.

Installation

1. Place the insulator on the top of the spring, position the spring into the lower arm spring pocket.

NOTE: Be sure the spring pigtail is positioned between the two holes in the lower arm spring pocket (Fig. 3).

2. Position spring into upper spring seat in crossmember.
3. Insert the compression rod through the control arm and spring, then hook it to the upper plate. The upper plate is installed with the hooks facing the center of the vehicle.
4. Install lower plate, ball nut, thrust washer and bearing, and forcing nut onto compression rod (Fig. 7).
5. Tighten forcing nut position lower arm into crossmember, and install new lower arm-to crossmember bolts and nuts. Do not tighten at this time.
6. Remove spring compressor tool from vehicle.
7. With a suitable jack, raise the suspension arm to a normal attitude position. Tighten the lower arm to crossmember attaching nuts to 202-243 N.m (150- 180 lb-ft). Remove the jack.
8. Install the steering gear to crossmember bolts and nuts (if removed). Hold the bolts, and tighten the nuts to 122-135.6 N.m (90-100 lb-ft).
9. Connect the stabilizer bar link to the lower suspension arm, and tighten the attaching nut to 8-16 N.m (6-12 lb-ft).
10. Position the tie rod assembly into the steering spindle, and install the retaining nut. Tighten the nut to 47 N.m (35 lb-ft), and continue tightening the nut to align the next castellation with cotter pin hole in the stud. Install a new cotter pin.
11. Install the brake caliper.
12. Install wheel and tire assembly.. and lower vehicle.