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Upper Control Arms

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

1993-95 929

NOTE: The curved arm is referred to as the upper lateral link. The straight arm is referred to as the upper leading link.

  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
  2. Remove the cotter pin and loosen the lateral link ball joint nut. With the nut protecting the ball joint stud, press the ball joint stud from the knuckle using press tool 49 S231 575 or equivalent. Remove the nut.
  3. Paint an alignment mark on the cam plate and crossmember for assembly reference. Remove the nut, cam plate, adjusting cam bolt and the upper lateral link.
  4. Remove the cotter pin and loosen the leading link ball joint nut. With the nut protecting the ball joint stud, press the ball joint stud from the knuckle using press tool 49 0118 850C or equivalent. Remove the nut.
  5. Remove the nuts and remove the upper leading link.

    To install:

  6. Install the upper leading link and tighten the nuts to 32-40 ft. lbs. (44-54 Nm).
  7. Connect the leading link ball joint to the knuckle and tighten the nut to 32-42 ft. lbs. (43-57 Nm). Install a new cotter pin.
  8. Install the upper lateral link with the adjusting cam bolt, cam plate and nut. Align the mark made during removal and tighten the nut to 69-86 ft. lbs. (94-117 Nm).
  9. Connect the lateral link ball joint to the knuckle, and install the nut. Tighten the nut to 58-80 ft. lbs. (79-108 Nm) and install a new cotter pin.
  10. Install the wheel and tire assembly and lower the vehicle. Check the front wheel alignment.
1993-97 Miata
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
  2. Remove the undercover, and remove the band for the wheel speed sensor harness. Support the lower control arm with a jack.
  3. Remove the cotter pin and loosen the upper ball joint nut. Press the ball joint stud from the knuckle using press tool 49 0118 850C or equivalent. Remove the nut.
  4. Remove the lower strut mounting bolt.
  5. Remove the upper control arm bolt and nut, and remove the upper control arm.

    To install:

  6. Install the upper control arm, and loosely tighten the bolt and nut.
  7. Loosely install the lower strut mounting bolt.
  8. Connect the ball joint to the knuckle, and tighten to 31-45 ft. lbs. (42-61 Nm). Install a new cotter pin.
  9. Install the band for the wheel speed sensor, and install the undercover.
  10. Install the wheel and tire assembly and lower the vehicle. When the vehicle is on the ground, tighten the upper control arm bolt and nut to 87-101 ft. lbs. (118-137 Nm), and the lower strut mounting bolt to 54-69 ft. lbs. (73-93 Nm).
  11. Check the front wheel alignment.
1993-95 RX7
  1. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
  2. Support the lower control arm with a jack.
  3. Remove the brake hose clip and the brake hose from the strut. Remove the ABS sensor and the sensor harness bolts from the control arm.
  4. Remove the lower strut mounting bolt and nut. Remove the upper ball joint pinch bolt.
  5. Remove the upper control arm bolts and nuts and remove the upper control arm.
  6. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure. Tighten the upper control arm bolts/nuts to 44-54 ft. lbs. (59-73 Nm), the upper ball joint pinch bolt to 39 ft. lbs. (53 Nm) and the lower strut mounting bolt to 69-86 ft. lbs. (94-116 Nm). Check the front wheel alignment.
 
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