CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSES CORRECTION
Road Wander 1. Incorrect tire pressure 1. Inflate tires to recommended
pressure
2. Incorrect front or rear wheel toe 2. Check and reset wheel toe
3. Worn wheel bearings 3. Replace wheel bearing
4. Worn control arm bushings 4. Replace control arm bushing
5. Excessive friction in steering gear 5. Replace steering gear
6. Excessive friction in steering shaft
coupling6. Replace steering coupler
7. Excessive friction in strut upper
bearing7. Replace strut bearing
Lateral Pull 1. Unequal tire pressure 1. Inflate all tires to recommended
pressure
2. Radial tire lead 2. Perform lead correction procedure
3. Incorrect front wheel camber 3. Check and reset front wheel
camber
4. Power steering gear imbalance 4. Replace power steering gear
5. Wheel braking 5. Correct braking condition causing
lateral pull
Excessive Steering Free Play 1. Incorrect Steering Gear Adjustment 1. Adjust Or Replace Steering Gear
2. Worn or loose tie rod ends 2. Replace or tighten tie rod ends
3. Loose steering gear mounting bolts 3. Tighten steering gear bolts to
specified torque
4. Loose or worn steering shaft
coupler4. Replace steering shaft coupler
Excessive Steering Effort 1. Low tire pressure 1. Inflate all tires to recommended
pressure
2. Lack of lubricant in steering gear 2. Replace steering gear
3. Low power steering fluid level 3. Fill power steering fluid reservoir to
correct level
4. Loose power steering pump drive
belt4. Correctly adjust power steering
pump drive belt
5. Lack of lubricant in ball joints 5. Lubricate or replace ball joints
6. Steering gear malfunction 6. Replace steering gear
7. Lack of lubricant in steering
coupler7. Replace steering coupler
PRE-WHEEL ALIGNMENT INSPECTION
Before any attempt is made to change or correct
the wheel alignment factors. The following part
inspection and the necessary corrections should be
made to those parts which influence the steering of
the vehicle.
(1) Check and inflate all tires to recommended
pressure. All tires should be the same size and in
good condition and have approximately the same
wear. Note the type of tread wear which will aid in
diagnosing, see Wheels and Tires, Group 22.
(2) Check front wheel and tire assembly for radial
runout.
(3) Inspect lower ball joints and all steering link-
age for looseness.
(4) Check for broken or sagged front and rear
springs.(5) Check vehicle ride height to verify it is within
specifications.
(6) AlignmentMUSTonly be checked after the
vehicle has the following areas inspected and or
adjusted. Recommended tire pressures, full tank of
fuel, no passenger or luggage compartment load and
is on a level floor or a properly calibrated alignment
rack.
SERVICE PROCEDURES
WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK AND ADJUSTMENT
PROCEDURE
CASTER AND CAMBER
Front suspension Caster and Camber settings on
this vehicle are determined at the time the vehicle is
designed. This is done by determining the precise
2 - 4 SUSPENSIONNS
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING (Continued)
instructions included with the thread insert for the
detailed procedure used for the installation of the
thread insert.
NOTE: The thread inserts for this application are
for the repair of M8x1.25 and M10x1.5 threads. Be
sure the correct tools are used for the required
thread insert size.
TOOL REQUIREMENT FOR M8x1.25 Thread
²8.3mm (5/16 in.) Drill Bit
²120É Countersink
²Heli-CoiltTap #4863-8
²Heli-CoiltGage #4624-8
²Heli-CoiltHand Inserting Tool 7751-8
²Needle Nose Pliers ± For Removal Of Thread
Insert Driving Tang
TOOL REQUIREMENT FOR M10x1.5 Thread
²10.5mm (25/64 in.) Drill Bit
²120É Countersink
²Heli-CoiltTap #4863-10
²Heli-CoiltGage #4624-10
²Heli-CoiltHand Inserting Tool 7751-10
²Needle Nose Pliers ± For Removal Of Thread
Insert Driving Tang
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
Mc PHERSON STRUT
REMOVAL
WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE THE NUT FROM THE
STRUT ROD WHILE STRUT ASSEMBLY IS
INSTALLED IN VEHICLE, OR BEFORE STRUT
ASSEMBLY SPRING IS COMPRESSED.
(1) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this service man-
ual, for the required lifting procedure to be used for
this vehicle.
(2) Remove the wheel and tire assembly from loca-
tion on front of vehicle requiring strut removal.
(3) If both strut assemblies are to be removed,
mark the strut assemblies right or left according to
which side of the vehicle they were removed from.
(4) Remove the hydraulic brake hose routing
bracket and the speed sensor cable routing bracket
from the strut damper brackets (Fig. 6).
