Load capacity less than
OEM specifications ..... B ............ Require replacement.
Offset mismatched
on same axle ........... B ............ Require replacement.
Rivets leaking .......... A ............ Require replacement.
Run-out beyond
OEM specs .............. B ............ Require replacement.
Stud holes elongated .... A ........ (2) Require replacement.
Welded or brazed
repair ................. 2 ............ Suggest replacement.
Welds leaking ........... A ............ Require replacement.
Wheel centering (pilot)
hole incorrect ......... B ............ Require replacement.
( 1) - CAUTION: DO NOT attempt to correct a bent rim.
( 2) - Inspect wheel attaching hardware for damage.
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WHEEL ALIGNMENT
NOTE: See appropriate SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL
ALIGNMENT.
WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTMENT
1) Tighten wheel bearing adjusting nut to 30-40 ft. lbs. (41-\
54 N.m) while rotating wheel. Stop rotation, and back off adjusting
nut to release all preload. Retighten nut finger tight.
2) Ensure bearing end play is .001-.003" (.025-.076 mm).
Install nut lock and cotter pin. Coat grease cap inside lightly with
grease, and install cap.
BALL JOINT CHECKING
Ball joints are preloaded. Replace lower ball joint if
vertical movement exceeds .03" (.8 mm). Replace upper ball joint if
movement exceeds .03" (.8 mm).
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
COIL SPRING
Removal
1) Raise vehicle, and position safety stands under frame.
Remove wheels. Remove brake caliper retainer and brake caliper (if
necessary). Support caliper aside. Disconnect tie rod from steering
knuckle.
2) Disconnect stabilizer bar link from lower control arm. See
Fig. 1 . Support lower suspension arm outboard end with jack. Place
jack under arm in front of shock mount. Remove cotter pin and nut from
lower ball joint stud. Using Ball Joint Breaker (C-4150A), separate
ball joint from steering knuckle.
3) Remove lower shock bolt from suspension arm. Lower jack
and suspension arm until spring tension is relieved. Remove spring and
rubber isolator.
Installation
1) Install rubber isolator on top of spring. Position spring
between upper spring seat and lower suspension arm. Raise suspension
arm with jack, and position shock into suspension arm mount.
2) Install shock bolt and tighten to specification. See
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Install steering knuckle on lower ball
joint stud. Install lower ball joint stud nut and tighten. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table. Replace cotter pin, and remove jack. Install
stabilizer bar link on lower suspension arm. Install grommet, retainer
and nut.
3) Install tie rod on steering knuckle, and tighten nut to 65
ft. lbs. (88 N.m). Install brake caliper assembly and rotor. Install
tire and wheel assembly. Remove support, and lower vehicle.
STEERING KNUCKLE
Removal & Installation
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel and tire assembly.
Remove brake caliper. Remove wheel hub and bearing assembly from
spindle.
2) Remove cotter pin and nut from tie-rod end, and disconnect
tie rod. Remove cotter pins and nut from upper and lower ball joint
stud. Separate upper ball joint stud from knuckle with Ball Joint
Breaker (MB-990635).
3) Separate lower ball stud with Ball Joint Breaker (C-
4150A). Remove knuckle. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten
all nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
LOWER CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT
Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Support lower
control arm.
CAUTION: DO NOT remove shock until lower control arm is supported.
Shock holds lower control arm and spring in position.
2) Remove shock absorber and coil spring. See COIL SPRING.
Remove bolts mounting lower control arm to crossmember. Remove lower
control arm.
Bushing Replacement
If bushings are worn, use a sleeve and press to remove and
replace bushings.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten all nuts and
bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
STABILIZER BAR
Removal & Installation
Raise and support vehicle. Remove link rod retaining nut at
each end of stabilizer bar. Remove outer retainers and rubber bushings
from link rods. Remove stabilizer bar clamps from frame rails. Remove
stabilizer bar from vehicle. To install, reverse removal procedure.
Ensure stabilizer bar is centered in chassis. Tighten all nuts and
bolts to specifications.
UPPER CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT
Removal
1) Raise vehicle, and position safety stands under frame.
Remove wheel. Support upper control arm.
2) Disconnect upper ball joint. Refer to step 2) under LOWER
CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT. Remove pivot bolts and control arm.
Bushing Replacement
If bushings are worn, use a sleeve and press to remove and
replace bushings.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure ball joint is
fully seated against control arm. With vehicle at normal operating
height, tighten all retaining nuts and bolts to specifications. See
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
WHEEL BEARINGS
Removal
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove brake
caliper, and support it aside. Remove inboard brake pad (if
necessary). Remove grease cap, cotter pin, nut, washer and outer wheel
bearing.
CAUTION: To avoid damage to threads, bearing and seal, DO NOT allow
inner bearing and seal to contact spindle threads during
removal.
2) Carefully slide rotor from steering knuckle. Remove oil
seal and inner bearing.
Installation
Clean and inspect bearings. Pack or replace bearings as
required. Install inner bearing and oil seal. Carefully install rotor
and outer bearing, washer, and nut. Adjust wheel bearings. See WHEEL
BEARING ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. To install
remaining components, reverse removal procedure.
