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LOWER CONTROL ARM

The outboard end of each lower control arm connects to the steering knuckle using a ball joint. The lower control arm connects to the steering knuckle through a ball joint mounted at the outboard end of the arm (Fig. 1).

The ball joint is pressed into the lower control arm and has a non-tapered stud with a notch for steering knuckle pinch bolt clearance. The ball joint stud is clamped and locked to the steering knuckle lower leg using a pinch bolt. The ball joint is lubricated for life during the manufacturing process. Once lubricated for life, the grease fitting head is snapped off by the manufacturer.

This is done to eliminate the possibility of lubrication later in the ball joints life thus damaging the non-vented ball joint seal boot. The ball joint used on this vehicle is replaceable and, if found defective, can be serviced as a separate component of the lower control arm.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - LOWER CONTROL ARM

Inspect the lower control arm for signs of damage from contact with the ground or road debris. If the lower control arm shows any sign of damage, look for distortion. Do not attempt to repair or straighten a broken or bent lower control arm. If damaged, the lower control arm stamping is serviced only as a complete component. The serviceable components of the lower control arm are: the ball joint, the ball joint grease seal and the lower control arm rear isolator bushing.

The front isolator bushing is not replaceable. If the front isolator bushing needs to be replaced, the entire lower control arm must be replaced. Inspect both lower control arm isolator bushings for severe deterioration and replace lower control arm or rear bushing as required. Inspect the ball joint per the inspection procedure in this section of the service manual and replace as required. (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/LOWER BALL JOINT - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING).

REMOVAL - LOWER CONTROL ARM

NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT - WARNING).
(1) Raise the vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCEDURE).
(2) Remove the front tire and wheel assembly (Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS - REMOVAL).
(3) Remove both stabilizer bar links from the vehicle (Fig. 37). 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 ball joint stud to the steering knuckle (Fig. 38).

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 C/V joint on the
driveshaft.

(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 (Fig. 39).
(7) If the right lower control arm is being serviced, perform the following:

(a) Remove the drive-belt splash shield fasteners. Remove the shield.
(b) Remove the pencil strut from the right front corner of the crossmember and body of the vehicle (Fig. 40). Remove the washer behind the strut from the torque strut bolt.
(c) Remove the bolts mounting the engine torque strut in place (Fig. 40), 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 (Fig. 41). 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.

1 - STEERING KNUCKLE
2 - PRY BAR
3 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
4 - BALL JOINT STUD

1 - NUT
2 - PENCIL STRUT
3 - NUT
4 - FLAT WASHER
5 - LOWER TORQUE STRUT

1 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
2 - FRONT BOLT
3 - CROSSMEMBER
4 - REAR BOLT

Press screw-drive until the Remover contacts the outer circumference of the bushing (Fig. 45). Make sure the Remover contacts the bushing circumference evenly all the way around. (5) Continue to tighten the screw-drive until the bushing is pressed completely out of the lower control arm.

(6) Back off the screw-drive and remove the lower control arm and isolator bushing. Remove the Reaction Plate from the arm.

ASSEMBLY
ASSEMBLY - LOWER CONTROL ARM (BALL JOINT)

CAUTION: When installing a ball joint in its mounting hole in the lower control arm, position the ball joint so the notch in the ball joint stud is facing the lower control arm front isolator bushing (Fig. 46). This will ease assembly of the ball joint to the steering knuckle when the installation of the pinch bolt is attempted.

(1) By hand, position ball joint into it’s bore on the lower control arm (Fig. 46). To avoid binding uponinstallation, be sure the ball joint is not cocked in the bore.
(2) Position the Installer, Special Tool 6758, on a hydraulic press to support the lower control arm (Fig. 47). Place the control arm on top of Tool 6758 in the upside-down position, aligning the ball joint stud squarely with the Installer’s cup.
(3) Place the larger end of the Adapter, Special Tool 6804, on top of the ball joint as shown (Fig. 47).
(4) Using the hydraulic press, press the ball joint into the lower control arm until the shoulder on the ball joint bottoms against the lower control arm ball joint bore. Do not apply excessive pressure against ball joint and lower control arm once the ball joint bottoms.
(5) Remove the tools and arm from the hydraulic press.

1 - REMOVER 9356-2
2 - REACTION PLATE 9356-3
3 - RECEIVER CUP 9356-4
4 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
5 - BUSHING
6 - PRESS C-4212F

1 - BALL JOINT STUD
2 - NOTCH
3 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
4 - FRONT ISOLATOR BUSHING

1 - PRESS
2 - BALL JOINT

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 237 N·m (175 ft. lbs.), then tighten the lower control arm front pivot bolt to a torque of 163 N·m (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, perform the following:

(a) Install the engine torque strut and mounting bolts (Fig. 40). To properly align and tighten the torque strut, (Refer to 9 - ENGINE/ENGINE MOUNTING/TORQUE STRUT - ADJUSTMENTS).
(b) Install the washer on the end of the stud extending from the torque strut bolt (Fig. 40).
(c) Install the pencil strut to the right front corner of the crossmember and body of the vehicle (Fig. 40). Tighten the pencil strut nuts to a torque of 58 N·m (43 ft. lbs.).
(d) Install the drive-belt splash shield and fasteners.

(5) Install a new ball joint stud pinch bolt and nut (Fig. 38). Tighten the nut to a torque of 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.).
(6) Rotate the forward ends of the stabilizer bar into mounting position.
(7) Install both stabilizer bar links back on vehicle (Fig. 37). Start each stabilizer bar link bolt with bushing from the bottom, through the stabilizer bar, inner link bushings, lower control arm, and into then upper retainer/nut and bushing (Fig. 1). 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

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