Removal

1. Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist.





2. Remove wheel and tire assembly from the side of vehicle requiring service to the lower control arm.
3. Remove the wheel stop from the steering knuckle. When installing the pinch bolt when assembling the steering knuckle to the ball joint, the pinch bolt must be installed from the rear facing the front on the vehicle.





4. Remove the nut and bolt clamping the steering knuckle to the ball joint stud.





NOTE: The attaching bolts for the cradle plate are of two different thread sizes. Nine of the bolts are a M-14 thread and one of the bolts is a M-12 thread. Refer to illustration for the cradle plate attaching bolt locations.

5. Remove the 10 bolts attaching the cradle plate to the front suspension cradle. Then remove the cradle plate from the cradle.

NOTE: Pulling steering knuckle out from vehicle after releasing from ball joint can separate inner C/V joint. Refer to Transmission and Drivetrain.





6. Using a pry bar, separate steering knuckle from ball joint stud. Use caution when separating ball joint stud from steering knuckle, so ball joint seal does not get cut.





7. Loosen but do not remove the pivot bolt attaching the front bushing of the lower control arm to the front suspension cradle.





8. Remove retainer attaching rear bushing of lower control arm to front suspension cradle.

NOTE: Make location reference marks where the front suspension cradle is mounted against the front frame rails before loosening and lowering the cradle. This is required so the cradle can be re-installed in the design location to achieve proper front suspension alignment.





9. Loosen but not fully removing the 2 left side suspension cradle to frame rail attaching bolts.

NOTE: When removing the left lower control arm from the vehicle, the front suspension cradle needs to be lowered for the pivot bolt to clear the transaxle.





10. Lower the left front corner of the suspension cradle until pivot bolt will clear end of transaxle. Remove the pivot bolt and the lower control arm from the cradle.