NOTE: When removing nut from stud of stabilizer
bar attaching link, do not allow stud to rotate. Hold
stud from rotating by inserting a Torx Plus 40IP bit
in the end of the stud as shown in (Fig. 7).(5) Remove the stabilizer bar attaching link (Fig.
7) from the bracket on the strut assembly.
CAUTION: The steering knuckle to strut assembly
attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned
during removal. Remove nuts while holding bolts
stationary in the steering knuckles.
(6) Remove the 2 strut assembly clevis bracket to
steering knuckle attaching bolts (Fig. 8).
(7) Remove the 3 nuts attaching the strut assem-
bly upper mount to the strut tower (Fig. 9).
INSTALLATION
(1) Install strut assembly into strut tower, aligning
and installing the 3 studs on the upper strut mount
into the holes in shock tower. Install the 3 upper
strut mount attaching nut/washer assemblies (Fig.
9). Then using a crow foot. tighten the 3 attaching
nuts to a torque of 28 N´m (250 in. lbs.).
Fig. 6 Brake Hose And Speed Sensor Cable Routing
Fig. 7 Stabilizer Bar Link To Strut Attachment
NSSUSPENSION 2 - 13
SERVICE PROCEDURES (Continued)
CAUTION: The steering knuckle to strut assembly
attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned
during installation. Install nuts while holding bolts
stationary in the steering knuckles.
(2) Align strut assembly with steering knuckle.
Position arm of steering knuckle into strut assembly
clevis bracket. Align the strut assembly clevis
bracket mounting holes with the steering knuckle
mounting holes. Install the 2 strut assembly to steer-
ing knuckle attaching bolts (Fig. 8).If strut assem-
bly is attached to steering knuckle using a cam
bolt, the cam bolt must be installed in the lower
slotted hole on strut clevis bracket. Also,
attaching bolts should be installed with the
nuts facing the front of the vehicle (Fig. 8).
Tighten the strut assembly to steering knuckle
attaching bolts to a torque of 88 N´m (65 ft. lbs.)
plus an additional 1/4 turn after specified
torque is met.(3) Install stabilizer bar attaching link (Fig. 7) on
bracket of strut assembly. Install stabilizer bar
attaching link to strut bracket attaching nut.
NOTE: When torquing nut on stud of stabilizer bar
attaching link, do not allow stud to rotate. Hold stud
from rotating by inserting a Torx Plus 40IP bit in the
end of the stud as shown in (Fig. 10).
(4) Tighten the stabilizer bar link to strut attach-
ing nut using a Torx Plus 40IP bit and crowfoot as
shown in (Fig. 10) to a torque of 88 N´m (65 ft. lbs.).
(5) Install hydraulic brake hose and speed sensor
cable routing brackets on the strut assembly brackets
(Fig. 6). Tighten the routing bracket attaching bolts
to a torque of 13 N´m (10 ft. lbs.).
(6) Install the wheel/tire assembly on the vehicle.
(7) Install and tighten the wheel mounting stud
nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to
half specification. Then repeat the tightening
sequence to the full specified torque of 135 N´m (100
ft. lbs.).
STEERING KNUCKLE
REMOVE
(1) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation And Maintenance Section of this manual for
the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.
(2) Remove the cotter pin and nut lock (Fig. 11)
from the end of the stub axle.
(3) Remove the wheel and tire assembly from the
vehicle.
(4) Remove the wave washer (Fig. 12) from the
end of the stub axle
Fig. 8 Strut Damper Attachment To Steering
Knuckle
Fig. 9 Strut Assembly To Strut Tower Attaching
Nuts
Fig. 10 Torquing Stabilizer Bar Link To Strut
Attaching Nut
2 - 14 SUSPENSIONNS
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)
LOWER CONTROL ARM
REMOVE
(1) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual, for
the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.
(2) Remove wheel and tire assembly from the side
of vehicle requiring service to the lower control arm.
(3) Remove the wheel stop (Fig. 28) from the steer-
ing knuckle.When installing the pinch bolt when
assembling the steering knuckle to the ball
joint, the pinch bolt must be installed from the
rear facing the front on the vehicle (Fig. 28).
(4) Remove the nut and bolt clamping the steering
knuckle to the ball joint stud. (Fig. 29)NOTE: The attaching bolts for the cradle plate are
of two different thread sizes. Nine of the bolts are a
M-14 thread and one of the bolts is a M-12 thread.
Refer to (Fig. 30) for the cradle plate attaching bolt
locations.
(5) Remove the 10 bolts (Fig. 30) attaching the cra-
dle plate to the front suspension cradle. Then remove
the cradle plate from the cradle.
CAUTION: Pulling steering knuckle out from vehi-
cle after releasing from ball joint can separate inner
C/V joint. See Driveshafts.
