Description

Suspension consists of upper and lower control arms and ball joints connected to wheel bearing housing. Shock absorbers are part of a strut assembly. Coil springs are held between an upper mount on the frame and a spring support on the lower shock strut housing. Strut rods and stabilizer bar are used for stability.

Ball Joint

Removal

1. Remove wheel bearing housing. Separate lower ball joint bracket from ball joint.
2. Remove ball joint circlip.
3. Press ball joint from housing.
4. Remove upper ball joint in same manner. Install upper ball joint with attaching bolts.

Installation

1. Press in lower ball joint with flat side of shoulder facing housing.
2. Loosely attach ball joint bracket to ball joint.
3. Install wheel bearing housing onto vehicle.
4. Reverse removal procedure to install ball joint.
5. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS at bottom of page. Check wheel alignment.

NOTE: Ball joint bracket must be aligned with lower control arm when installed or ball joint rubber seal will tear.

Coil Spring & Shock Absorber

Removal

1. Move front seat fully forward. Pry out rubber plug located under seat.
2. Raise and support vehicle.
3. Remove wheel assembly. Ensure spring compressor is installed securely. Work to side of spring when removing or installing.
4. Remove bolts which attach upper ball joint to control arm. Move control arm up out of way.
5. Install spring compressor. Compress coil spring. Remove upper shock absorber mounting nut.
6. Push shock absorber piston rod downward. Swing shock absorber and spring outward.
7. Remove coil spring and spring plate.
8. Remove lower shock absorber bolt.
9. Remove shock absorber.

Installation

1. Assemble shock absorber and lower control arm. Handtighten nut.
2. Install coil spring with lower spring end in spring end stop. Evenly coiled end of spring faces downward.
3. Tape spring plate to top of spring in at least 3 places. Swing shock absorber and spring inward. Insert "T" Handle Wrench (3141) through body access hole. Thread "T" handle onto shock. Pull shock piston rod up through hole. Remove "T" handle. Install upper mounting hardware.
4. Install upper ball joint to control arm.
5. Raise lower control arm using floor jack.
6. Remove spring compressor.
7. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS at bottom of page.

Lower Control Arm & Wheel Bearing Housing

Removal

1. Remove axle nut.
2. Raise and support vehicle.
3. Remove wheel assembly.
4. Remove brake line bracket from wheel bearing housing.
5. Remove brake caliper and hang out of way.
6. Remove upper ball joint bolts from control arm.
7. Remove nut from tie rod end.
8. Press tie rod end from control arm.
9. Remove lower ball joint bracket bolts. Separate strut rod, wheel bearing housing, and lower control arm.
10. Pull axle shaft from wheel hub.
11. Remove wheel bearing housing.
12. Detach stabilizer bar bracket from control arm.
13. Remove lower shock absorber mounting bolt.
14. Remove lower control arm inner pivot bolt.
15. Remove control arm.

    NOTE: Use press to remove axle from housing. DO NOT heat housing.

Bushing Replacement

1. Press out old bushings.
2. Press in new bushings.

Installation

1. Thoroughly clean and dry splines on axle shaft and in wheel hub. Apply locking compound around splines of axle shaft in bead approximately 1/4" wide. Allow compound to harden at least one hour before driving vehicle.
2. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS at bottom of page.

Upper Control Arm

Removal

1. Raise and support vehicle.
2. Remove wheel assembly.
3. Remove bolts retaining upper ball joint to upper control arm. Carefully swing wheel bearing housing to one side. Note position of upper control arm pivot shaft.
4. Remove pivot shaft from control arm.
5. Remove control arm.

Bushing Replacement

1. Press out old bushings.
2. Press in new bushings.

Installation

1. Lubricate pivot shaft with grease.
2. Install upper control arm to body.
3. Position pivot shaft as noted during removal.
4. Install ball joint.
5. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS at bottom of page. Check wheel alignment.

Stabilizer Bar Removal & Installation

Disconnect stabilizer bar from strut rod. Remove bolts retaining bracket to chassis. Remove stabilizer bar. Reverse removal procedure to install.

Strut Rod Removal & Installation

Disconnect stabilizer bar from strut rod. Remove nuts retaining strut rod, lower ball joint bracket and lower control arm together as an assembly. Remove strut rod-to-chassis hardware. Remove strut rod.

To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS at bottom of page.

Subframe

Removal

1. Remove strut rods from chassis mount.
2. Remove stabilizer mount from strut rod.
3. Remove lower control arm inner bolt.
4. Remove final drive support from subframe.
5. Wire final drive support to body.
6. Remove protection bars and rubber bushings. Support subframe.
7. Remove bolts which attach subframe to body. Carefully lower and remove subframe.

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts which attach subframe to body last. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS at bottom of page.

Wheel Bearing

Removal

1. Remove bearing housing.
2. Press wheel hub from bearing.
3. Remove outer seal and bearing circlip.
4. Press wheel bearing from housing.
5. Remove inner bearing race from wheel hub.
6. Remove inner seal from bearing housing.

NOTE: Wheel bearing will be destroyed when wheel hub is pressed out.

Installation

1. Mount wheel bearing housing in press together.
2. Press wheel bearing into housing.
3. Install seals.
4. Press wheel hub into bearing.
5. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure.

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS