Removing
1. Block the rear wheels, apply the handbrake, jack up the front of the vehicle and place it on axle stands. Remove the front wheel.
2. Acting as described in Section Removal and installation of the front anti-roll bar, disconnect the stabilizer ends from the lower control arms, then loosen the mounting clips and rotate the stabilizer so that it is clear of the arms.
3a. Loosen the bolt holding the brace (where available) to the front wing spar, and the nut that secures it to the lower arm.
3b. Remove stretch marks (refer to illustrations).
4. Remove the nut and bolt of the clamp securing the ball joint of the lower suspension arm to the steering knuckle (refer to accompanying illustration). Loosen the lower arm pivot bolts, then carefully separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle being careful not to damage the driveshaft boot. Remove the plastic protective plate mounted on the ball joint shaft.
5. Remove the two pivot bolts and their nuts and remove the lower arm from under the vehicle.
Bulkhead
1. Clean the lower arm and the area around its mountings and inspect it for cracks, other damage, and deformation. On some models, a shield is attached to the lever with brackets, which deflects air to the brake disc; it also needs to be removed. Check that the lower arm ball joint moves freely and smoothly and that the ball joint protector is not cracked. Inspect pivot bolts for chafing and signs of wear. Replace components as needed.
2. Inspect lower arm pivot bolt bushings. If they are worn or cracked, replace the bushings. Lock the lower arm and push out the bushing with the socket, which should rest only on its hard outer edge. Do not remove both bushings from the lever at the same time, otherwise the new bushings cannot be placed correctly. Thoroughly clean the hole in the lever from dirt and grease and grind off any burrs and bumps in it that could interfere with the installation of a new component. Apply a small amount of suitable grease to the outer edge of the new bushing. Set the bushing in working position so that the distance between the inner ends of the bushings is 147 mm (refer to accompanying illustration). Wipe off excess grease and repeat procedure on remaining bushing.
Installation
1. Move the lower arm to working position and insert the hinge bolts (from the back of the car). Install the nuts and tighten them by hand.
2. Install the plastic spacer on the ball joint of the lower arm, then insert the hinge rod into the steering knuckle. Install the tie bolt and tighten the fixing nut to the Specifications effort.
3. Where available, install a brace on the front arm pivot bolt. Install the mounting bolt and nut and tighten them only by hand for now.
4. Acting according to the description in the section Removal and installation of the front anti-roll bar, connect the ends of the anti-roll bar to the lower arms and lightly tighten the mounting bolts.
5. Install the wheel, lower the vehicle to the ground and tighten the wheel bolts to Specifications effort.
6. Rock the vehicle to adjust the position of the lower arm and stabilizer components. Tighten the lower arm pivot bolts to Specifications force, then tighten the nuts and bolts of the stabilizer clamps. When finished, tighten the mounting nut and the lever extension bolt (where available).