2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER service

33-1
GROUP 33
FRONT
SUSPENSION
CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . .33-2
SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . .33-3
LUBRICANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33-3
SPECIAL TOOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33-4
ON-VEHICLE SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . .33-5
FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK
AND ADJUSTMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-5
LOWER ARM BALL JOINT AXIAL PLAY
CHECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-6
LOWER ARM BALL JOINT COVER
CHECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-6
STRUT ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33-7
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . 33-7
INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-7
DISASSEMBLY AND REASSEMBLY . . . . . 33-8
INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-10
LOWER ARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33-11
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . 33-11
INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-12
LOWER ARM BALL JOINT COVER
REPLACEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-12
LOWER ARM BUSHING (REAR)
REPLACEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-13
STABILIZER BAR* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33-14
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . 33-14
INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-17
WARNINGS REGARDING SERVICING OF SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) EQUIPPED VEHICLES
WARNING
•Improper service or maintenance of any component of the SRS, or any SRS-related component, can lead to
personal injury or death to service personnel (from inadvertent firing of the air bag) or to the driver and
paassenger (from rendering the SRS inoperative).
•Service or maintenance of any SRS component or SRS-related component must be performed only at an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer.
•MITSUBISHI dealer personnel must thoroughly review this manual, and especially its GROUP 52B - Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) before beginning any service or maintenance of any component of the SRS or any
SRS-related component.
NOTE
The SRS includes the following components: SRS air bag control unit, SRS warning light, front impact sensors, air bag module,
clock spring, and interconnecting wiring. Other SRS-related components (that may have to be removed/installed in connection
with SRS service or maintenance) are indicated in the table of contents by an asterisk (*).

SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS
FRONT SUSPENSION33-3
SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS
M1332000300586
NOTE: *: difference between right and left wheels must be less than 30'
LUBRICANT
M1332000400152
ItemStandard value
Toe-in At the centre of tyre tread mm 1 ± 2
Toe-angle (per wheel) 0°03' ± 06'
Toe-out angle on turns (inner wheel when outer wheel at 20°)21°42' ± 1°30'
Steering angle Inner wheel Comfort 39°30' ± 1°30'
Sport (LH drive vehicles) 33°40' +1°00'/-2°00'
Sport (RH drive vehicles) 37°00' +1°00'/-2°00'
Outer wheel (reference) Comfort 32°30'
Sport (LH drive vehicles) 28°46'
Sport (RH drive vehicles) 30°00'
Camber Comfort 0°05' ± 30'*
Sport -0°05' ± 30'*
Caster Comfort 2°45' ± 30'*
Sport 2°55' ± 30'*
Kingpin inclination Comfort 12°30' ± 1°30'
Sport 12°40' ± 1°30'
Lower arm ball joint rotation starting torque N⋅m0 − 3.9
Protruding length of stabilizer link thread part mm 22 ± 1.5
Item Specified lubricant Quantity
Lower arm ball joint Lip portion of ball joint cover Multipurpose grease SAE J310,
NLGI No.2 or equivalentAs required
Inside of ball joint cover

ON-VEHICLE SERVICE
FRONT SUSPENSION33-5
ON-VEHICLE SERVICE
FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK AND
ADJUSTMENT
M1331000900682
Measure wheel alignment with alignment equipment
on a level surface. The front suspension, steering
system, wheels, and tyres should be serviced to
normal condition before measuring wheel alignment.
TOE-IN
Standard value:
at the centre of tyre tread: 1 ± 2 mm
Toe angle (per wheel): 0°03' ± 06'
1. Adjust the toe-in by undoing the clip and lock nut,
and turning the left and right tie rod turnbuckles by
the same amount (in opposite directions). MB990883 Rear suspension bushing
arborLower arm bushing (rear)
removal and press-fitting
MB990972 Torsion bar bushing
remover base
MB990887 Ring
MB990890 Rear suspension bushing
base
MB991897 Ball joint remover Knuckle and tie rod end
ball joint disconnection
NOTE: Steering linkage
puller (MB990635 or
MB991113) is also
available to disconnect
knuckle and tie rod end
ball joint. Tool Number Name Use
MB990883
MB990971
MB990890
AC106827
AC006074AD
Lock nut
Clip

