Upper Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement Light-Duty Suspension

Tools Required

J 23742 Ball Joint Separator

1. Raise the vehicle. Support the vehicle with safety stands.

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.

2. Support the lower control arm with a floor jack.
3. Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
4. Remove the brake caliper. Refer to Brake Caliper Replacement in Disc Brakes.



5. Remove the nut and the bolt that retains the wheel speed sensor harness bracket and brake hose (1) to the upper control arm.



6. Center punch the rivets retaining the ball joint to the control arm.
7. Use a 3.175 mm (1/8 in) drill in order to cut a 6.35 mm (¼ in) deep hole in the center of each rivet.



8. Drill away the rivet heads. Use a 12.7 mm (½ in) drill.



9. Punch the rivets out. Use a small pin punch.
10. Remove the cotter pin and nut.



11. Using the J-23742 separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle.
12. Remove the J-23742.
13. Pull the stud away from the knuckle.
14. Remove the ball joint.

1. Install a new upper ball joint to the upper 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. Position four attaching bolts and nuts.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 24 N·m (18 lb ft).




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

Tighten
Tighten the nut to 100 N·m (74 lb ft).




5. Install a new cotter pin. Align the slots in the nut (1) with the hole in the stud (2).



6. Bend the cotter pin as shown to prevent the pin from working loose.
7. Install the grease fitting. Grease the ball joint.



8. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the wheel speed sensor harness and brake hose (1) to the upper control arm.

Tighten
Tighten the speed sensor retaining nut to 17 N·m (13 lb ft).

9. Install the front brake caliper. Refer to Brake Caliper Replacement in Disc Brakes.
10. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.

Important: 

1. Check the running clearance at all of the suspension components.
2. Remove the safety stands.
3. Lower the vehicle.
11. Check the front wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications in Wheel Alignment.

Upper Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement Heavy-Duty Suspension

Tools Required

J 23742 Ball Joint Separator

1. Raise the vehicle. Support the vehicle with safety stands.

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.

2. Support the lower control arm with a floor jack.
3. Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
4. Remove the brake caliper. Refer to Brake Caliper Replacement in Disc brakes.



5. Remove the nut and the bolt that retains the wheel speed sensor harness bracket to the upper control arm.



6. Center punch the rivets retaining the ball joint to the control arm. Use a 3.175 mm (1/8 in) drill in order to cut a 6.35 mm (¼ in) deep hole in the center of each rivet.



7. Drill away the rivet heads. Use a 12.7 mm (½ in) drill.



8. Punch the rivets out. Use a small pin punch.
9. Remove the cotter pin and nut.



10. Using the J-23742 separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle.
11. Remove the J-23742.
12. Pull the stud away from the knuckle.
13. Remove the ball joint.

1. Install a new upper ball joint to the upper control arm.
2. Position four attaching bolts and nuts.

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.

Tighten
Tighten the nuts to 24 N·m (18 lb ft).




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

Tighten
Tighten the nut to 100 N·m (74 lb ft).




5. Install a new cotter pin. Align the slot in the nut (1) with the hole in the stud (2).



6. Bend the cotter pin as shown to prevent the pin from working loose.
7. Install the grease fitting. Grease the ball joint.



8. Install the nut and the bolt that retains the wheel speed sensor harness bracket to the upper control arm.

Tighten
Tighten the speed sensor retaining nut to 17 N·m (13 lb ft).

9. Install the front brake caliper. Refer to Brake Caliper Replacement in Disc Brakes.
10. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.

Important: Check the running clearance at all of the suspension components.

11. Remove the safety stands.
12. Lower the vehicle.
13. Check the front wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications in Wheel Alignment.