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Lower Control Arms

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

1995 MX3 and 1995-97 Protege
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
  2. Remove the lower ball joint pinch bolt from the steering knuckle.
  3. Disconnect the stabilizer bar link from the lower control arm.
  4. Remove the lower control arm bolts and nuts and remove the lower control arm with the lower ball joint.
  5. If the lower ball joint needs to be removed:
    1. Remove the ball joint dust boot.
    2. Remove the two mounting bolts, and the lower ball joint.

      To install:

  6. If the lower ball joint was removed:
    1. Position the ball joint and install the mounting bolts. Tighten the bolts to 69-86 ft. lbs. (94-126 Nm).
    2. Install a new ball joint dust boot.
  7. Install the lower control arm and loosely tighten the mounting nuts and bolts.
  8. Connect the stabilizer link to the lower control arm and tighten the nut to 32-44 ft. lbs. (44-60 Nm).
  9. Connect the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle. Install the pinch bolt and tighten to 32-43 ft. lbs. (44-58 Nm).
  10. Install the wheel and tire assembly and lower the vehicle. With the vehicle at normal ride height, tighten the lower control arm mounting bolts. Tighten the front bushing through-bolt to 69-93 ft. lbs. (94-126 Nm) and the rear bushing strap bolts to 69-93 ft. lbs. (94-126 Nm).
  11. Check the front wheel alignment.
1993-97 626 and MX6
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
  2. Remove the lower ball joint pinch bolt from the steering knuckle.
  3. Disconnect the stabilizer bar link from the lower control arm.
  4. Remove the lower control arm bolts and nuts and remove the lower control arm with the lower ball joint.

    To install:

  5. Install the lower control arm and loosely tighten the mounting nuts and bolts.
  6. Connect the stabilizer link to the lower control arm and tighten the nut to 27-39 ft. lbs. (37-53 Nm).
  7. Connect the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle. Install the pinch bolt and tighten to 26-41 ft. lbs. (35-56 Nm).
  8. Install the wheel and tire assembly and lower the vehicle. With the vehicle at normal ride height, tighten the lower control arm mounting bolts. Tighten the front bushing through-bolt to 58-78 ft. lbs. (79-106 Nm) and the rear bushing strap bolts to 69-96 ft. lbs. (94-131 Nm).
  9. Check the front wheel alignment.
1993-95 929
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
  2. Remove the splash shield.
  3. Remove the bolts and disconnect the tension arm from the lower control arm. Remove the tension arm.
  4. Remove the stabilizer link bolt.
  5. Remove the cotter pin and loosen the nut on the lower ball joint. With the nut protecting the ball joint stud, press the stud from the knuckle using press tool 49 S231 575 or equivalent. Remove the nut.
  6. Remove the lower strut mounting bolt.
  7. Remove the lower control arm mounting bolt, and remove the control arm.

    To install:

  8. Install the lower control arm and loosely tighten the bolt.
  9. Loosely install the lower strut mounting bolt.
  10. Install the ball joint stud in the knuckle. Install the nut and tighten to 87-116 ft. lbs. (118-157 Nm). Install a new cotter pin.
  11. Tighten the stabilizer link bolt to 31-40 ft. lbs. (44-54 Nm).
  12. Connect the tension arm to the lower control arm. Tighten the bolts to 69-86 ft. lbs. (94-117 Nm). Tighten the tension arm bolt at the chassis to 87-108 ft. lbs. (118-147 Nm).
  13. Install the splash shield.
  14. Install the wheel and tire assembly and lower the vehicle. With the vehicle at normal ride height, tighten the lower control arm bolt to 86 ft. lbs. (117 Nm), and tighten the lower strut mounting bolt to 87 ft. lbs. (118 Nm).
  15. Check the front wheel alignment.
1995-97 Millenia
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  2. Remove the transverse member.
  3. Disconnect the power steering return hose and pressure pipe.
  4. Remove the intermediate steering shaft bolt.
  5. Support the engine from the top and remove the engine mount member.
  6. Remove the bolts for engine mount No. 1.
  7. Remove the lower strut mounting bolt.
  8. Disconnect the tie-rod end from the steering knuckle.
  9. Remove the upper lateral link ball joint.
  10. Remove the lower ball joint.
  11. Remove the stabilizer control link nut.
  12. Remove the gusset.
  13. Support the crossmember using a jack and remove the crossmember mounting nuts. Lower the crossmember to gain clearance and remove the lower arm assembly.

