B
52
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.
699322
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
1.
Loosen front wheels. Lift and support front of vehicle
per the SAFETY section and remove front wheels.
2.
Remove hardware (1, 4, 5) securing shock absorb-
ers (2) to front axle (3) (Ref. Fig. 6).
3.
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.
4.
Repeat at passenger side letting rack ball joint (29)
rest on front spring to support spindle.
To prevent possible injury from fall-
ing steering components, secure
rack and pinion unit (16) to front
springs with wire. This will prevent the intermediate
shaft connecting the rack and pinion unit to the
steering column from pulling apart due to the weight
of the steering system.
NOTICE: The intermediate shaft is assembled with
the universal joints set 90° out of phase with each
other.
5.
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.
6.
Remove the three 1 3/4" long bolts (18), two 1 1/2"
long bolts (28), spring plate (24) and five lock nuts
(19) securing axle to springs and discard lock nuts.
7.
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 locations.
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. Fig. 6).
8.
To prevent damage to bellows (16), the two 1 1/2"
long bolts (28) must be installed in their original loca-
tion.
9.
Front axle installation is the reverse order of disas-
sembly using new lock nuts (15, 19). All hardware
(18 - 24, 28) must be installed in its original location
10. Tighten leaf spring and rack and pinion unit hardware
(13 - 15,18 - 21, 28) to 35 - 50 ft. lbs (50 - 70 Nm)
torque.
11. Install thrust washers (11), king pin tubes (12), spin-
dles, 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 tighten-
ing.
12. Tighten shock absorber mounting hardware until rub-
ber bushings expand to diameter of shock absorber
washer.
13. Install front wheels per the WHEELS AND TIRES
section and lower vehicle per the SAFETY section.
14. Check front wheel alignment and adjust if necessary.
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.
1.
Loosen front wheels. Lift and support front of vehicle
per the SAFETY section. In addition, support front
axle with jack stands. Remove front wheels.
2.
To detach driver side spring:
3.
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. 6). Remove the lock nut (15) and
washer (14) from the
4.
long bolt (20) and discard lock nut. The rack and pin-
ion unit is now loose.
