Lower Control Arm: Installation
- Position lower control arm in frame brackets. See Fig 3
. Loosely install lower control arm mounting bolts and flag nuts. DO NOT TIGHTEN THE BOLTS AT THIS TIME.CAUTION: When installing lower ball joint on steering knuckle a new mounting nut must be used. See Fig 4 . This is required to provide for proper torquing and torque retention of ball joint attaching nut.NOTE: The lower ball joint nut has a plastic skirt attached to bottom of it. The skirt is used to pull stud of ball joint into steering knuckle as nut is tightened. This prevents stud from rotating in steering knuckle, allowing nut to be properly torqued. The plastic skirt is made to fold up on itself as nut is tightened.
- Install lower ball joint stud into steering knuckle. Install A NEW ball joint to steering knuckle attaching nut. Tighten attaching nut to 95 N.m (70 ft. lbs.). Tighten upper ball joint to steering knuckle attaching nut and washer to 129 N.m (95 ft. lbs.). Install push rod on lower control arm.NOTE: When installing push rod attaching bolt, it must be installed so head of bolt is facing to rear of vehicle, and nut is toward front of vehicle. See Fig 1 . This is required to maintain clearance to steering knuckle when vehicle is turned to full travel of steering gear.
- Loosely install push rod to lower control arm attaching bolt and nut. See Fig 1
. Install wheel and tire. Tighten wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Then repeat tightening sequence to full specified torque of 122 N.m (90 ft. lbs.). Install center cap on wheel. Lower vehicle to ground. Place vehicle on an alignment rack so full weight of vehicle is supported by suspension.NOTE: When jouncing vehicle, vehicle must be released at bottom of jounce cycle. This will ensure vehicle's suspension will raise vehicle to correct curb height at top of jounce cycle.
- Jounce vehicle several times to allow vehicle to settle at its correct curb height. Tighten push rod to lower control arm attaching nut and bolt to 162 N.m (120 ft. lbs.). See Fig 1 . Tighten lower control arm isolator bushing through-bolts to 162 Nm (120 ft. lbs.). See Fig 3 . Align vehicle.