Diesel Data: Automotive Repair

Lower Arm Removal and Installation

Lower Arm Removal and Installation

Removal
1) Hoist vehicle and remove rear wheels.
2) Remove shock absorber and coil spring.
3) Remove lower arm nut and lower arm bolt.
4) Put matchmark (3) across adjustment washer (1) and rear suspension frame (2).
5) Remove lower arm lock nut (4), adjustment washer and lower arm adjustment bolt (5).
6) Remove lower arm (6).





Installation
1) Install lower arm (1) to rear suspension frame (2) and insert lower arm adjustment bolt (3) from vehicle front side [A].
2) Install adjustment washer (4) with its graduated part facing up.
3) Align matchmark (5) on adjustment washer and rear suspension frame, then tighten new lower arm lock nut (6) temporarily.

CAUTION:
Lower arm lock nut is pre-coated with friction stabilizer. Never reuse lock nut. Otherwise, lock nut may loosen.






4) Install lower arm to suspension knuckle and tighten new lower arm nut to specified torque.

CAUTION:
Lower arm nut is pre-coated with friction stabilizer. Never reuse nut. Otherwise, nut may loosen.


Tightening torque
Lower arm nut: 75 Nm (7.6 kg-m, 55.5 lbf-ft)

5) Install rear shock absorber and coil spring.
6) Install rear wheels and lower hoist.
7) Push vehicle to bounce it up and down several times to stabilize suspension.
8) Tighten lower arm lock nut to specified torque.

CAUTION:
^ Tighten lower arm lock nut only after making sure that vehicle weight is off the hoist.
^ Tighten lower arm lock nut to specified torque while aligning matchmark on adjustment washer and rear suspension frame.


NOTE:
If tightening of lower arm lock nut is difficult with vehicle weight on wheels, use the following method: Support vehicle weight with hoist, remove rear wheels, and use jack to apply upward load to lower arm until its bottom surface is in parallel with floor surface. Then tighten lower arm lock nut.

Tightening torque
Lower arm lock nut: 75 Nm (7.6 kg-m, 55.5 lbf-ft)

1) Check rear toe and camber.