Chrysler 300/300 Touring/300C, Dodge Magnum. Instruction - page 20
CAUTION:
It
is
important
to
tighten
nut
as
described in following step to avoid damaging ball
stud joint.
6. Place upper ball joint stud (1) through hole in top of
knuckle and install nut (4). Tighten nut by holding
ball joint stud with a hex wrench while turning nut
with a wrench. Tighten nut using crow foot wrench
on torque wrench to 47 N·m + 90° turn (35 ft. lbs. +
90° turn) torque.
CAUTION:
It
is
important
to
tighten
nut
as
described in following step to avoid damaging ball
stud joint.
7. Place outer tie rod stud through hole in knuckle (2)
and install nut (1). Tighten nut by holding stud with
a wrench while turning nut with another wrench.
Tighten nut using crow foot wrench on torque
wrench to 85 N·m (63 ft. lbs.) torque.
8. Install brake rotor, then disc brake caliper and
adapter assembly. (Refer to 5 - BRAKES/HYDRAU-
LIC/MECHANICAL/ROTOR - INSTALLATION)
9. Install screw (3) fastening brake flex hose routing
bracket (2) to knuckle (4). Tighten screw to 12 N·m
(106 in. lbs.) torque.
2 - 34
FRONT
LX
10. Install wheel speed sensor head (4) into knuckle
and install mounting screw (3). Tighten screw to
11 N·m (95 in. lbs.) torque.
11. Attach wheel speed sensor cable and routing clip
(2) to brake flex hose routing bracket (5).
12. Install tire and wheel assembly (1) (Refer to 22 -
TIRES/WHEELS - INSTALLATION). Tighten wheel
mounting nuts (3) to 150 N·m (110 ft. lbs.) torque.
13. Lower vehicle.
14. Pump brake pedal several times to ensure vehicle
has a firm brake pedal before moving vehicle.
15. Check and adjust brake fluid level in reservoir (1)
as necessary.
16. Perform wheel alignment. (Refer to 2 - SUSPEN-
SION/WHEEL
ALIGNMENT
-
STANDARD
PROCEDURE)
LX
FRONT
2 - 35
BALL JOINT - LOWER
DESCRIPTION
AWD
The ball joint for the lower control arm is pressed into the lower control arm. The ball joint is a “sealed for life”
component and cannot be maintenance lubricated. The ball joint is lubricated for life at the time of assembly. No
attempt should be made to ever add any lubrication to these ball joints.
Neither the ball joint, nor the seal boot for the lower control arm can be serviced as a separate component. They
entire arm must be replaced if either are damaged.
RWD
There are two lower ball joints on the RWD version of this vehicle. One in for the lower control arm and the other
for the tension strut. The ball joint for the lower control arm is pressed into the knuckle and the ball joint for the
tension strut is part of the tension strut. The ball joints are both “sealed for life” components and cannot be main-
tenance lubricated. These ball joints are lubricated for life at the time of assembly. No attempt should be made to
ever add any lubrication to these ball joints.
The ball joint for the lower control arm is a ball joint and seal boot cartridge type and can be replaced as a separate
component of the knuckle. The boot cannot be serviced separately. To service this ball joint, (Refer to 2 - SUS-
PENSION/FRONT/KNUCKLE - DISASSEMBLY).
Neither the ball joint, nor the seal boot for the tension strut can be serviced as a separate component. They entire
tension strut must be replaced if either are damaged.
The ball joint connection to the lower control arm and the ball joint connection at the knuckle is achieved by an
interference fit created by the tapered stud of the ball joint and a tapered hole in the steering knuckle. The ball joint
stud is retained in the steering knuckle using a locking nut.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
LOWER BALL JOINT
1. Raise vehicle on a drive-on hoist.
NOTE: If a drive-on hoist is not available, use wooden blocks with jack stands to support the lower control
arm in the ball joint area. Place the jack stands appropriately and lower the hoist placing weight on the
lower control arm. The lower control arms should now be supporting the vehicle weight.
2. Using a jack, lift the front end off the hoist and position a wooden block underneath lower control arm supporting
that corner of the vehicles weight.
3. Remove tire and wheel assembly. (Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS - REMOVAL)
4. Attach a dial indicator as follows:
a. AWD Lower Control Arm – Attach a dial indicator to base of lower control arm, then align dial indicator’s
contact pointer with direction of stud axis and touch machined flat on knuckle near ball joint. Zero dial indi-
cator.
b. RWD Tension Strut – Attach a dial indicator to base of tension strut, then align dial indicator’s contact pointer
with direction of stud axis and touch machined flat on knuckle near ball joint. Zero dial indicator.
c. RWD Lower Control Arm – Attach a dial indicator to base of lower control arm, then align dial indicator’s
contact pointer with direction of stud axis and touch machined flat on knuckle near ball joint. Zero dial indi-
cator.
NOTE: Use care when applying the load to the knuckle so as to not damage components of the suspension.
5. Insert a pry bar and rest it against lower control arm or tension strut (depending on which is being tested) and
use lever principle to push knuckle upward until dial indicator no longer moves.
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FRONT
LX
6. Record any ball joint movement. If movement in the lower control arm exceeds 1.5 mm (.059 in.), the ball joint
is faulty.
7. If the lower ball joint for an All-Wheel-Drive vehicle needs replaced, the lower control arm needs to be replaced.
(Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/LOWER CONTROL ARM - REMOVAL)
8. If the ball joint for the lower control arm on a Rear-Wheel-Drive vehicle needs replaced, it can be serviced sep-
arately. (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/KNUCKLE - DISASSEMBLY)
9. If the tension strut ball joint (RWD vehicle) needs replaced, the entire tension strut needs to be replaced. (Refer
to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/TENSION STRUT - REMOVAL)
REMOVAL
To service the lower ball joint for the lower control arm on RWD vehicles, the knuckle must be removed from the
vehicle, then the ball joint can be removed. (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/KNUCKLE - REMOVAL) (Refer to
2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/KNUCKLE - DISASSEMBLY)
INSTALLATION
To install the ball joint for the lower control arm on RWD vehicles, refer to the following information. (Refer to 2 -
SUSPENSION/FRONT/KNUCKLE - ASSEMBLY)
LX
FRONT
2 - 37
