Damaged bearing seals and the resulting excessive
grease loss may also require bearing replacement.
Moderate grease weapage from the hub bearing is
considered normal and should not require replace-
ment of the hub bearing.
LOWER CONTROL ARM
The lower control arm if damaged, is serviced only
as a complete component. Do not attempt to repair
or straighten a broken or bent lower control
arm. Inspect the lower control arm for signs of dam-
age 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 control
arm are, the pivot bushing, and the tension strut bush-
ing. The service procedure to replace these components
is detailed in the specific component Service Proce-
dures Sections in this group of the service manual.
BALL JOINT
Raise front of vehicle using jack stands or a frame
contact type 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 an in and
out 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 evi-
dent the lower ball joint is worn and the lower con-
trol arm requires replacement.
STABILIZER BAR
Inspect for broken or distorted retainers and bush-
ings. If bushing replacement is required, bushing can
be removed by opening slit in bushing and removing
bushing from around stabilizer bar. The stabilizer
bar to cradle assembly bushings, should be positioned
on stabilizer bar, so slit in bushing is positioned
toward the front of the vehicle when the stabilizer
bar is installed (Fig. 5).
SERVICE PROCEDURES
STABILIZER BAR ISOLATOR BUSHING
If only the stabilizer bar isolator bushings require
service without any service to the stabilizer bar. The
stabilizer bar isolator bushings can be removed from
the stabilizer bar without requiring the stabilizer bar
to be removed from the vehicle.
REMOVE
(1) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual for
the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.
(2) Remove the 2 bolts attaching each of the 2 sta-
bilizer bushing retainers and bushings to the cradle
assembly (Fig. 6).
(3) Remove the stabilizer bar isolator bushing
retainers from the isolator bushings.
(4) Inspect for broken or distorted retainers and
bushings. If bushing replacement is required, the
bushing can be removed by opening the slit in the
bushing and removing the bushing from around sta-
bilizer bar. The stabilizer bar to cradle assembly
bushings must be positioned on the stabilizer
Fig. 4 Steering Knuckle
Fig. 5 Stabilizer Bar And Isolator Bushings
2 - 14
SUSPENSION
300M
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING (Continued)