Tools Required

Caution: To avoid any vehicle damage, serious personal injury or death when major components are removed from the vehicle and the vehicle is supported by a hoist, support the vehicle with jack stands at the opposite end from which the components are being removed and strap the vehicle to the hoist.

1. Raise the vehicle.

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 vehicle with suitable safety stands.
3. Remove the tire and wheel assembly. 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.

4. Place a floor jack under the lower control arm. Raise the jack in order to support the control arm.

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

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



6. Remove the cotter pin and the nut from the lower ball joint.



7. Separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle using the J 23742 .



8. Remove the lower ball joint from the knuckle. Guide the lower control arm out of the splash shield with a screwdriver while lifting the upper control arm with a pry bar.

Place a wooden block between the frame and upper control arm in order to block the knuckle assembly out of the way.




9. Remove the lower ball joint from the lower control arm using the J 9519-30 as shown.
10. Inspect the tapered hole in the steering knuckle. Remove any dirt. If the tapered hole is out of round, deformed or damaged, replace the knuckle. Refer to Steering Knuckle Replacement .

1. Install a new ball joint into the lower control arm.

1.1.	Press in the ball joint using the J 9519-30 as shown.

1.2.	Make sure that the ball joint bottoms out on the lower part of the lower control arm.

1.3.	Remove the wooden block between the frame and upper control arm used to block the knuckle assembly out of the way.




2. Install the ball joint stud into the steering knuckle.

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.

3. Install the nut onto the stud.

Tighten
Tighten the lower ball joint to steering knuckle nut to 128 N·m (94 lb ft). Tighten in order to align the slot in the stud nut with the hole in the stud.




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

If the hole in the stud is not in line with the slots in the nut, tighten the nut until they are aligned.




5. Bend the cotter pin as shown to prevent the pin from working loose.
6. Install the grease fitting. Grease the ball joint.
7. Install the front brake caliper. Refer to Brake Caliper Replacement in Disc Brakes.
8. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
9. Remove the safety stands.
10. Lower the vehicle.
11. Check the front wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications in Wheel Alignment.