Ford Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

The independent type of front suspension which has a maximum capacity of 1280 Kilograms comprises two single‐piece lower suspension arms mounted on a pressed steel front crossmember and brackets, and arm having a single coil spring and a telescopic shock absorber. The box section type brackets incorporate rubber bushes supporting the front end of each arm and a bump stop, located between the arm and the crossmember. A lower ball joint is bolted to each suspension arm which supports the stub axles and the shock absorbers. The upper ends of the shock absorbers are mounted to the top of the front fenders and retained by nuts in the cab.

The bolts, which retain the rear mounting for the lower arm to the crossmember, are tightened in production using the `Torque to Yield' method which has already been successfully employed on a number of Ford car variants. There is no difference between the bolts tightened by the `Torque to Yield' method, and the bolts tightened by the conventional method. However, if it is necessary to disturb a `Torque to Yield' tightened bolt, the procedures detailed in the Technical Specifications must be adopted.

The hubs are mounted on stub axles located between the lower suspension arms and the shock absorbers. The brake discs are bolted to the hubs and the hubs provide a five and a six stud fixing for the road wheels.

Two taper roller bearings are located on each stub axle and run in cups pressed into the wheel hub. The left hand bearing adjusting nut is left hand threaded. An extended lug on each stub axle provides fixing points for the track rods. The stub axles also provide mount locations for the front brake calipers.

Certain vehicles are equipped with front stabiliser bars. The stabiliser bar is bush mounted to the crossmember from brackets and the connecting links are bush mounted to the lower suspension arms.

Whenever the front suspension ball joints are disconnected the gaiters must be inspected for damage. If the gaiter is damaged the complete assembly must be replaced. Do not attempt to refit a damaged gaiter.