B
84
Repair and Service Manual
FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING
Read all of SAFETY and this section before attempting any procedure. Pay particular attention to Notices, Cautions, Warnings and Dangers.
653045
Install the new shock absorber in the reverse order of
removal. The mounting nuts should be tightened until the
rubber bushings (4) expand to the diameter of the shock
absorber washers (5).
Front Axle Replacement
Tool List
Quantity
Ratchet ........................................................................ 1
Socket, 3/4” .................................................................1
Wrench, 9/16” ..............................................................1
Wrench, 3/4” ................................................................1
Plastic Faced Hammer ................................................1
Shop Towels .............................................................AR
Wire .......................................................................... AR
Wrench, 5/8” ................................................................1
Wrench, 11/16” ............................................................1
Socket, 9/16” ...............................................................1
Socket, 5/8” .................................................................1
Torque Wrench, ft. lbs..................................................1
Loosen front wheel lug nuts. Lift and support the front of
the vehicle as instructed in the SAFETY section. Observe
all warnings.
Remove the lug nuts and the front wheels.
Remove the hardware (1, 4, 5) securing the shock
absorber (2) to the front axle (3) (Figure 7).
On the driver side, remove the lock nut (6) and washer (8)
from the bolt (7). Discard the nut (6). Remove the bolt (7)
and washer (9) from the spindle (10) and separate the
spindle from the axle (3).
Remove the thrust washer (11) and king pin tube (12)
from the spindle (10). Wrap a towel around the spindle
and let the spindle rest on the ground.
Repeat the procedure on the passenger side allowing the
rack ball joint (29) to rest on the front spring to support
spindle.
To decrease the risk of possible
injury from falling steering compo-
nents, secure the rack and pinion
unit (16) to the front springs with wire.This will
decrease the risk of the intermediate shaft connect-
ing the rack and pinion unit to the steering column
from pulling apart due to the weight of the steering
system.
NOTICE: The intermediate shaft is assembled with
the universal joints set 90° out of phase with each
other.
Remove the hardware (13, 14, 15) securing the rack and
pinion unit (16) to the front axle (3). Discard the lock nuts
(15). Move the rack and pinion unit back to rest on top of
the front springs (17).
Secure the rack and pinion unit to the spring with wire to
decrease the risk of pulling apart the intermediate shaft.
Remove three bolts (18), two bolts (28), spring plate (24)
and five lock nuts (19) securing the axle (3) to the springs.
Discard the lock nuts (19, 15). At the bolt (20) securing
the front of the left spring (17), note the location of the
washer (22) and remove it from the end of the bolt.
Remove the nut (21), bolt (20), spring plate (24) and
spacer (23). Retain for assembly at their original loca-
tions.
To decrease the risk of stress and
possible damage to the rack and
pinion unit, the axle (3) must first be
mounted to the springs with the hardware (20 - 23)
installed in its original location (Figure 7).
To decrease the risk of damage to the bellows (16), the
two bolts (28) must be installed in their original location.
Install the front axle (3) in the reverse order of removal
using new lock nuts (15, 19). All hardware (18 - 24, 28)
must be installed in its original location (Figure 7).
Assemble the leaf spring, rack and pinion hardware (13 -
15,18 - 21, 28) as shown in (Figure 7). Tighten nuts (15,
19, 21) to the torque value specified below.
Install thrust washers (11), king pin tubes (12), spindles,
washers (9) and bolts (7). Tighten new lock nuts (6) to the
torque value specified below.
Check that the spindle turns freely on the king pin tube
after tightening.
Tighten the shock absorber mounting hardware until the
rubber bushings expand to the diameter of the shock
absorber washer.
Install the front wheels per the WHEELS AND TIRES sec-
tion and lower the vehicle per the SAFETY section.
Check the front wheel alignment and adjust if necessary.
Axle Linkage Rod Replacement
Lift and support the front of the vehicle as instructed in the
SAFETY section. Observe all warnings.
Remove the axle linkage rod by removing each ball joint
Item
Torque Specification
15, 19, 21
36 - 50 ft. lbs. (50 - 70 Nm)
Item
Torque Specification
6
56 - 70 ft. lbs. (75 - 95 Nm)
