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PR E-A LIG NM EN T C HEC KS
1991 M it s u bis h i M onte ro
Wheel Alignment
PRE-ALIGNMENT INSPECTION PROCEDURES
PRE-ALIGNMENT CHECKS
Before making wheel alignment adjustment, perform the
following checks:
1) Tires should be equal in size and runout must not be
excessive. Tires and wheels should be in balance, and inflated to
manufacturer's specifications.
2) Wheel bearings must be properly adjusted. Steering linkage
and suspension must not have excessive looseness. Check for wear in
tie rod ends and ball joints.
3) Steering gear box must not have excessive play. Check and
adjust to manufacturer's specifications.
4) Vehicle must be at curb height with full fuel load and
spare tire in vehicle. No extra load should be on vehicle.
5) Vehicle must be level with floor and with suspension
settled. Jounce front and rear of vehicle several times and allow it
to settle to normal curb height.
6) If steering wheel is not centered with front wheels in
straight-ahead position, correct by shortening one tie rod adjusting
sleeve and lengthening opposite sleeve equal amounts.
7) Ensure wheel lug nuts are tightened to torque
specifications.
1) Using Socket (MB990954) and torque wrench, rotate front
hub and tighten lock nut to 95-145 ft. lbs. (129-197 N.m) to seat
bearings. Loosen nut. Retighten nut to 18 ft. lbs. (24 N.m) and loosen\
30-40 degrees.
2) Using spring scale attached to wheel stud, measure and
record turning resistance required to rotate hub/rotor assembly before
installing locking hub.
3) Apply semi-drying sealant on locking hub assembly-to-
hub/rotor contact areas. DO NOT apply sealant on outer areas of
hub/rotor assembly, toward brake contact areas.
4) Align locking hub assembly key area with steering knuckle
keyway area. Loosely install locking hub assembly on hub/rotor
assembly. Ensure locking hub assembly fully contacts hub/rotor
assembly.
5) Install locking hub retaining bolts. Tighten to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table at end of article.
Using spring scale attached to wheel stud, measure turning resistance
required to rotate hub/rotor assembly.
6) Subtract turning resistance measured in step 2) (before
installing locking hub) from turning resistance measured in step 5)
(after installing locking hub). If difference exceeds 3.1 lbs. (14 N)\
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check for incorrect installation of locking hub assembly or
components.
7) Install shim and snap ring on drive axle. Rotate drive
axle until maximum end play is obtained. Using dial indicator, check
drive axle end play.
8) Drive axle end play should be .008-.020" (.20-.51 mm). If\
end play is not within specification, adjust drive axle end play by
changing axle shaft shim. Install new "O" ring and cover. Tighten
cover to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table at end of
article.
LOWER CONTROL ARM R & I
REMOVAL
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove
front skid plate and undercover (if equipped). Remove torsion bar. See\
TORSION BAR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Remove stabilizer bar bolt
from control arm.
2) Remove shock absorber-to-control arm bolts. Loosen but DO
NOT remove lower ball joint-to-steering knuckle nut. Using ball joint
fork, separate lower ball joint from steering knuckle.
3) Remove ball joint stud nut from steering knuckle. Remove
control arm shaft. See Fig. 1. Remove torque arm. Remove lower control
arm pivot bolt. Remove lower control arm.
INSPECTION
1) Inspect control arm for cracks or deformation. Check ball
joints. See BALL JOINT CHECKING under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION.
2) Inspect ball joint dust covers for damage. Replace dust
covers if damaged. Inspect control arm bushing and frame bracket
bushing for damage. Replace if necessary.
3) If frame bracket bushing needs replacing, install Bushing
Remover/Installer (MB990958-01) in bushing. See Fig. 3. Tighten
bushing remover/installer bolt until bushing is removed. Reverse
bushing remover/installer to install bushing.
NOTE: Differential carrier may require relocation to replace left
bracket bushing.
UPPER CONTROL ARM R & I
REMOVAL
1) Remove shock absorber. Support lower control arm with jack
stand. Remove wheel assembly. Loosen anchor bolt lock nut. See Fig. 1.
2) Mark anchor bolt for reassembly reference. Loosen anchor
bolt to release torsion bar tension. Disconnect and plug brake hose at
frame mount bracket. Remove cotter pin from ball joint stud. Loosen
but DO NOT remove ball joint stud knuckle nut.
