Contents: Removal 🠛 Installation 🠛
Removal
Note: A ball joint puller is required.
1. Apply the handbrake, then jack up the front of the car and support it on axle stands. Remove the front wheel.
2. If the ball joint cannot be replaced, use a ruler and marking tool to mark its position on the steering rod.
3. While holding the ball joint, loosen its lock nut a quarter of a turn. Do not move the lock nut from this position - it will serve as a guide during installation.
4. Remove the nut securing the steering rod ball joint to the steering knuckle. Release the ball joint pin using a special puller. If the ball joint is not replaceable, secure its threaded end by tightening the nut a few turns (see illustration).
23.4. Remove the steering rod ball joint from the steering knuckle using a special puller.
5. While counting the number of revolutions, unscrew the ball joint from the tie rod end.
6. Count the number of visible thread turns between the end of the ball joint and the locknut and record the result. If a new ball joint is being installed, remove the lock nut from the old joint.
7. Carefully clean the ball joint and threads. Replace the hinge if it moves too loosely or too tightly, or if it is excessively worn or damaged. Carefully inspect the hinge pin and threads. If the hinge boot is damaged, the hinge must be replaced.
Installation
8. If a new joint is being installed, thread the lock nut onto it and position it so that the same number of thread turns are visible as was noted before removal.
9. Screw the joint into the steering rod by the number of turns counted during removal.
10. Install the ball joint pin into the steering knuckle and tighten the fastening nut to the specified tightening torque Specifications. If this cannot be done due to the rotation of the pin, fix it by pressing the back side of the hinge with a jack.
11. Install the wheel, lower the vehicle to the ground and tighten the wheel bolts to the specified tightening torque Specifications.
12. Check the front wheel alignment (Chapter 25), then tighten the ball joint lock nut to the specified tightening torque Specifications.