| Removal and Installation Special Tool(s) | | Protector, Ball Joint Gaiter 204-349 | | | Alignment Pins, Subframe 205-316 (15-097A) | | | Separator, Ball Joint 211-020 | General Equipment Ball joint separator Securing strap Transmission jack CAUTION:Make sure the strut and spring assembly does not move in a forwards or rearwards direction, to prevent damage to the top mount center cup. All vehicles | | -
NOTE:Make sure the road wheels are in the straight ahead position. Centralize the steering wheel and lock it in position. | | | -
Detach the steering column from the steering gear pinion. | | | -
Remove the front wheels and tires.
For additional information, refer to: Wheel and Tire (204-04 Wheels and Tires, Removal and Installation).
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Remove the engine undershield. | | | -
Detach the headlamp leveling front sensor bracket from the right-hand lower arm and secure it to one side (if equipped). | | | -
CAUTION:Over bending of the exhaust flexible pipe may cause damage resulting in failure. Support the exhaust flexible pipe with a suitable support wrap or a suitable splint. | | | -
CAUTION:Take care when removing the exhaust hanger insulators to prevent damage. Detach the exhaust flexible pipe from the front axle crossmember exhaust hanger insulators. | All except vehicles with diesel engine | | -
CAUTION:Using suitable cable ties, support the rear muffler and exhaust tailpipe assembly to prevent damage to the exhaust hanger insulators. Detach the exhaust flexible pipe from the rear muffler flange. - Discard the gasket and nuts.
| Vehicles with diesel engine | | -
CAUTION:Using suitable cable ties, support the rear muffler and exhaust tailpipe assembly to prevent damage to the exhaust hanger insulators. Detach the exhaust flexible pipe from the rear muffler flange (2.0L Duratorq-TDCi (DW) Diesel shown). - Discard the gasket and nuts.
| 10. Remove the components in the order indicated in the following illustration(s) and table(s). 4 - Engine support insulator front retaining bolt 6 - Stabilizer bar clamp retaining bolts 11. To install, reverse the removal procedure. | | -
WARNING:Install a new steering column to steering gear pinion bolt. Failure to follow this instruction may result in personal injury. NOTE:Make sure the road wheels are in the straight ahead position. Attach the steering column to the steering gear pinion. | | | -
Check the front toe setting and adjust as necessary.
For additional information, refer to: Specifications (204-00 Suspension System - General Information, Specifications) /
Front Toe Adjustment (204-00 Suspension System - General Information, General Procedures).
| Removal Details Item 1 : Tie-rod end retaining nut | | -
CAUTION:Leave the tie-rod end retaining nut in place to protect the ball joint stud. NOTE:Use a 5 mm Allen key to prevent the ball joint stud from rotating. Loosen the tie-rod end retaining nut on both sides. | | | -
CAUTION:Protect the ball joint seal using a soft cloth to prevent damage. Using the special tool, detach the tie-rod end from the wheel knuckle on both sides. - Discard the tie-rod end retaining nut.
| Item 2 : Stabilizer bar link retaining nut | | -
NOTE:Use a 5 mm Allen key to prevent the ball joint stud from rotating. Detach the stabilizer bar link from the stabilizer bar on both sides. | Item 3 : Lower arm ball joint retaining nut | | -
Using the special tool to prevent the ball joint from rotating, remove the lower arm ball joint retaining nut on both sides. - Discard the lower arm ball joint retaining nut.
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CAUTION:Make sure that the special tool is installed with the curved surface facing upwards to prevent damage to the ball joint seal. Install the special tool. | Item 5 : Front axle crossmember | | -
Remove the front axle crossmember bracket retaining bolts on both sides. | | | -
Remove the front axle crossmember retaining bolts (transmission jack shown removed for clarity). | | | -
CAUTION:To prevent damage to the power steering lines, only lower the crossmember sufficiently to allow the stabilizer bar to be removed. Lower the front axle crossmember. | Item 8 : Stabilizer bar | | -
Remove the stabilizer bar bushings. | Installation Details Item 8 : Stabilizer bar | | -
CAUTION:The stabilizer bar bushings must be located correctly on the flats of the stabilizer bar with no lubricant. Install the stabilizer bar bushings. | | | -
Position the stabilizer bar on the front axle crossmember. | Item 5 : Front axle crossmember | | -
Using a transmission jack and the special tool, position and align the front axle crossmember. - Insert the alignment pins through the front axle crossmember alignment holes.
- Slide the locking plates into the groove of the special tool and tighten the alignment pin sleeve.
- Raise the front axle crossmember engaging the alignment pins into the front axle crossmember alignment holes.
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CAUTION:While tightening the front axle crossmember retaining bolts, make sure the front axle crossmember does not move. Install the front axle crossmember retaining bolts (transmission jack shown removed for clarity). | | | -
Install the front axle crossmember bracket retaining bolts on both sides. | Item 3 : Lower arm ball joint retaining nut | | -
WARNING:Install a new lower arm ball joint retaining nut. Failure to follow this instruction may result in personal injury. Using the special tool to prevent the ball joint from rotating, install the lower arm ball joint retaining nut on both sides. | Item 2 : Stabilizer bar link retaining nut | | -
NOTE:Use a 5 mm Allen key to prevent the ball joint stud from rotating. Attach the stabilizer bar link to the stabilizer bar on both sides. | Item 1 : Tie-rod end retaining nut | | -
NOTE:Use a 5 mm Allen key to prevent the ball joint stud from rotating. Attach the tie-rod end to the wheel knuckle on both sides. | |
