Lower Control Arm Removal and Installation

* After installing the front suspension, the front wheel alignment must be checked.

REMOVAL

1. Mark the position of the front wheels relative to the hub with paint. This ensures the balanced wheel returns to its original position. Loosen the wheel mounting bolts with the vehicle standing. Raise the vehicle and support it on stands. Remove the front wheels.
2. Remove the engine undershield.
3. Remove the mounting bolts (arrows in the accompanying illustration) and detach the lower control arm from the front crossmember.

4. Press out the ball joint from the steering knuckle.

INSTALLATION

1. Clean the ball joint stud and the bore in the steering knuckle (remove all grease residue).
2. Install the ball joint. Install washer (3) and screw on a new self-locking nut (2). Torque to 80 N·m.
3. Connect the lower control arm to the front suspension crossmember with bolt (1). Do not tighten the nut.

4. Install the front wheels. Do not lubricate the wheel bolts with oil. Install the wheels so that the previously made marks align. Lower the vehicle onto the wheels. Tighten the wheel bolts in a crisscross sequence. Torque to 100 N·m.
5. Set the vehicle to its normal position. The following conditions must be met:
a) The vehicle must be standing on its wheels.
b) The front seats must be in the middle position.
c) Each seat must carry a load of 68 kg.
d) A load of 68 kg must be placed in the center of the rear seat.
e) A load of 21 kg must be placed in the center of the luggage compartment.
f) The fuel tank must be completely filled.
6. Secure the lower control arm to the front suspension crossmember with the following torques:
• 6-cylinder engine: 81 N·m,
• 8-cylinder engine: 78 N·m.
7. Install the engine undershield.