Service Procedure
Replace Upper Ball Joints1. Raise the vehicle on an appropriate hoist.
2. Remove the front wheel and tire assemblies.
3. Position a hydraulic jack under the left side lower control arm and raise the jack to unload the rebound bumper.
4. Remove the cotter pin from the upper ball joint castle nut.
5. Remove the upper ball joint castle nut from the upper ball joint stud.
6. Using a die grinder equipped with a cut-off wheel, grind an "X" through each of the three upper ball joint rivet heads (Figure 1).
CAUTION:
Do not grind into the control arm.
7. Using an air chisel, chisel the three rivet heads off of the upper ball joint.
8. Punch out the rivets using a drift and hammer.
9. Separate the upper ball joint from the steering knuckle with special tool MB991113.
10. Remove and discard the old ball joint.
11. Using 100 grit emery cloth, lightly sand the top surface of the steering knuckle to remove any rust and/or scale from the steering knuckle (Figure 2).
12. Insert the bolts supplied with the ball joint package from the bottom side of the control arm (Figure 3).
13. Place the new ball joint onto the control arm and install retaining nuts (Figure 3). Tighten the nuts to 50 ft. lbs. (68 N.m).
14. Position the steering knuckle onto the upper ball joint stud.
15. Install the castle nut onto the ball joint stud. Tighten the upper ball joint castle nut to 60 ft. lbs. (81 Nm).
NOTE:
If the castle nut slots do not line up with the cotter pin hole in the ball joint stud, continue tightening the nut until the next set of castle nut slots line up with the cotter pin hole. Do not loosen the nut.
16. Install the cotter pin through the castle nut and secure it by bending the arms of the pin.
17. Install the wheel and tire assembly. Tighten the lug nuts to 100 ft. lbs (135 N.m).
18. Repeat Steps 3 through 17 on the right side of the vehicle.
19. Lower the vehicle from the hoist.
20. Place the vehicle on an alignment rack.
21. Install the wheel alignment equipment onto the vehicle per alignment equipment manufacturer's instructions and set toe to +/-.10° (+/- 0.06°).