3) Using ball joint fork, loosen ball joint from steering
knuckle. Remove ball joint stud nut. Remove rebound stopper and brake
hose support from control arm. Remove upper control arm mounting
bolts. Note direction of bolt installation and location of camber
adjustment shims. Remove control arm.
4) If clearance is inadequate for control arm removal, move
control arm toward rear of vehicle and pull out front part of arm.
Rotate control arm pivot shaft and remove arm. If arm still cannot be
removed, loosen 10 front body mounting nuts. Raise body and remove
arm.
NOTE: On Montero, rotating control arm shaft will alter caster
setting.
INSPECTION
1) Inspect control arm for cracks or deformation. On Montero,
mount control arm in soft-jawed vise using control arm shaft. Attach
spring scale to upper end of control arm, near ball joint.
2) Using spring scale, measure starting torque required to
rotate control arm on the shaft. Replace control arm if starting
torque exceeds 1.4 lbs. (6.5 N).
3) On all models, check ball joints. See BALL JOINT CHECKING
under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Inspect ball joint dust cover for
damage and replace as necessary.
INSTALLATION
1) To install, reverse removal procedure. On Montero, ensure
control arm shaft is correctly positioned before installing. Rotate
control arm shaft to obtain correct measurement. See Fig. 6.
Fig. 6: Positioning Upper Control Arm Shaft (Montero)
Courtesy of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America.
2) On Ram-50 & Pickup, install control arm-to-crossmember
bolts from the inside of crossmember, with nuts against control arm
shaft.
3) On Montero, install control arm-to-crossmember bolts from
the outside of control arm, with nuts against crossmember.
4) Ensure alignment shims are placed in original location.
When installing shock absorber, ensure White paint mark on lower end
of shock faces toward the outside of vehicle. Tighten shock absorber
upper nut until distance from end of threads to nut is .27-.31" (7-8
mm). Install shock lock nut.
5) Tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
table at end of article. Bleed brakes. Adjust anchor bolt to proper
torsion bar setting. See TORSION BAR under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
Check wheel alignment and adjust if necessary.
WHEEL BEARINGS R & I
REMOVAL
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove
caliper assembly. Remove locking hub. See LOCKING HUB under REMOVAL &
INSTALLATION.
2) Remove lock washer. Using Socket (MB990954), remove lock
nut. Remove front hub assembly from steering knuckle.
3) Remove oil seal and bearings from hub. If bearing races
need to be replaced, drive bearing races from hub using brass drift
and hammer.
INSTALLATION
1) Before installing, lubricate outside surfaces of bearing
outer races with grease. Install bearing outer races in hub. Ensure
bearing races are fully seated.
2) Pack bearings with grease. Install inner bearing in hub.
On Montero, install seal in hub using Seal Installer (MB990955). On
Pickup, use Seal Installer (MB990985).
3) Install seal until seal is even with hub surface. To
complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Adjust wheel
bearings. See WHEEL BEARINGS under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Tighten
bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS TABLE \
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Application Ft. Lbs. (N.m)
Anchor Bolt Lock Nut ............. 29-36 (39-49)
Automatic Hub Cover .............. 13-25 (18-34)
Ball Joint Nut
Lower ....................... 87-130 (118-176)
Upper .......................... 43-65 (58-88)
Ball Joint-to-Lower
Control Arm Bolt ............... 39-54 (53-73)
Caliper Bolt ..................... 58-72 (79-98)
Control Arm-to-Frame Bolt
Lower ................. ( 1) 101-116 (137-157)
Upper ......................... 72-87 (98-118)
Locking Hub-to-Hub/Rotor Bolt .... 36-43 (49-58)
Manual Hub Cover Bolt .................. 10 (14)
Shock Absorber Lower Mount Bolt
Montero ........................ 11-16 (15-22)
Ram-50 & Pickup ...................... 10 (14)
if possible. If proper
adjustment cannot be obtained,
require repair or replacement
of worn component.
Wheel bearing race
is loose in the
hub bore ............... A ...... Require replacement of hub
assembly and wheel bearings.
Wheel bearing races
are pitted ............. A .. Require replacement of bearing
assembly.
