Chrysler 300M, Dodge Interpid. Manual - part 10

CAUTION: If metal seal (Fig. 17) on hub and bearing
assembly

seized

steering

knuckle

and

becomes dislodged on hub and bearing assembly
during bearing removal the hub and bearing assem-
bly MUST not be reused and MUST be replaced with
a new hub and bearing assembly. Also if flinger
disc (Fig. 17) becomes damaged (bent or dented)
during removal, hub and bearing assembly must be
replaced with a new hub and bearing assembly.

(9) Remove hub and bearing assembly from steer-

ing knuckle. It is removed by sliding it straight out
of steering knuckle and off end of stub axle (Fig. 18).
If hub and bearing assembly will not slide out of
knuckle, insert a pry bar between hub and bearing
assembly and steering knuckle (Fig. 19) and gently
pry hub and bearing from knuckle. If stub shaft is
frozen to hub and bearing assembly tap end of stub
shaft with soft face hammer to free it from hub and
bearing spline.

(10) Remove the ball joint stud to steering knuckle

attaching nut and bolt (Fig. 20).

CAUTION: When lower control arm is separated
from steering knuckle, do not let ball joint seal hit
up against steering knuckle. If ball joint seal hits
steering knuckle, seal damage may occur. If ball
joint seal becomes torn, replace seal before assem-
bling lower control arm to knuckle.

Fig. 15 Hub And Bearing Retaining Nut

1 - HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY
2 - NUT

Fig. 16 Hub And Bearing Retaining Bolts

1 - STEERING KNUCKLE
2 - HUB/BEARING ATTACHING BOLTS
3 - HALF SHAFT

Fig. 17 Hub And Bearing Assembly Seal

1 - SEAL CAN MUST REMAIN TIGHT AGAINST HUB AND
BEARING ASSEMBLY HERE
2 - SEAL
3 - FLINGER
4 - DO NOT ALLOW FLINGER TO BE BENT OR DAMAGED
DURING REMOVAL OF HUB/BEARING OR C/V JOINT
5 - HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY

FRONT SUSPENSION

2 - 9

KNUCKLE (Continued)

(11) Carefully insert a pry bar between lower con-

trol arm and steering knuckle (Fig. 21). Push down
on pry bar to separate ball joint stud from steering
knuckle (Fig. 21).

CAUTION: The strut assembly to steering knuckle
bolts are serrated where they go through strut
assembly and steering knuckle. When removing
bolts, turn nuts off bolts DO NOT TURN BOLTS IN
STEERING KNUCKLE. If bolts are turned damage to
steering knuckle will result.

(12) Remove

the

strut

assembly

steering

knuckle attaching bolts (Fig. 22).

(13) Remove the steering knuckle from the vehicle.

INSTALLATION - STEERING KNUCKLE

(1) Install steering knuckle on ball joint stud.

Install steering knuckle to lower ball joint attaching
bolt and nut into steering knuckle (Fig. 20). Tighten
the attaching bolt to a torque of 55 N·m (40 ft. lbs.).

(2) Position steering knuckle into strut assembly.

CAUTION: The strut assembly to steering knuckle
bolts are serrated were they go through strut
assembly and steering knuckle. When installing
bolts, turn nuts onto bolts DO NOT TURN BOLTS IN
STEERING KNUCKLE. If bolts are turned damage to
steering knuckle will result.

Fig. 18 Hub And Bearing

1 - HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY
2 - STEERING KNUCKLE

Fig. 19 Prying Hub And Bearing Assembly From

Steering Knuckle

1 - INSERT PRY BAR HERE
2 - PRY BAR
3 - KNUCKLE
4 - HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY

Fig. 20 Control Arm To Steering Knuckle

Attachment

1 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
2 - BALL JOINT STUD
3 - CLAMP NUT AND BOLT

Fig. 21 Separating Ball Joint From Steering Knuckle

1 - STEERING KNUCKLE
2 - BALL JOINT STUD
3 - PRY BAR
4 - LOWER CONTROL ARM

2 - 10

FRONT SUSPENSION

KNUCKLE (Continued)

(3) Install the strut assembly to steering knuckle

attaching bolts (Fig. 22). Install nuts on attaching
bolts (Fig. 22). Tighten the strut clevis to steering
knuckle attaching bolt nuts to a torque of 203 N·m
(150 ft. lbs.).

CAUTION: Hub and bearing assembly mounting
surfaces on steering knuckle and halfshaft (Fig. 23)
must be smooth and completely free of foreign
material or nicks.

CAUTION: When installing hub and bearing assem-
bly into steering knuckle, be careful not to damage
the flinger disc (Fig. 17) on hub and bearing assem-
bly. If flinger disc becomes damaged, hub and bear-
ing assembly MUST not be used and MUST be
replaced with a new hub and bearing assembly.

(4) Install hub and bearing assembly onto stub

shaft and into steering knuckle until squarely seated
on face of steering knuckle.

