Lower Control Arm: Installation

Position the lower control arm in the frame brackets. See Figure.
Loosely install the lower control arm mounting bolts and flag nuts. See Figure. Do not tighten the nuts at this time.

CAUTION: When installing the lower ball joint on the steering knuckle, a new mounting nut must be used. This is required to provide for proper tightening and torque retention of the ball joint attaching nut.

NOTE: The lower ball joint nut has a plastic skirt attached to the bottom of it. The skirt is used to pull the stud of the ball joint into the steering knuckle as the nut is tightened. This prevents the stud from rotating in the steering knuckle, allowing the nut to be properly torqued. The plastic skirt is made to fold up on itself as the nut is tightened.

Install the lower ball joint stud into the steering knuckle. Install A NEW ball joint-to-steering knuckle attaching nut. See Fig 1. Tighten the attaching nut to a torque of 95 N.m (70 ft. lbs.).
Tighten the upper ball joint-to-steering knuckle attaching nut and washer to a torque of 129 N.m (95 ft. lbs.).
Install the push rod on the lower control arm.

NOTE: When installing the push rod attaching bolt, it must be installed so the head of the bolt is facing to the rear of the vehicle, and the nut is toward the front of the vehicle. This is required to maintain clearance from the steering knuckle when the steering is turned to full lock.

Loosely install the push rod-to-lower control arm attaching bolt and nut. See Figure.
Install the wheel and tire assembly.
Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full specified torque of 135 N.m (100 ft. lbs.).
Install the center cap on the wheel.
Lower the vehicle.
Place the vehicle on an alignment rack so the full weight of vehicle is supported by the suspension.

NOTE: When jouncing the vehicle, the vehicle must be released at the bottom of the jounce cycle. This will ensure the vehicle's suspension will raise the vehicle to the correct curb height at the top of the jounce cycle.

Jounce the vehicle several times to allow the vehicle to settle at its correct curb height.
Tighten the push rod-to-lower control arm attaching nut and bolt to 162 N.m (120 ft. lbs.). See Figure.
Tighten the lower control arm pivot bolts to a torque of 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.). See Figure.

NOTE: When removal and installation of the lower control arm is performed on this vehicle, the vehicle MUST have a full alignment done afterward.

Align the vehicle. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

Fig 1: Identifying Lower Ball Joint Attaching Nut

Courtesy of CHRYSLER CORP.