Ball Joint: Service and Repair

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
1. Remove wheel bearing lock nut.
2. Remove tie-rod ball joint.
3. Remove strut lower bracket fixing bolts and nuts.





4. Separate drive shaft from knuckle by slightly tapping drive shaft end.
Cover boots with shop towel so as not to damage them when removing drive shaft.





5. Separate lower ball joint stud from knuckle with suitable tool.
6. Remove fixing bolts.
7. Remove transverse link and lower ball joint.





8. Install fixing bolts in order of number.





Tightening torque: Refer to IMAGE ABOVE.
9. During installation, final tightening must be carried out at curb weight with tires on the ground.
10. After installation, check wheel alignment.

INSPECTION
Transverse Link
- Check transverse link for damage, cracks or deformation. Replace it if necessary.
- Check rubber bushing for damage, cracks and deformation. Replace transverse link if necessary.

Lower Ball Joint





- Check ball joint for play. Replace transverse link assembly if any of the following cases occur. Ball stud is worn, play in axial direction is excessive or joint is hard to swing. Before checking, turn ball joint at least 10 revolutions so that ball joint is properly broken in.
Swinging force "A": (measuring point: cotter pin hole of ball stud):
7.8 - 77.5 N (0.8 - 7.9 kg, 1.8 - 17.4 lbs.)
Turning torque "B":
0.50 - 4.90 Nm (5.1 - 50 kg-cm, 4.4 - 43.4 inch lbs.)
Vertical end play "C":
0 mm (0 inch)
- Check dust cover for damage. Replace it and cover clamp if necessary.