Lower Control Arm

NOTE: Before proceeding, review all SERVICE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS found under Suspension, Service Precautions.

REMOVAL
1. Raise vehicle. See Maintenance for the required lifting procedure.
2. Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly.





3. Loosen, but do not remove the nut attaching the rear stabilizer bar link to the lower control arm. Thread the nut to the end of the stabilizer bar link stud.

CAUTION: The nut must be positioned at the end of the stabilizer bar link stud when removing it from the lower control arm. This will prevent the end of the stud from being damaged when removing it from the lower control arm.





4. Remove the stabilizer bar link from lower control arm using the following procedure. Position the link nut at the end of the link stud. Position a center punch in the hole on the end of the link stud. Strike the center punch to remove the link stud~l from the lower control arm.





5. Remove the nut and bolt mounting the shock absorber clevis to the mounting bracket on the lower control arm.





6. Remove the cotter pin and nut attaching the lower ball joint to the lower control arm.





7. Remove the stud of the lower ball joint from the lower control arm using Puller, Special Tool C-4150A.






8. Remove nuts, bolts, and adjustment cams securing the lower control arm to the mounting brackets. Slightly spread the ends of the mounting brackets to ease removal of the control arm from the brackets. Remove the lower control arm from the vehicle.

INSTALLATION
1. Position the lower control arm into the mounting brackets. Install the cam bolts through the mounting brackets and the lower control arm bushings. Install adjustment cams and nuts. Do not tighten adjustment bolts at this time.

NOTE: When installing alignment adjustment cams, be sure the hole in the adjustment cams is located at 12 O'clock.

2. Install the lower control arm on the stud of the lower ball joint. Install the castle nut on lower ball joint stud. Tighten the castle nut to a torque of 160 Nm (118 ft. lbs.). Install lower ball joint nut cotter pin.

3. Install shock clevis on mounting bracket of lower control arm. Install the shock absorber mounting bolt and nut. Do not tighten the bolt at this time.
4. Install the stabilizer bar link into the lower control arm. Install the stabilizer bar link mounting nut. Tighten the stabilizer bar mounting nut to a torque of 22 Nm (200 inch lbs.).
5. Install the wheel and tire assembly. Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full specified torque of 122 Nm (90 ft. lbs.).
6. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
7. Position vehicle on an alignment rack or drive-on hoist.
8. Ballast (weight) the vehicle to the correct design height. Refer to Design Height Measurement found in Wheels, Tires and Alignment, Alignment, Adjustments.
9. Once the vehicle is at design height, tighten the shock absorber lower mounting bolt to a torque of 176 Nm (130 ft. lbs.).
10. Remove the ballast (weight) from the vehicle. Correctly jounce the vehicle letting it return to its curb height.
11. Measure the vehicle's curb height. Refer to Curb Height Measurement found in Wheels, Tires and Alignment, Alignment, Adjustments.
12. Align the vehicle per the service procedure listed in Wheel Alignment.

NOTE: Following the wheel alignment, remember to tighten lower control arm cam bolts and nuts to the specified torque of 102 Nm (75 ft. lbs.).