Textron Specialized Vehicles TRACKER LX6 EFI, Repair And Service Manual

Page: 50 / 168

B
32
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.
699324
Front Shock Absorber Replacement
Tool List Qty.
Wrench, 9/16” ..............................................................1
Remove the nut (1) from the bottom of the shock
absorber (2) at the front axle (3) (Ref. Figure 6).
Compress shock absorber to clear the mounting bracket.
Loosen the nut securing the top of the shock absorber to
the vehicle frame and then rotate the shock absorber
while holding the nut in place with a wrench.
Remove the shock absorber.
Installation of shock absorber is reverse of disassembly.
Mounting nuts should be tightened until rubber bushings
(4) expand to diameter of shock absorber washers (5).
Front Axle Replacement
Tool List Qty.
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 wheels. Lift and support front of vehicle per
SAFETY section and remove front wheels.
Remove hardware (1, 4, 5) securing shock absorbers (2)
to front axle (3)(Ref. Figure 6).
On the driver side, remove lock nut (6) and washer (8)
from bolt (7) and discard nut. Pull bolt (7) and washer (9)
from spindle (10) and separate spindle from axle.
Remove thrust washer (11) and king pin tube (12) from
spindle, wrap towel around spindle and let spindle rest on
ground.
Repeat at passenger side letting rack ball joint (29) rest
on front spring to support spindle.
The intermediate shaft is assembled
with the universal joints set 90° out
of phase with each other.
Remove hardware (13 - 15) securing rack and pinion unit
(16) to front axle and discard lock nuts (15). Move rack
and pinion unit back to rest on top of front springs (17).
Secure rack and pinion unit to spring with wire to prevent
pulling apart intermediate shaft.
Remove the three 1 3/4” long bolts (18), two 1 1/2” long
bolts (28), spring plate (24) and five lock nuts (19) secur-
ing axle to springs and discard lock nuts. At the 3 1/2”
long bolt (20) securing front of left spring, note location of
washer (22) and remove it from end of bolt. Remove nut
(21), 3 1/2” long bolt (20), spring plate (24) and spacer
(23) and retain them for assembly at their original loca-
tions.
To prevent stress and possible
damage to the rack and pinion unit,
the axle must first be mounted to
the springs with the hardware (20 - 23) installed in
its original location (Ref. Figure 6).
To prevent damage to bellows (16), the two 1 1/2” long
bolts (28) must be installed in their original location.
Front axle installation is the reverse order of disassembly
using new lock nuts (15, 19). All hardware (18 - 24, 28)
must be installed in its original location (Ref. Figure 6).
Tighten leaf spring and rack and pinion unit hardware (13
- 15,18 - 21, 28) to 35 - 50 ft. lbs. (50 - 70 Nm) torque.
Install thrust washers (11), king pin tubes (12), spindles,
washers (9) and bolts (7). Tighten new lock nuts (6) to 56
- 70 ft. lbs. (75 - 95 Nm) torque. Check that spindle turns
freely on king pin tube after tightening.
Tighten shock absorber mounting hardware until rubber
bushings expand to diameter of shock absorber washer.
Install front wheels per WHEELS AND TIRES section and
lower vehicle per SAFETY section.
Check front wheel alignment and adjust if necessary. See
the Wheel Alignment on page 29 .
Front Spring Replacement
Tool List Qty.
Jack Stands .................................................................4
Ratchet.........................................................................1
Socket, 3/4”..................................................................1
Socket, 5/8”..................................................................1
Wrench, 5/8" ................................................................1
Torque Wrench ft. lbs. ..................................................1
Tape Measure ..............................................................1
NOTICE: Failure of a single spring will result in
overstressing the other spring; therefore, replace
front springs as a set.
The following procedure will replace one spring at a time.
Loosen front wheels. Lift and support front of vehicle per
SAFETY section. In addition, support front axle with jack
stands. Remove front wheels.
To detach driver side spring:
Fully loosen the two rack and pinion unit lock nuts (15),
one near the bellows and one on the rear side of the rack
and pinion unit, until only one thread is engaged (Ref. Fig-