Lower Control Arm and Bushings

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

2-Wheel Drive Pick-up

1. Raise the vehicle and support it safely on jackstands.
2. Remove the wheel.
3. Remove the shock absorber.
4. Disconnect the sway bar and strut bar from the lower control arm.
5. Remove the bump stopper and the strut bar from the lower arm.
6. Install Mitsubishi spring compressor tool MB 990792 or equivalent to the coil spring and compress the spring.
7. Remove the cotter pin and loosen lower ball joint nut, but do not remove the nut from from the ball joint — this will keep the lower arm from springing open.
8. Release the lower ball joint taper using Mitsubishi tool MB 990809–01 or equivalent. Remove the lower ball joint nut.
9. Remove the tool and remove the ball stud from the knuckle.
10. Pull the arm down and remove the spring (still compressed) with the rubber isolation pad from the vehicle.
11. Remove the lower arm shaft mounting nuts and remove the arm from the vehicle.

    Bushing Replacement:

12. Once the lower control arm is removed from the vehicle, the bushings can be removed from the control arm. Pull or pry the bushings out of each side of the control arm.
13. Push the new bushings into the arm in the same positions as the old bushings. Make sure the bushings are installed all the way into the arm.

    Control Arm Installation:

14. Install the arm to the crossmember finger-tight. Tighten the two lower arm shaft rear mounting nuts to 7–10 ft. lbs. (9–14 Nm). Install the spring with the rubber isolators. Tighten the the compressor so the lower ball joint can be inserted through the knuckle.
15. Tighten the lower ball joint nut to 87–130 ft. lbs. (120–180 Nm) Install a new cotter pin through the castle nut slot and ball joint stud.
16. Carefully loosen the spring compressor, making sure the spring seats properly at both ends.
17. Remove the spring compressor.
18. Connect the sway bar and strut bar to the lower control arm — refer to the sway bar procedures in this section.
19. Install the shock absorber — refer to the shock absorber procedures in this section.
20. Install the wheel and lower the vehicle.
21. When the weight of the vehicle is completely on the suspension, bounce it once or twice and tighten the lower control arm to crossmember mounting nut to 40–54 ft. lbs. (55–75 Nm).
22. Have the front end aligned.

Montero and 4-Wheel Drive Pick-up

1. Raise the vehicle and support it safely on jackstands.
2. Remove the wheels.
3. Remove the skid plate.
4. Remove the anchor arm assembly and the torsion bar — refer to the previous procedures in this section.
5. Remove the shock absorber lower attaching bolt.
6. Disconnect the stabilizer bar from the lower control arm.
7. Remove the cotter pin and the nut from the lower ball stud. Separate the lower ball stud from the steering knuckle using a suitable separating tool such as MB 990809–01 or equivalent.
8. Remove the pivot bolts and remove the arm from the vehicle.

   Fig. 2: Remove the frame bracket lower control arm bushings with the Mitsubishi tool MB990958–01 — 4WD vehicles

   Fig. 3: Use the same Mitsubishi tool to install the new bushings to the frame bracket — 4WD vehicles

   Bushing Replacement:

9. Using the special Mitsubishi tool MB990958–01, remove the bushing from the rear frame bracket.

   NOTE: When removing the left-hand bushing, detach the differential carrier — refer to Section 7.

10. Using the same special tool, press the new bushing into the frame bracket.
11. Remove the bushing from the lower control arm by using the tool MB990883–01.
12. Coat the bushing and the lower control arm with soap solution and press the new bushing into the lower control arm by using the same special tools. Take care not to twist or tilt the bushing.

    NOTE: Press the bushing again from the opposite side to equalize bushing projections at both ends.

13. Install the lower control arm to the vehicle.
14. Install the pivot bolts, but do not tighten beyond snug.
15. Insert the ball stud into the steering knuckle. Install the nut, tighten to 87–130 ft. lbs. (120–180 Nm) and install a new cotter pin.
16. Attach the stabilizer bar to the control arm and install the shock mount bolts — refer to the procedures in this section.
17. Install the torsion bar and turn the adjustment nut (anchor mount nut) clockwise to apply a load to the bar — refer to the procedures in this section.
18. Install the wheel. Lower the vehicle so the weight of the vehicle is completely on the suspension.
19. Bounce the suspension once or twice. Tighten the pivot nuts to 101–116 ft. lbs. (140–160 Nm).
20. Set the ride height. Refer to the torsion bar procedure in this section.
21. Align the front end.

    Fig. 4: Use the tool MB990883–01 to press the front bushing out of the control arm — 4WD vehicles