Removal

NOTE: Before proceeding, review all SERVICE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS.

1. Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a frame contact type hoist.
2. Remove the front wheel and tire.





3. Remove the attaching bolt for the front hub/ bearing mounting the brake hose bracket to the steering knuckle.





4. Remove the 2 bolts attaching the brake caliper to the steering knuckle. Remove the brake caliper from the steering knuckle.
5. Support brake caliper by hanging it from the frame of the vehicle with wire or some other method. Do not let caliper assembly hang by the brake flex hose.
6. Remove the brake rotor from the hub/bearing.





7. Loosen, but do not remove, the nuts attaching the stabilizer bar attaching links to BOTH lower control arms.

CAUTION: The nut must be positioned at the end of the stabilizer bar attaching link stud when removing it from the lower control arm. This will prevent the end of the stud from being damaged when removing it from the lower control arm.

Stabilizer Bar Link Removal:

8. Remove the stabilizer bar attaching link from lower control arm using the following procedure. Position the attaching link nut at the end of attaching link stud. Position a center punch in the hole on the end of the attaching link stud. Using a hammer, strike the center punch to remove the attaching link stud from the lower control arm.

Shock Absorber Mounting:

9. Remove the nut and bolt attaching the shock absorber to the bracket on the lower control arm.

Ball Joint Attachment To Steering Knuckle:

10. Remove the cotter pin and nut from the lower ball joint.

NOTE: When installing Spacer, Special Tool 6983 between the grease seal and the bottom of the steering knuckle it must be installed in the direction as shown.

Special Tool 6983 Installed:

11. Install Spacer, Special Tool 6983, between the ball joint grease seal and the bottom of the steering knuckle.

CAUTION: Do not strike the steering knuckle or apply heat to the steering knuckle when separating the ball joint stud from the steering knuckle.

Tools Properly Installed For Ball Joint Removal:

Special Tool C-4150-A And Special Tool 6983 Correctly Installed:

12. Install Puller, Special Tool C-4150-A, on steering knuckle. The ball bearing in the bolt of Special Tool C-4150A must be centered in the stud of the lower ball joint. Also, the Spacer, Special Tool 6983, must be installed between the steering knuckle and Special Tool C-4150-A as shown.
13. Tighten bolt on Remover, Special Tool C-4150A, to apply pressure against the stud of the lower ball joint. This will separate the lower ball joint stud from the steering knuckle.

Lower Control Arm Attachment To Frame Rail:

14. Remove nuts, bolts, and adjustment cams attaching lower control arm to mounting brackets on the frame rail. Slightly spread the ends of the mounting brackets to ease removal of the lower control arm from brackets.