Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement Rear Wheel Drive

Tools Required

1. Raise the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Wheel Removal 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. Place a floor jack under the control arm spring seat. Raise the jack until the jack just supports the lower control arm.



4. Remove the lower ball joint cotter pin and the nut.

4.1.	Use the J 23742 in order to break the lower ball joint free from the steering knuckle.

4.2.	Pull the steering knuckle free from the lower ball joint.

5. Block the steering knuckle/hub assembly out of the way.

•	Place a wood block between the frame and the upper control arm.

•	Make sure the brake hose is free of any tension.




6. Remove the lower ball joint from the lower control arm.

6.1.	Remove the rubber grease seal from the lower ball joint.

6.2.	Remove the grease fitting.

6.3.	In order to press out the lower ball joint, use the J 9519-E as shown.

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

1.1.	Position the lower ball joint into the lower control arm. Press in until the ball joint bottoms in the control arm.

1.2.	In order to press the lower ball joint into place, use the J 9519-E as shown.

2. Place the grease seal and the grease fitting onto the lower ball joint.

•	The grease-purge hole of the seal must face inboard.

•	Press the grease seal into place. The seal must be fully seated on the ball joint.

3. Place the steering knuckle/hub assembly onto the lower ball joint.

•	Remove the wood block.

•	Press the steering knuckle/hub assembly onto the lower ball joint until the ball joint is fully seated.

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.

4. Install the lower ball joint nut.

Tighten
Tighten the nut to 125 N·m (90 lb ft).

5. Install a new cotter pin. Tighten the nut up to an additional 1/6 amount in order to insert the cotter pin through the lower ball joint stud. Bend the pin ends against the nut flats.
6. Remove the floor jack.
7. Using a grease gun, grease to the lower ball joint until grease appears at the lower ball joint grease seal.
8. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Wheel Installation in Tires and Wheels.
9. Adjust the wheel bearings. Refer to Wheel Bearing Adjustment .
10. Lower the vehicle.
11. Check the front wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications in Wheel Alignment.

Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive

Tools Required

J 35917 Ball Joint Remover

1. Raise the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Wheel Removal in Tires and Wheels.
3. Unload the torsion bar. Refer to Torsion Bar Replacement .

Mark the adjuster bolt for loading the torsion bar.




4. Remove the drive axle nut and the washer.

Notice: Support the caliper with a piece of wire to prevent damage to the brake line.

5. Remove the brake caliper. Refer to Brake Caliper Replacement in Disc Brakes.



6. Remove the brake rotor.
7. Disconnect the speed sensor electrical connector.
8. Remove the speed sensor from the bearing. Refer to Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement in Antilock Brake System.



9. Remove the bolts from the hub and bearing assembly.




Important: Lay the wheel hub and bearing assembly on the wheel hub bolts on the outboard side. This prevents damage or contamination to the bearing seal.

10. Remove the hub and bearing assembly.



11. Remove the front splash shield.

11.1.

Remove the two bolts.

11.2.

Pivot the shield in order to gain access to the tie rod.

12. Disconnect the outer tie rod end from the steering knuckle. Refer to Tie Rod Replacement in Steering Linkage.



13. Remove the lower ball joint cotter pin.
14. Remove the lower ball joint nut.
15. Using the J 35917 , disconnect the knuckle from the lower ball joint.



16. Remove the lower ball joint rivets.

16.1.

Center punch the bottom of the rivets.

16.2.

Using a 3 mm (1/8 in) drill bit, drill a guide hole 13 mm (½ in) into the rivet heads.




17. Using a 8 mm (5/16 in) drill bit, drill the rivet head off. Drill a hole two-thirds the length of the rivet shank using an 8 mm (5/16 in) drill bit.



18. Using a 8 mm (5/16 in) pin punch, punch out the rivets.
19. Remove the ball joint.

1. Install the ball joint to the lower 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 bolts, the flat washers, and the nuts to the ball joint.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 30 N·m (22 lb ft).




3. Install the lower ball joint into the steering knuckle. Raise the lower control arm with the jack.
4. Install the ball joint nut.

Tighten
Tighten the nut to 128 N·m (95 lb ft).

5. Install a new cotter pin. Tighten the nut up to an additional 1/6 amount in order to insert the cotter pin through the lower ball joint stud. Bend the pin ends against the nut flats.
6. Using a grease gun, grease the lower ball joint until grease appears at the lower ball joint seal.
7. Connect the outer tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Refer to Tie Rod Replacement in Steering Linkage.



8. Install the front splash shield and the splash shield bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 14 N·m (124 lb in).




9. Install the hub and bearing assembly to the steering knuckle.



10. Install the bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 90 N·m (66 lb ft).

11. Connect the drive axle to the hub and bearing assembly.
12. Install the speed sensor to the bearing. Refer to Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement in Antilock Brake System.
13. Connect the speed sensor electrical connector.



14. Install the brake rotor.
15. Install the brake caliper. Refer to Brake Caliper Replacement in Disc Brakes.



16. Install the drive axle washer and the nut.

Tighten
Tighten the nut to 200 N·m (147 lb ft).

17. Load the torsion bar. Set the adjuster bolt at the mark made during disassembly. Refer to Torsion Bar Replacement .
18. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Wheel Installation in Tires and Wheels.
19. Lower the vehicle.
20. Check the front wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications in Wheel Alignment.