Engine size please
will have the steeps for you here shortly, Lee
Special Tools Image -1 REMOVAL 1. Place the steering column in the unlocked position. 2. WARNING: The electrical power to the air suspension prior to hoisting, jacking or towing an air suspension accomplished by turning off the air suspension switch area. Failure to do so can result in unexpected inflation or springs, which can result in shifting of the vehicle during Turn the air suspension service switch off. 3. Raise the vehicle on a hoist. 4. Remove the tire and wheel assembly. 5. Remove the brake disc. 6. CAUTION: Discard the front axle wheel hub retainer. It is design and cannot be reused. Remove the front axle wheel hub retainer. Image-2 7. if equipped, disconnect the air suspension height sensor suspension sensor pin. S. Remove and discard the cotter pin. 9. Remove and discard the nut. Image-3 10. Using the Tie Rod End Remover, remove the tie rod end Image-4 11. Remove and discard the front suspension lower arm-to-ball Image -5 12. CAUTION: Do not allow the front wheel driveshaft joint extension of the front wheel driveshaft joint will result in driveshaft internal pans, causing failure of the joint. NOTE: Make sure the steering column is in the unlocked a hammer to separate the ball joint from the front care not to damage the boot seal. Using a suitable puller, separate the ball joint from the 13. NOTE: Secure the front wheel driveshaft joint to the level position. Using the front Hub Remover Replacer and the stud adapters, driveshaft joint out of the wheel hub. Image -6 14. Remove the pinch bolt and nut from the front wheel 15. Remove the front wheel knuckle from the front shock 16. Remove the brake disc shield from the front wheel INSTALLATION 1. If removed, install the brake disc shield onto the front 2. Position the front wheel knuckle onto the front shock pinch bolt and nut hand-tight into the front wheel knuckle. 3. Install the front wheel drive shaft joint into the wheel 4. Install a new front axle wheel hub retainer. 5. Position the lower ball joint into the front suspension front suspension lower arm-to-ball joint nut. Image-7 6. Tighten the front shock absorber to front wheel knuckle 7. Install the brake disc. Image -8 8. NOTE: Place the steering wheel in the straight-ahead tie rod end. Position the tie rod end into the front wheel knuckle and Image-9 9. Install a new cotter pin. Image-10 10. If equipped, connect the air suspension height sensor to sensor pin. 11. NOTE: Prior to installing the tire and wheel assembly, driveshaft joint to make sure it is fully inserted into the the seal at the transaxle. Some polishing is normal due to install the front wheel drive shaft joint will cause driveshaft joint or the transaxle. Install the tire and wheel assembly. 12. Lower the vehicle. 13. Turn the air suspension service switch on.
system must be shut off
vehicle. This can be
located in the RH kick panel
deflation of the rear
these operations.
a torque prevailing
from the front air
from the front wheel knuckle
joint nut.
to move outward. Over
separation of the
position, and do not use
suspension lower arm. Use extreme
front suspension lower ann.
vehicle body to maintain a
press the front wheel
knuckle.
absorber.
knuckle if required.
wheel knuckle..
absorber and install a new
hub.
lower arm and install a new
pinch bolt.
position prior to installing the
install a new nut.
the front air suspension
inspect the front wheel
transaxle. Visually inspect
axial runout. Failure to fully
premature failure of the front wheel
images:
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THESE ARE BASIC BALL JOINT REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS.
In the continental the lower ball joint is not replaceable. You must replace the complete knuckle.
With a good set of instructions, a small amount of mechanical knowledge and a bit of patience, you can change the ball joint yourself and save a tremendous amount of money in labor costs.
The basic tools you will need to replace a ball joint are:
• The replacement all joint
• 8mm hex head wrench
• 22mm or 15/16" combination wrench
• ball joint separator tool (also called a 'pickle fork')
• hammer
First you will want to diagnosis the problem. To be certain that replacing the ball joint is going to resolve the issue, jack the car up until both tires are off the ground. Grab the tire at both the top and the bottom and rock it back and forth. The ball joint should not have excessive spacing or a gap around it. If you can actually see a gap in the ball joint, it is time to replace it.
Jack up the vehicle so that both wheels are off the ground and secure the back wheels with blocks to make sure it doesn't roll while you are working on it.
Work from the inside of the wheel structure on the side with the bad joint. Try to work around the caliper and rotor without removing it to make reassembly easier. If you must remove them, you will later have to bleed the brakes when replacing the parts, a detail best left alone if at all possible.
Using the combination wrench, remove the largest nut from the joint, at the bottom of the structure. Next, the shank of the ball joint should be guided through the hole of the steering knuckle. Then place the new nut on the joint. This is a particularly tight joint that is difficult to 'pop' loose. Once the nut is removed, drive the pickle fork between the control arm and the steering knuckle.
This particular tool will destroy the rubber boot around the ball joint, so make sure you have purchased a replacement. The pickle fork, however, does a very good job of popping out the ball joint, a task virtually impossible without this tool. To make the pickle fork do its job you will have to hammer it. Don't be afraid to hit it hard...they are built to withstand the pressure and won't work without you hitting it with a hammer hard.
Once the joint is free, usually after several whacks with the hammer, remove the two allen bolts. Cleaning them will make removing them a bit easier. If they are corroded into place, heating them with a propane torch for a few minutes will help with the removal. Once you have successfully removed these bolts, simply raise the control arm and slide out the ball joint.
Now the hard part is over! Installing the new one is easier than removing the existing one. The shaft of the new ball joint can easily be guided through the hole created by the steering knuckle and then tightened down with a new nut on the ball joint.
Nothing about the replacement of the ball joint should effect the vehicle's alignment so once you have completed all the steps and replaced the tire you are ready to go! Check with your particular vehicle's manual regarding the torque of the bolts but most will recommend around 44 ft-lbs. for the upper screws and 80 ft-lbs. on the other bolts. Once you have properly torqued the bolts, you are ready to roll.
Ball joints are often replaced in complete sets, or at least in matched pairs on both sides (both lowers or both uppers). This is because the joints on both sides of a vehicle usually have the same amount of wear. If one is bad, the other usually is too. The basic tools you will need to replace a ball joint are: 8mm hex head wrench, 22mm or 15/16" combination wrench, ball joint separator tool and a hammer. Click on the link below to view a video on how to replace the ball joint (the video is a Ford Ranger but follows the same procedures:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKEFbsICCGU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW6QvduBhNY
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It is a V8.
Thanks Lee. Not in any hurry. Replaced the outer tie rods couple days ago and thought I should replace the lower ball joints since the boots are cracked. It has 85000 easy miles. It looks to me like a lot of work to get them out of there unlike the tie rods.
Thanks Lee
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