Installation

1. Position the lower control arm in the frame brackets.
2. Loosely install the lower control arm mounting bolts and flag nuts. DO NOT TIGHTEN THE BOLTS 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 the proper torquing and torque retention of the ball joint attaching nut.

NOTE: A special lower ball joint to steering knuckle attaching nut is used on this vehicle. The 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 will roll up on itself as the nut is tightened.





3. Install the lower ball joint stud into the steering knuckle. Install A NEW ball joint to steering knuckle attaching nut. Tighten the attaching nut to a torque of 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.). As the new ball joint nut is tightened, the skirt will fold upward. Continue to tighten the nut until the specified torque is reached.





4. Tighten the upper ball joint to steering knuckle attaching nut to a torque of 115 Nm (85 ft. lbs.).
5. 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 to the steering knuckle when the vehicle is turned to the full travel of the steering gear.

6. Loosely install the push rod to lower control arm attaching bolt and nut.
7. Install the wheel and tire.
8. Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in propel sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the hill specified torque of 122 Nm (90 ft. lbs.).
9. Install the center cap on the wheel
10. Lower the vehicle to ground.
11. Place the vehicle on an alignment rack so the full weight of the 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.

12. Jounce the vehicle several times to allow the vehicle to settle at its correct curb height.
13. Tighten the push rod to lower control arm attaching nut and bolt to a torque of 162 Nm (120 ft. lbs.).
14. Tighten the lower control arm isolator bushing through bolts to a torque of 162 Nm (120 ft. lbs.).
15. Position the vehicle correctly on the alignment rack per the manufacturers procedure when doing an alignment.
16. Align the vehicle. Refer to Alignment.