Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement 4WD

1. Raise and support the vehicle under the lower control arms with safety stands. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. Remove the tire and wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.

Caution: Floor jack must remain under the lower control arm during removal and installation to retain the lower control arm in position. Failure to do so could result in personal injury.

3. Disconnect the cotter pin from the lower ball joint stud.
4. Remove the ball joint to steering knuckle nut.
5. Using a pry bar, placed on top of the upper control arm and on the bottom of the frame, pry downward.
6. With the aid of a helper, carefully hammer on the steering knuckle in the area of the lower ball joint stud in order to release the stud from the steering knuckle.
7. Remove the ball joint from the steering knuckle.

7.1.	Tip the bottom of the steering knuckle out and toward the rear of the vehicle.

7.2.	Suspend the steering knuckle and the upper control arm in order to prevent straining the brake line.

8. Remove the rivets from the lower ball joint.



9. Use a 3.175 mm (1/8 in) drill to cut a 6.35 mm (¼ in) deep hole in the center of each rivet.



10. Drill the rivet heads away using a 12.7 mm (½ in) drill.



11. Remove the rivets using a pin punch.
12. Remove the lower ball joint.

1. Install the lower ball joint to the control arm.




Notice: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.

2. Install the lower ball joint retaining bolts and the nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the lower ball joint retaining nuts to 23 N·m (17 lb ft).

3. Install the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle.
4. Install the lower ball joint to steering knuckle nut.

Tighten

•	Tighten the lower ball joint stud nut to 108 N·m (79 lb ft).

•	Tighten the nut in order to align the cotter pin. Do not tighten the nut more than 1/6 turn.

5. Install new cotter pin. Bend the pin ends against the nut.
6. Install the tire and the wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
7. Lower the vehicle.
8. Check the front wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications in Wheel Alignment.