300 V6-3.5L (2008)
Ball Joint: Description and Operation
Front Lower Ball Joint
DESCRIPTION
AWD
The ball joint for the lower control arm is pressed into the lower control arm. The ball joint is a "sealed for life" component and cannot be maintenance
lubricated. The ball joint is lubricated for life at the time of assembly. No attempt should be made to ever add any lubrication to these ball joints.
Neither the ball joint, nor the seal boot for the lower control arm can be serviced as a separate component. They entire arm must be replaced if either are
damaged.
RWD
There are two lower ball joints on the RWD version of this vehicle. One in for the lower control arm and the other for the tension strut. The ball joint for
the lower control arm is pressed into the knuckle and the ball joint for the tension strut is part of the tension strut. The ball joints are both "sealed for life"
components and cannot be maintenance lubricated. These ball joints are lubricated for life at the time of assembly. No attempt should be made to ever
add any lubrication to these ball joints.
The ball joint for the lower control arm is a ball joint and seal boot cartridge type and can be replaced as a separate component of the knuckle. The boot
cannot be serviced separately. To service this ball joint, See: Front Steering Knuckle/Service and Repair/Overhaul/Disassembly - Ball Joint - RWD.
Neither the ball joint, nor the seal boot for the tension strut can be serviced as a separate component. They entire tension strut must be replaced if either
are damaged.
The ball joint connection to the lower control arm and the ball joint connection at the knuckle is achieved by an interference fit created by the tapered
stud of the ball joint and a tapered hole in the steering knuckle. The ball joint stud is retained in the steering knuckle using a locking nut.