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS \
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Application Ft. Lbs. (N.m)\
Ball Joint Nuts
Lower
Light Duty ............................................. 95 (129)\
Heavy Duty ............................................ 110 (149)\
Upper .................................................... 60 (81)\
Lower Control Arm-To-Crossmember Bolt .................... 145 (196)\
Lower Shock Absorber Mounting Bolt
1998 Models ............................................ 100 (135)\
1999 Models ........................................... 105 (142))\
Stabilizer Bar Bolts/Nuts
Frame End ................................................ 40 (54)\
Link End ................................................. 25 (34)\
Tie Rod End Nut ............................................ 40 (54)\
Upper Ball Joint-To-Control Arm .......................... 125 (169)\
Upper Control Arm Eccentric Cam Bolt ....................... 70 (95)\
Upper Control Arm Pivot Bar To Frame ..................... 150 (203)\
Upper Shock Absorber Mounting Bolt
1998 Models .............................................. 35 (47)\
1999 Models .............................................. 40 (54)\
Wheel Lug Nuts
Tapered (Coned)
1/2"-20 ............................................... 105 (142)\
5/8"-18 ............................................... 200 (271)\
Flat (Flanged) (5/8"-18) ............................... 325 (4\
40)
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SU SPEN SIO N - F R O NT - L IN K/C O IL S PR IN G
1999 D odge P ic ku p R 1500
1998-99 SUSPENSION
CHRY - Front - Link/Coil Spring
Ram Pickup
DESCRIPTION
Link/coil front suspension uses upper and lower suspension
arms attached to frame and drive axle (4WD) or tube axle (2WD). Shoc\
k
absorbers are mounted inside the coil springs, and attached at top to
a bracket with grommets. These brackets are bolted onto the frame with
3 studs on a ring. The shock is mounted at bottom of axle below the
spring seat. See Fig. 1.
A track bar is used, and is attached to a frame rail bracket
with a ball stud. The track bar is isolated with a bushing at the axle
bracket. Other components of the link/coil spring suspension system
are a stabilizer bar, links, upper and lower suspension arms, bushings
and ball joints.
Fig. 1: Exploded View Of Front Suspension Assembly
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
NOTE: See appropriate SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL
ALIGNMENT.
WHEEL BEARING & HUB
Wheel bearing and hub assembly is not serviceable, and is
replaced as an assembly only.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
COIL SPRING
Removal & Installation
1) Raise and support vehicle. Position jack under axle for
added support. Scribe alignment marks on lower control arm cam
adjusters and axle bracket for installation reference.
2) Remove upper control arm. See UPPER CONTROL ARM. Loosen
lower control arm bolts. See Fig. 1. On 4WD models, scribe marks on
front drive shaft for installation reference. Disconnect front drive
shaft from axle. On all models, disconnect track bar from frame rail
bracket. See TRACK BAR. Disconnect drag link from pitman arm.
3) Disconnect stabilizer bar link and shock absorber from
axle. Lower axle until spring is free from upper mount. Remove coil
spring. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts
to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
LOWER CONTROL ARM
Removal & Installation
1) Raise and support vehicle. Scribe alignment marks on cam
adjusters and suspension arm for installation reference. Remove lower
control arm nut, cam and cam bolt from axle. See Fig. 1.
2) Remove nut and bolt from frame rail bracket. Remove lower
control arm. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and
bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
UPPER CONTROL ARM
Removal & Installation
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove upper control arm nut
and bolt at axle bracket. See Fig. 1. Remove nut and bolt at front
rail and remove upper control arm assembly.
2) To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and
bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
SHOCK ABSORBER
Removal & Installation
1) Remove nut, retainer and grommet from upper stud in engine
compartment. See Fig. 2. Remove 3 nuts from upper shock bracket.
Remove lower bolt from axle bracket. Remove shock absorber from engine
compartment.
2) To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and
bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
Removal & Installation
Raise and support vehicle. Disconnect stabilizer bar links
from axle brackets. See Fig. 3. Disconnect stabilizer bar from links.
Disconnect stabilizer bar clamps from frame rails. Remove stabilizer
bar. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
Fig. 3: Removing Stabilizer Bar Assembly
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
STEERING KNUCKLE
Removal & Installation
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel and tire assembly.
Remove tie-rod or drag link end from steering knuckle arm. Remove ABS
sensor wire and bracket from knuckle.
2) Remove cotter pin and nut from upper and lower ball joint
stud. Strike steering knuckle with brass hammer to loosen. Remove
knuckle. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts
to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
TRACK BAR
Removal & Installation
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove cotter pin and nut from
ball joint stud at end of frame rail bracket. See Fig. 4. Remove ball
stud from bracket with Puller C-4150A.
2) Remove bolt and flag nut from axle bracket. Remove track
bar. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
Fig. 4: Removing Track Bar Assembly
Courtesy of Chrysler Corp.
WHEEL BEARINGS & HUB ASSEMBLY (5 STUDS)
Removal & Installation
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove caliper
and rotor. Remove ABS sensor (if equipped). Remove cotter pin and axle\
hub nut.
2) Remove wheel bearing and hub assembly hub-to-knuckle
bolts. Remove wheel bearing and hub assembly from steering knuckle and
axle shaft. Remove brake dust shield and spacer. To install, reverse
removal procedure. Tighten retaining nuts and bolts to specification.
See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table.
WHEEL BEARINGS & HUB ASSEMBLY (8 STUDS)
Removal & Installation
1) Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove caliper
and rotor. Remove hub extension mounting nuts and remove extension
rotor (if equipped).