For 1990-2009 cars

### Removal Procedure

#### Tools Required

• | J 6627-A Tie Rod/Wheel Stud Remover

• | J 42089 Linkage Installer

• | J 36660-A Torque/Angle Meter

1. Raise and Support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. Remove the front wheel assembly. Refer to Wheel Removal in Tires and Wheels.
3. Remove the brake pad wear indicator rubber sleeve from the strut assembly.
4. Remove the wheel speed sensor bolt.
5. Remove the wheel speed sensor.
6. Remove the brake hose from the strut bracket.
7. Remove the brake caliper assembly bolts from the steering knuckle.
8. Remove the brake caliper assembly from the steering knuckle.
9. DO NOT open the brake hydraulic system.

Important: Support the brake caliper assembly. Do not allow it to hang freely or damage may occur to the flex hose.

10. Remove the outer tie rod ball stud nut.
11. Use J 6627-A to remove the outer tie rod from the steering knuckle.
12. Remove the stabilizer shaft link nut from the stabilizer shaft. Use a 17 mm wrench to counter hold if necessary.
13. Remove the steering knuckle bolts from the strut.
14. Remove the steering knuckle from the strut.
15. Remove the lower control arm ball stud pinch bolt (1).
16. Remove the steering knuckle from the lower control arm ball stud. The brake disc rotor and the wheel hub will still be attached when the steering knuckle is removed.
17. Loosen the lower control arm horizontal bolts.
18. Loosen the lower control arm vertical bolts.
19. Lower the control arm horizontal bolt.
20. Rotate the lower control arm from the support bracket.
21. Lower the control arm vertical bolt.
22. Lower the control arm.

### Installation Procedure

1. Install the lower control arm.

Important: Use new lower control arm bolts.

Notice: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.

2. Install the lower control arm vertical bolt.

Tighten
Tighten the lower control arm vertical bolt until snug. The bolt will not be tightened to specifications until the lower control arm horizontal bolt is installed.

3. Position the front of the lower control arm into the support bracket.
4. Install the lower control arm horizontal bolt by inserting the bolt from the rearward side of the vehicle.

Important: Ensure that the lower control arm is in the horizontal position prior to tightening the bolts. This will prevent the lower control arm bushings from binding when vehicle load is applied.

Tighten

• | Tighten the lower control arm horizontal bolt to 140 N·m (103 lb ft).

• | Tighten the lower control arm vertical bolt to 140 N·m (103 lb ft).

5. Install the steering knuckle to the lower control arm ball stud.
6. Install a new lower control arm ball stud pinch bolt (1) from the rear toward the front of the vehicle.

Tighten
Tighten the lower control arm ball stud pinch bolt to 100 N·m (74 lb ft).

7. Install the steering knuckle to the strut.
8. Install the steering knuckle to the strut bolts (use new bolts) from the front toward the rear of the vehicle.

Tighten
Tighten the steering knuckle to the strut bolts until snug. The bolt will not be tightened to specifications until after the final camber corrections have been made.

9. Install the stabilizer shaft link to the stabilizer shaft.
10. Install the stabilizer shaft link nut.

Tighten

• | Tighten the stabilizer shaft link nut to 65 N·m (48 lb ft).

• | Use a 17 mm wrench to counter hold is necessary.

Important: Inspect the threads on the ball stud. If the threads are not clean and if the threads are not smooth, the ball stud may turn inside the inner tie rod when attempting to tighten the nut during installation. If the threads are damaged and repair is possible, use an appropriate size die to clean the threads.

11. Install the outer tie rod to the steering knuckle.
12. Install the J 42089 to the tie rod ball stud.

Tighten
Tighten the J 42089 to 30 N·m (22 lb ft) to allow the ball stud taper to seat.

13. Remove the J 42089 from the tie rod ball stud.

Important: Use a new self-locking tie rod nut.

14. Install the outer tie rod nut.

Tighten
Tighten the outer tie rod nut to 60 N·m (44 lb ft).

15. Install the brake caliper assembly to the steering knuckle.

Important:

• | Run a M12 x 1.5 tap through the holes for the brake caliper assembly bolts to clean out the old locking compound.

• | Use new bolts for the brake caliper assembly connection to the steering knuckle.

• | Coat the bolts with locking compound. Use GM P/N 12345493 Goodwrench 272 Threadlocker, or equivalent.

Tighten
Use theJ 36660-A to tighten the brake caliper assembly bolts to 95 N·m (70 lb ft) + 37°.

16. Install the brake hose to the strut bracket with a clip.
17. Install the wheel speed sensor.
18. Install the wheel speed sensor bolt.

Tighten
Tighten the wheel speed sensor bolt to 8 N·m (71 lb in).

19. Install the brake pad wear indicator rubber sleeve to the strut assembly.
20. Install the front wheel assembly. Refer to Wheel Installation in Tires and Wheels.
21. Lower the vehicle.
22. Adjust the wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Measurement in Wheel Alignment.