(6) Using a pry bar, separate steering knuckle
from ball joint stud (Fig. 31).Use caution when
separating ball joint stud from steering
knuckle, so ball joint seal does not get cut.
Fig. 28 Wheel Stop Location On Steering Knuckle
Fig. 29 Control Arm To Steering Knuckle
Attachment
Fig. 30 Front Suspension Cradle Plate And
Mounting Bolts
Fig. 31 Separating Ball Joint Stud From Steering
Knuckle
NSSUSPENSION 2 - 19
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)
CAUTION: Wheel bearing damage will result if
after loosening hub nut, vehicle is rolled on the
ground or the weight of the vehicle is allowed to be
supported by the tires.
(3) With the aid of a helper applying the brakes to
keep the front hub from turning,loosen but do not
removethe hub nut.The hub and driveshaft are
splined together through the knuckle (bearing)
and retained by the hub nut.
(4) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual, for
the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.
(5) Remove wheel lug nuts, and front tire and
wheel assembly.
(6) Remove front disc brake caliper to steering
knuckle attaching bolts. (Fig. 54).
(7) Remove disc brake caliper assembly from steer-
ing knuckle. Caliper is removed by first rotating top
of caliper away from steering knuckle, and then
removing bottom of caliper out from under machined
abutment. (Fig. 55)
(8) Support disc brake caliper assembly using a
wire hook, (Fig. 56)do not hang caliper assembly
by hydraulic hose.
(9) Remove the braking disc from the front hub/
bearing assembly.
(10) Remove the retaining nut and the washer
(Fig. 57) from the end of the stub axle.
(11) Remove the four hub and bearing assembly
mounting bolts from the rear of steering knuckle
(Fig. 58).
(12) Remove the hub and bearing assembly from
the steering knuckle (Fig. 59).
Fig. 54 Front Disc Brake Caliper Mounting Bolts
Fig. 55 Brake Caliper Assembly Removal/Installation
Fig. 56 Supporting Brake Caliper
Fig. 57 Hub/Bearing To Stub Axle Retaining Nut And
Washer
2 - 26 SUSPENSIONNS
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)
sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specifica-
tion. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full
specified torque of 129 N´m (95 ft. lbs.).
(7) Lower vehicle to the ground.
CAUTION: When tightening hub/bearing assembly
to stub shaft retaining nut, do not exceed the max-
imum torque of 244 N´m (180 ft. lbs.).
(8) With vehicle brakes applied to keep vehicle
from moving, torque stub shaft to hub/bearing assem-
bly retaining nut to 244 N´m (180 ft. lbs.).
(9) Check the Toe setting on the vehicle and reset
if not within specifications.
FRONT WHEEL MOUNTING STUDS
REMOVE
CAUTION: If a wheel attaching stud needs to be
replaced in the hub and bearing assembly the studs
CAN NOT be hammered out of the hub flange. If a
stud is removed by hammering it out of the bearing
flange, damage to the hub and bearing assembly
will occur leading to premature bearing failure.
The following procedure and special tools shown
MUST BEused when replacing wheel attaching
studs.
The hub and bearing assembly does not require
removal from the steering knuckle to replace wheel
attaching studs in the hub and bearing assembly.
(1) Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual for
the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.
(2) Remove the front wheel and tire assembly from
the vehicle.
(3) Remove the front caliper assembly from the
front steering knuckle assembly. (Fig. 62) Refer to
Front Disc Brake Service in the Brake Section of this
service manual for caliper removal procedure.
(4) Remove front rotor from hub, by pulling it
straight off wheel mounting studs. (Fig. 63)
(5) Install a lug nut on the wheel stud to be
removed from the hub and bearing assembly, so the
threads on the stud are even with end of lug nut.
Install Remover, Special Tool C-4150A on hub and
bearing assembly flange and wheel stud (Fig. 64).
(6) Tightening down on special tool will push
wheel stud out of the hub and bearing assembly
flange. When shoulder of wheel stud is past flange
remove special tool from hub and bearing assembly.
Remove lug nut from stud and remove wheel stud
from flange.
INSTALL
(1) Install replacement wheel stud into flange of
hub and bearing assembly. Install washers on wheel
stud, then install a wheel lug nut on stud with flat
side of lug nut against washers (Fig. 65).
(2) Tighten the wheel lug nut, pulling the wheel
stud into the flange of the hub and bearing assembly.
When the head of the stud is fully seated against the
bearing flange, remove lug nut and washers from
wheel stud.
(3) Install the braking disk back on the hub and
bearing assembly. (Fig. 63)
Fig. 62 Disc Brake Caliper Mounting
Fig. 63 Removing Braking Disc
2 - 28 SUSPENSIONNS
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)
(4) Install front brake caliper back over braking
disc and align with caliper mounting holes on steer-
ing knuckle (Fig. 62). Refer to Front Disc Brake Ser-
vice in the Brake Section of this service manual for
caliper installation procedure. Install the caliper
adapter to steering knuckle attaching bolts and
torque to 19 N´m (168 in. lbs.).