ON-VEHICLE SERVICE
FRONT SUSPENSION33-6
NOTE: The toe will move out as the left
turnbuckle is turned toward the front of the vehicle
and the right turnbuckle is turned toward the rear
of the vehicle.
2. Install the clip and tighten the lock nut to the
specified torque.
Tightening torque: 40 ± 5 N⋅m
3. Confirm that the toe-in is at the standard value.
4. Use a turning radius gauge to check that the
steering angle is at the standard value.
STEERING ANGLE
Standard value:
TOE-OUT ANGLE ON TURNS
To check the steering linkage, especially after the
vehicle has been involved in an accident or if an
accident is presumed, it is advisable to check the
toe-out angle on turns in addition to the wheel
alignment.
Conduct this test on the left turn as well as on the
right turn.
Standard value:
CAMBER, CASTER AND KINGPIN
INCLINATION
Standard value:NOTE: *: difference between right and left wheels
must be less than 30'
NOTE: Camber and caster are preset at the factory
and cannot be adjusted.
CAUTION
Never subject the wheel bearings to the vehicle
load when the driveshaft nuts are loosened.
NOTE:
For vehicles with aluminium wheels, attach the
camber/caster/kingpin gauge to the driveshaft by
using special tool wheel alignment gauge attachment
(MB991004). Tighten the special tool to the same
torque 245
± 29 N⋅m as the driveshaft nut.
LOWER ARM BALL JOINT AXIAL PLAY
CHECK
M1332011300074
1. Raise the vehicle.
2. Remove the stabilizer link from the lower arm.
3. Move the lower arm up and down with your hands
to check for an excessive play in the axial
direction of the ball joint. If there is an excessive
play, replace the lower arm assembly.
LOWER ARM BALL JOINT COVER
CHECK
M1332008600321
1. Press the lower arm ball joint cover with your
finger to check that there are no cracks or
damage in the lower arm ball joint cover.
2. If the lower arm ball joint cover is cracked or
damaged, replace the lower arm assembly.
NOTE: If the lower arm ball joint cover is cracked
or damaged, it is possible that there may also be
damage to the ball joint. Inner
wheelsComfort 39°30' ± 1°30'
Sport (LH drive
vehicles)33°40' +1°00'/-2°00'
Sport (RH drive
vehicles)37°00' +1°00'/-2°00'
Outer
wheels
(reference)Comfort 32°30'
Sport (LH drive
vehicles)28°46'
Sport (RH drive
vehicles)30°00'
Item Specification
Toe-out angle on turns (inner
wheel when outer wheel at 20°)21°42' ± 1°30'
Item Comfort Sport
Camber 0°05' ± 30'* -0°05' ± 30'*
Caster 2°45' ± 30'* 2°55' ± 30'*
Kingpin
inclination12°30' ± 1°30' 12°40' ± 1°30'
AC001079
MB991004
AB

STRUT ASSEMBLY
FRONT SUSPENSION33-9
DISASSEMBLY SERVICE POINTS
<> STRUT NUT (SELF-LOCKING NUT)
REMOVAL
CAUTION
•Install special tool arm set (MB991238) evenly,
and so that the maximum length will be
attained within the installation range.
•Do not use an impact wrench to tighten the
bolt of special tool spring compressor body
(MB991237), otherwise the special tool will
break.
1. Use following special tools to compress the coil
spring.
•MB991237: Spring Compressor Body
•MB991238: Arm Set
WARNING
Do not use an impact wrench to remove the
strut nut (self-locking nut). Vibration of the
impact wrench will cause special tools
(MB991237 and MB991238) to slip and cause
personal injury.
2. Use following special tools to secure the strut, and
then remove the strut nut (self-locking nut).
•MB991681: Wrench
•MB991682: Socket
<> STRUT DISPOSAL
WARNING
Wear goggles when drilling to protect your
eyes from flying metal debris.
The gas must be discharged from the strut before
discarding it. Place the strut horizontally with its
piston rod extended. Then drill a hole of
approximately 3 mm in diameter at the location
shown in the illustration and discharge the gas.
REASSEMBLY SERVICE POINTS
>>A<< SPRING UPPER SEAT
INSTALLATION
If the spring upper seat peeled off the pad, adhere
the seat and the pad with a double-sided tape.
AC001085 AB
MB991238
MB991237
AC006091 AB
MB991681 MB991682
AC001087
AC304396AB
Seat
Pad