Chrysler PT Cruiser, Service & Repair Manual, Page: 41 / 2078

CAUTION: It is important to lubricate the ball joint
before installation of steering knuckle to allow
proper venting when the seal is filled. If the ball
joint is lubricated after installation to knuckle, dam-
age to the seal can occur.
(7) Using a hand operated pump grease gun, fill
the ball joint seal boot with Mopar
t
Multi-Mileage
Lube or equivalent until grease pushes out past ball
joint stem. Wipe off overfill.
(8) Remove standard zirc-type grease fitting and
reinstall headless grease fitting on ball joint to pre-
vent future lubricating. See above caution.
(9) Install steering knuckle. (Refer to 2 - SUSPEN-
SION/FRONT/KNUCKLE - INSTALLATION)
LOWER CONTROL ARM
DESCRIPTION
There is one lower control arm on each side of the
vehicle. Each lower control arm is a stamped steel
unit using rubber isolated pivot bushings to isolate it
from the front suspension crossmember and frame of
the vehicle (Fig. 1) . The rear bushing can be ser-
viced separately.
The front of the lower control arm is bolted to the
front crossmember using a bolt through the center of
the rubber pivot bushing. The rear of the lower con-
trol arm is mounted to both the front crossmember
and the frame rail of the vehicle using a thru-bolt.
The thru-bolt goes through both the crossmember
and rear lower control arm bushing, threading
directly into a caged nut in the frame rail of the vehi-
cle.
The left and right lower control arms are intercon-
nected through a linked rubber isolated stabilizer
bar.
The outboard end of each lower control arm con-
nects to the steering knuckle using a ball joint.
The lower control arm connects to the steering
knuckle through a ball joint mounted at the outboard
end of the arm (Fig. 1) . The ball joint is pressed into
the lower control arm and has a non-tapered stud
with a notch for steering knuckle pinch bolt clear-
ance. The ball joint stud is clamped and locked to the
steering knuckle lower leg using a pinch bolt.
The ball joint is lubricated for life during the man-
ufacturing process. Once lubricated for life, the
grease fitting head is snapped off by the manufac-
turer. This is done to eliminate the possibility of
lubrication later in the ball joints life thus damaging
the non-vented ball joint seal boot.
The ball joint used on this vehicle is replaceable
and can be serviced as a separate component of the
lower control arm.
OPERATION
The lower control arm supports the lower end of
the steering knuckle and allows for the up and down
movement of the suspension during the jounce and
rebound travel. The lower control arm ball joint con-
nects the arm to the steering knuckle.
The ball joint is a pivotal joint on the lower control
arm that allows the knuckle to move up and down,
and turn with ease.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - LOWER CONTROL
ARM
Inspect the lower control arm for signs of damage
from contact with the ground or road debris. If the
lower control arm shows any sign of damage, look for
distortion. Do not attempt to repair or straighten a
broken or bent lower control arm. If damaged, the
lower control arm stamping is serviced only as a
complete component.
The serviceable components of the lower control
arm are: the ball joint, the ball joint grease seal and
the lower control arm rear isolator bushing.
Inspect both lower control arm isolator bushings
for severe deterioration and replace as required.
Inspect the ball joint per the inspection procedure in
this section of the service manual and replace as
required.
(Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/
LOWER BALL JOINT - DIAGNOSIS AND TEST-
ING).
REMOVAL - LOWER CONTROL ARM
NOTE: Before proceeding, (Refer to 2 - SUSPEN-
SION/FRONT - WARNING).
(1) Raise the vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION &
MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE)
(2) Remove the front tire and wheel assembly.
(3) Remove both stabilizer bar links from the vehi-
cle (Fig. 21). Remove each link by holding the upper
retainer/nut with a wrench and turning the link bolt.
(4) Rotate the forward ends of the stabilizer bar
downward. It may be necessary to loosen the stabi-
lizer bar cushion retainer bolts a little to ease any
turning resistance.
(5) Remove the nut and pinch bolt clamping the
ball joint stud to the steering knuckle (Fig. 22).
CAUTION: After removing the steering knuckle from
the ball joint stud, do not pull outward on the
knuckle. Pulling the steering knuckle outward at
this point can separate the inner C/V joint on the
driveshaft. Refer to FRONT DRIVESHAFTS in the
DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVELINE group for further
information.
PT
FRONT SUSPENSION 2 - 13
LOWER BALL JOINT SEAL BOOT (Continued)