    To install:

  14. Replace the lower arm assembly to the vehicle and install the crossmember mounting bolts.
  15. Install the gusset, torque the gusset mount bolts to 58-86 ft. lbs. (79-116 Nm).
  16. Connect the stabilizer control link, torque the nut to 32-44 ft. lbs. (44-60 Nm).
  17. Install the lower ball joint, torque the mounting bolts to 58-86 ft. lbs. (79-116 Nm). Torque the retaining nut at the knuckle to 86-115 ft. lbs. (116-156 Nm).
  18. Install the upper lateral link nut and bolt, torque to 58-86 ft. lbs. (79-116 Nm).
  19. Connect the tie-rod end, torque the nut to 41-59 ft. lbs. (55-80 Nm).
  20. Install the strut lower mounting bolt and torque to 73-101 ft. lbs. (98-137 Nm).
  21. Install the No. 1 engine mount bolts and torque to 32-44 ft. lbs. (44-60 Nm).
  22. Install the engine mount member, torque the bolts to 50-68 ft. lbs. (67-93 Nm) and the nuts to 55-77.3 ft. lbs. (75-104 Nm). Remove the engine support tool.
  23. Install the intermediate steering shaft bolt, torque to 14-19 ft. lbs. (18-26 Nm).
  24. Connect the power steering pressure pipe and return hose.
  25. Install the transverse member.
  26. Lower the vehicle. Check the power steering fluid and fill to proper level, bleed if necessary. Check the front end alignment.
1993-94 323, MX3 and Protege
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
  2. Disconnect the stabilizer bar link from the lower control arm.
  3. Remove the lower ball joint pinch bolt from the steering knuckle.
  4. Remove the lower control arm bolts and nuts and remove the lower control arm.

    To install:

  5. Install the lower control arm and loosely tighten the mounting nuts and bolts.
  6. Connect the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle. Install the pinch bolt and tighten to 40 ft. lbs. (54 Nm).
  7. On 323, Protege, assemble the stabilizer bar link. Tighten the top nut until 3⁄4 in. of threads are exposed.
  8. On MX-3, connect the stabilizer link to the lower control arm and tighten the nut to 39 ft. lbs. (53 Nm).
  9. Install the wheel and tire assembly and lower the vehicle. With the vehicle at normal ride height, tighten the lower control arm mounting bolts.
  10. On 323, Protege and MX-3, tighten the front bushing through-bolt and the rear bushing strap bolts to 93 ft. lbs. (127 Nm).
1993-97 Miata
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  2. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
  3. Remove the undercover.
  4. Remove the cotter pin and nut from the tie-rod end. Separate the tie-rod end from the steering knuckle.
  5. Remove the stabilizer bar link bolt, and the lower strut mounting bolt.
  6. Remove the cotter pin and loosen the nut on the lower ball joint. With the nut protecting the ball joint stud, separate the stud from the knuckle using special tool 49 T028 3A0 or equivalent. Remove the nut.
  7. Paint alignment marks on the adjusting cams and the chassis for assembly reference. Remove the bolts, nuts and adjusting cams. Remove the lower control arm.

    To install:

  8. Install the lower control arm, and loosely tighten the bolts and nuts.
  9. Connect the lower ball joint to the knuckle and tighten the nut to 42-57 ft. lbs. (57-77 Nm). Install a new cotter pin.
  10. Loosely install the lower strut mounting bolt and stabilizer link bolt.
  11. Connect the tie-rod end to the steering knuckle. Tighten the nut to 22-32 ft. lbs. (30-44 Nm), and replace the cotter pin.
  12. Install the wheel and tire assembly, and the undercover. Lower the vehicle.
  13. With the vehicle at normal ride height, tighten the lower control arm bolts and nuts to 69-83 ft. lbs. (94-113 Nm), being sure to align the marks on the cam plates and chassis made during removal.
  14. Tighten the lower strut mounting bolt to 69 ft. lbs. (93 Nm), and the stabilizer link bolt to 40 ft. lbs. (54 Nm).
  15. Check the front wheel alignment.
 
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