(5) Install wheel and tire assembly on vehicle.
Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper
sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specifica-
tion. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full
specified torque of 129 N´m (95 ft. lbs.).
(6) Lower vehicle to the ground.
REAR WHEEL MOUNTING STUDS
REMOVE
CAUTION: If a wheel attaching stud needs to be
replaced in the hub and bearing assembly the studs
CAN NOT be hammered out of the hub flange. If astud is removed by hammering it out of the bearing
flange, damage to the hub and bearing assembly
will occur leading to premature hub and bearing
failure.
The following procedure and special tools shown
MUSTbe used when replacing wheel attaching
studs.
The hub and bearing assembly does not require
removal from the rear axle for replacement of the
wheel attaching studs.
(1) Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual, for
the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.
(2) Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly.
(3) Remove the rear brake drum.
(4) Install a lug nut on the wheel stud to be
removed from the hub and bearing assembly (Fig. 66)
so the threads on stud are even with end of lug nut.
Install Remover, Special Tool C-4150A on hub and
bearing assembly flange and wheel stud (Fig. 66).
(5) Tightening down on special tool will push
wheel stud out of the hub and bearing assembly
flange. Remove lug nut from stud and remove wheel
stud from flange.
INSTALL
(1) Install replacement wheel stud into flange of
hub and bearing assembly. Install washers on wheel
stud, then install a wheel lug nut on stud with flat
side of lug nut against washers (Fig. 67).
(2) Tighten the wheel lug nut, pulling the wheel
stud into the flange of the hub and bearing assembly.
When the head of the stud is fully seated against the
bearing flange, remove lug nut and washers from
wheel stud.
Fig. 64 Wheel Stud Removal From Hub/Bearing
Assembly
Fig. 65 Installing Wheel Stud Into Hub And Bearing
Fig. 66 Removing Wheel Stud From Hub And
Bearing
NSSUSPENSION 2 - 29
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)
INSTALLATION
(1) For installation, reverse removal procedure.
Tighten bolts to 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.).
STABILIZER BAR
REMOVAL
(1) Raise vehicle. Vehicle is to be raised and sup-
ported on jack stands or on a frame contact type
hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubrication and Mainte-
nance section of this service manual.
(2) Remove the 2 lower bolts which hold the stabi-
lizer bar to the link arm on each side of the vehicle.
(3) Loosen but do not fully remove the four bolts
that attach the stabilizer bar bushing retainers to
the rear axle brackets.
(4) While holding the stabilizer bar in place. Fully
remove the 4 bolts loosened in step 3.
(5) Remove the stabilizer bar from the vehicle.
(6) If the link arms need to be serviced, remove
the upper link arm to bracket bolt. Then remove link
arm from frame rail attaching bracket.
INSPECTION
Inspect for broken or distorted clamps, retainers,
and bushings. If bushing replacement is required, the
stabilizer bar to axle bushings can be removed from
the stabilizer bar by opening the split.
INSTALLATION
(1) Install the link arms onto the frame rail brack-
ets. DO NOT TIGHTEN.
(2) Position the axle to stabilizer bar bushings on
the stabilizer bar with the slit in the bushings facing
up.(3) Lift the stabilizer bar onto the rear axle and
install the retainers and the four mounting bolts. DO
NOT TIGHTEN.
(4) Install the two lower link arm bolts on the sta-
bilizer bar. DO NOT TIGHTEN.
(5) Lower the vehicle so that the full weight of the
vehicle is on all four tires. With the vehicle at its
curb height, tighten all attaching bolts to the torques
listed below.
²Stabilizer bar bushing to axle bracket bolts 61
N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
²Link arm to frame rail bracket 61 N´m (45 ft.
lbs.)
²Stabilizer bar to link arm 61 N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
²Frame rail bracket to frame rail 61 N´m (45 ft.
lbs.)
JOUNCE BUMPER
There are two types of jounce bumpers available
depending on which suspension option the vehicle is
equipped with.
REMOVAL-STANDARD
The jounce bumper is serviced as an assembly. The
jounce bumper mounts to the frame rail at a weld
nut located on the frame rail (Fig. 23).
(1) Using the proper tool, remove the bolt attach-
ing the jounce bumper to frame rail.
(2) Remove the jounce bumper from the frame rail.
INSTALLATION-STANDARD
(1) For installation, reverse the removal procedure.
Tighten the jounce bumper mounting bolt to a torque
of 33 N´m (290 in. lbs.).
Fig. 22 Track Bar Mount
Fig. 23 Jounce Bumper-Standard
2 - 46 SUSPENSIONNS
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)