Wheel bearing races
are worn ............... A .. Require replacement of bearing
assembly.
Wheel bearing rollers
are pitted ............. A .. Require replacement of bearing
assembly.
Wheel bearing rollers
are worn ............... A .. Require replacement of bearing
assembly.
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WHEEL ALIGNMENT
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Wheel alignment is defined as the measurement, analysis, and
adjustment of steering and suspension angles to conform to OEM
specifications. These angles usually include, but are not limited to:
caster, camber, toe, and thrust angle. Where these angles are not
adjustable and not in specification, component replacement or
correction kits may be required. Errors in set-back and steering axis
inclination (SAI) are often attributable to failed or damaged
components and must be corrected prior to performing an alignment.
Failure to replace or correct suggested parts or service may
prevent a proper alignment.
Before performing an alignment check, inspect and verify the
following:
* Tire pressure and size
* Vehicle loading
* Ride height
* Steering and suspension parts
If the inspection reveals that all the above are within
published specifications, a wheel alignment check and an alignment, if
needed, may be performed.
CAUTION: Under no circumstances should a technician bend or heat
any steering or suspension component, unless specified by
the vehicle manufacturer, for example, Ford forged twin
"I" beam axles. All measurements and specifications must
be noted on the inspection report.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT INSPECTION
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Condition Code Procedure
Dog tracking, shown
to be caused by
faulty alignment ....... 2 ................ Suggest repair.
Lead, shown to
problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting,
refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available
in the section(s) you are accessing.
BASIC FWD AXLE SHAFTS & CV JOINTS TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART
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CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE \
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Grease Leaks CV boot torn or cracked \
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Clicking Noise on Cornering Damaged outer CV \
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Clunk Noise on Acceleration Damaged inner CV \
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Vibration or Shudder Sticking, damaged or worn CV
on Acceleration Misalignment or spring height
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STEERING & SUSPENSION
MANUAL STEERING GEAR TROUBLE SHOOTING
NOTE: This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended
to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle
configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting
information is to provide a list of common causes to
problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting,
refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available
in the section(s) you are accessing.
BASIC MANUAL STEERING GEAR TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART
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CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION \
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Rattle or Rack and pinion mounting Tighten all mounting
Chucking Noise bracket loose bolts
in Rack and
Pinion Lack of/or incorrect Correct as necessary
lubricant
Steering gear mounting Tighten all mounting
bolts loose bolts
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Excessive Play Front wheel bearing See FRONT SUSPENSION
improperly adjusted article
Loose or worn steering See STEERING LINKAGE
linkage article
Loose or worn steering See MANUAL STEERING
gear shift GEAR article
Steering arm loose on See MANUAL STEERING
gear shaft GEAR article
Steering gear housing Tighten all mounting
bolts loose bolts
Steering gear adjustment See MANUAL STEERING
too loose GEAR article
Steering arms loose on Tighten and check
knuckles steering linkage
Rack and pinion mounting Tighten all mounting
loose bolts
Rack and pinion out of See adjustment in
adjustment STEERING article
Tie rod end loose Tighten and check
steering linkage
Excessive Pitman shaft-to- Repair as necessary
ball nut lash
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Poor Lack of lubricant in ball Lubricate and service
Returnability joint or linkage systems
Binding in linkage or ball See STEERING LINKAGE
joints and SUSPENSION article
Improper front end alignment See WHEEL ALIGNMENT
article
Improper tire pressure Inflate to proper
pressure
Tie rod binding Inflate to proper
pressure
Shaft seal rubbing shaft See STEERING COLUMN
article
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Excessive Improper tire pressure Inflate to proper
Vertical Motion pressure
Tires, wheels or rotors Balance tires then
out of balance check wheels and
rotors
Worn or faulty shock Check and replace if
absorbers necessary
Loose tie rod ends or Tighten or replace if
steering necessary
Loose or worn wheel See SUSPENSION article
bearings
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Steering Pulls Improper tire pressure Inflate to proper
to One Side pressure
Front tires are different Rotate or replace if
sizes necessary
Wheel bearings not See FRONT SUSPENSION
article
adjusted properly
Bent or broken suspension See FRONT SUSPENSION
components article
Improper wheel alignment See WHEEL ALIGNMENT
article