(5) Install the 3 steering knuckle to hub and bear-

ing assembly attaching bolts (Fig. 16). Equally
tighten all 3 mounting bolts until hub and bearing
assembly is squarely seated against front of steering
knuckle. Then tighten all 3 hub and bearing assem-
bly mounting bolts to a torque of 110 N·m (80 ft. lbs.)

CAUTION: The hub and bearing axle retaining nut
(Fig. 15) is a prevailing torque nut and cannot be
reused. A NEW retaining nut MUST be used.

(6) Install a NEW hub and bearing axle retaining

nut on the stub shaft (Fig. 15). Do not torque the
hub nut at this time.

(7) Coat speed sensor head with High Temperature

Multipurpose E.P. Grease before installing into the
steering knuckle. Install speed sensor head into
steering knuckle. Install screw and tighten to a
torque of 7 N·m (60 in. lbs.)

(8) Install the brake rotor back on the hub and

bearing assembly (Fig. 13).

(9) Install front brake caliper on steering knuckle.

Refer to Disc Brake Caliper in Brakes. Install the
caliper to steering knuckle attaching bolts (Fig. 12)
and tighten them to a torque of 22 N·m (192 in. lbs.).

(10) Apply the brakes, then tighten the axle

retaining nut to a torque of 142 N·m (105 ft. lbs.).

(11) Install wheel and tire assembly on vehicle.

Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper
sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specifica-
tion. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full
specified torque of 135 N·m (100 ft. lbs.).

(12) Lower vehicle to the ground.

LOWER BALL JOINT

DESCRIPTION

The ball joint is an integral part of the control arm

and has a non-tapered stud with a notch for clamp
(pinch) bolt installation. The stud is clamped and
locked into the steering knuckle leg using a clamp
(pinch) bolt.

Fig. 22 Strut To Steering Knuckle Attaching Bolts

1 - STRUT ASSEMBLY
2 - NUTS
3 - STRUT ASSEMBLY TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHING
BOLTS
4 - STEERING KNUCKLE

Fig. 23 Hub And Bearing Assembly Mounting

Surfaces

1 - BE SURE THESE SURFACES ARE CLEAN AND FREE OF
KNICKS BEFORE INSTALLING BEARINGS
2 - STEERING KNUCKLE
3 - STUB AXLE

FRONT SUSPENSION

2 - 11

KNUCKLE (Continued)

The ball joint used in the lower control arm of this

vehicle is a sealed-for-life ball joint and requires no
maintenance lubrication. The ball joint cannot be ser-
viced separately from the lower control arm. If the
ball joint is determined to be defective it will require
replacement of the complete lower control arm. Refer
to DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING in this section for
proper testing of the ball joint.

NOTE: The ball joint does not require any type of
additional lubrication for the life of the vehicle. No
attempt should be made to ever add any lubrication
to the lower ball joint.

OPERATION

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 - BALL JOINT

Raise front of vehicle using jack stands or a frame

contact hoist until front suspension is in full rebound
and tires are not in contact with the ground. Grasp
tire at top and bottom, and apply in and out force on
the wheel and tire. While applying force to the tire,
look for any movement between the lower ball joint
and lower control arm. If any movement is evident,
the lower ball joint is worn and the lower control arm
requires replacement. The ball joint is not serviced
separately.

LOWER CONTROL ARM

DESCRIPTION

The lower control arm is a steel forging with 2 rub-

ber bushings and a ball joint (Fig. 1). The bushing
isolating the lower control arm from the front cradle/
crossmember is a metal encased pivot bushing. The
bushing isolating the lower control arm from the ten-
sion strut is a solid rubber bushing. The lower con-
trol arm is bolted to the cradle/crossmember using a
bolt through the center of the pivot bushing. The ten-
sion strut is fastened through the center of the ten-
sion strut bushing and lower control arm. The lower
control arm ball joint connects to the steering
knuckle.

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.

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, inspect
the lower control arm to see if it is bent.

The only serviceable components of the lower con-

trol arm are the pivot bushing and the tension strut
bushing. The lower control arm is serviced as a com-
plete assembly otherwise. Do not attempt to
repair or straighten a broken or bent lower
control arm. It must be replaced.

REMOVAL - LOWER CONTROL ARM

(1) Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a

frame contact hoist. See Hoisting in Lubrication and
Maintenance.

(2) Remove the wheel and tire assembly from the

vehicle.

(3) Remove the ball joint stud to steering knuckle

attaching nut and bolt (Fig. 24).

CAUTION: Pulling steering knuckle out from vehicle
after releasing from ball joint can separate inner
C/V joint. See Driveshafts.

Fig. 24 Control Arm To Steering Knuckle

1 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
2 - BALL JOINT STUD
3 - CLAMP NUT AND BOLT

2 - 12

FRONT SUSPENSION

LOWER BALL JOINT (Continued)

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