Upper control arm — removal and installation
Removal
1. Loosen the wheel lug nuts, raise the front of the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands. Remove the wheel. Position a floor jack under the lower control arm in the area underneath the ballpoint. Raise the jack slightly to take the spring pressure off the upper control arm.
Warning: The jack must remain in this position throughout the entire procedure.
2. Mark the relationship of the adjusting cams to the brackets on the frame (see illustration).
5.2 Mark the relationship of the adjusting cams to the frame brackets
3. Remove the shock/coil spring (see Shock absorber (front) — removal and installation).
4. Unbolt the brake hose/wheel speed sensor bracket from the upper control arm (see illustration). Also remove the wheel speed sensor (see Brakes), and detach the wiring harness bracket from the steering knuckle and move it aside.
5.4 Unbolt the brake hose/wheel speed sensor bracket (A & C) from the upper control arm and note the position of the pivot bolts (B)
5. If you’re working on a 4WD model, remove the drive axle (see Driveline).
Note: If you use a pickle fork type ballpoint separator, removal of the drive axle is not necessary.
6. Loosen the upper ballpoint nut a few turns (don’t remove it). Then install a ballpoint puller or a pickle fork, and break the ballpoint loose from the knuckle (see illustrations). Now remove the nut.
5.6a Separating the upper control arm ballpoint from the steering knuckle using a puller
5.6b Separating the upper control arm ballpoint from the steering knuckle using a pickle fork type separator
Note: If you don’t have the proper ballpoint removal tool, a hammer and a drift can sometimes be used to break the ball stud loose from the knuckle. A pickle fork-type ballpoint separator can also be used, but keep in mind that this type of tool will probably damage the ballpoint boot.
Note: The manufacturer recommends replacing the ballpoint nut with a new one whenever it has been removed.
7. Remove the upper control arm pivot bolts and nuts, noting which way the bolts are installed. Remove the control arm.
Installation
8. Position the arm in the frame brackets and install the bolts and nuts, but don’t tighten them yet.
9. Attach the ballpoint to the steering knuckle, install a new nut and tighten it to the torque listed in this Chapter’s Specifications.
10. The remainder of installation is the reverse of removal. Make sure the marks you made prior to disassembly are aligned, then tighten the nuts to the torque listed in this Chapter’s Specifications.
Note: The pivot bolt nuts should be tightened with the vehicle at normal ride height. This can be done after the vehicle has been lowered to the ground (on vehicles with adequate clearance), or it can be simulated by raising the lower control arm with a floor jack. Tighten the wheel lug nuts to the proper torque settings.
11. Have the front-end alignment checked and, if necessary, adjusted.