Front Suspension Acura Integra III

DESCRIPTION

All models use independent wishbone MacPherson strut front suspension. Vertically mounted strut assembly is attached to lower control arm by a fork assembly. (Scheme 1), (Scheme 2), (Scheme 3), (Scheme 4) or (Scheme 5). Steering knuckle is attached to upper and lower control arms by ball joints. A stabilizer bar and radius rod (if equipped) are attached to the lower control arm.

Scheme 1

Scheme 2

Scheme 3

Scheme 4

Scheme 5

WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES

Note. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

WHEEL BEARINGS

Wheel bearings are not adjustable. Remove tire and wheel assembly. Install wheel lug nuts. Check wheel bearing end play using a dial indicator. If wheel bearing end play is greater than .002" (.05 mm), replace wheel bearing. See WHEEL BEARING under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.

BALL JOINT CHECKING

Raise and support front of vehicle. Allow suspension to hang freely. Move each front wheel up and down and side-to-side while checking ball joints for looseness. Ball joints should not have any movement or looseness. Replace as necessary.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Note. Always grease new bushings with silicone grease before installation.

Removal (Integra & 3.2TL)

1. Raise and support front of vehicle. Allow suspension to hang freely. Remove wheel assembly and spindle nut. Remove brake caliper mounting bolts, and wire caliper aside.
2. Remove brake disc 6-mm retaining screws. Screw two 8 x 10-mm bolts into disc to push disc away from hub. Turn each screw alternately, and remove disc. Without disconnecting, remove wheel sensor and wheel sensor harness from knuckle (if equipped).
3. Clean dirt and grease from ball joints. Remove cotter pins from tie rod end ball joint, lower control arm ball joint and upper control arm ball joint. (Scheme 1)or (Scheme 2). Loosen castle nut half length of ball joint threads. Using 28-mm Ball Joint Remover (07MAC-SL00200), separate in order: tie rod end ball joint, lower control arm ball joint and upper control arm ball joint. Pull hub/knuckle assembly from axle.

Installation (Integra & 3.2TL)

To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Use NEW spindle nut, and stake it after tightening.

Scheme 6

Removal (2.2CL, 2.3CL, 2.5TL, 3.0CL & 3.5RL)

1. Raise and support front of vehicle. Allow suspension to hang freely. Remove wheel assembly and spindle nut. Remove brake hose mounting bolts. Without disconnecting hydraulic hose, remove brake caliper and wire it aside. Without disconnecting wiring harness, remove speed sensor from knuckle and lower control arm (if equipped).
2. On 2.3CL, 3.0CL and 3.5RL, remove brake disc retaining screws. Screw two 8 x 12-mm bolts into brake disc to push disc away from hub. Turn each screw alternately and remove disc.
3. On all models, clean dirt and grease from ball joints. Remove cotter pin and castle nut from tie rod ball joint. Install 12-mm hex nut flush with ball joint pin as a thread protector. Using Ball Joint Remover (07MAC-SL00200), break tie rod ball joint loose. Separate tie rod from knuckle.
4. Remove cotter pin and castle nut from lower control arm ball joint. Install 14-mm hex nut flush with ball joint pin as a thread protector. Using ball joint remover, break lower control arm ball joint loose and separate ball joint and lower arm. Pull arm down until lower ball joint is clear of knuckle.
5. Remove cotter pin from upper ball joint, and loosen castle nut half length of joint threads. Install 10-mm hex nut flush with ball joint pin as a thread protector. Using ball joint remover, break upper ball joint loose. Pull the knuckle outward. Remove the driveshaft outboard joint from the knuckle by tapping with a plastic or wood hammer. Remove hub/knuckle assembly.

Installation (2.2CL, 2.3CL, 2.5TL, 3.0CL & 3.5RL)

To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Use NEW spindle nut, and stake it after tightening.

LOWER BALL JOINT

Note. Removal and Installation procedures are not available for 2.5TL, 3.2TL and 3.5RL.

Removal (Integra)

1. Remove steering knuckle. See «HUB & KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY»(/acura/integra/iii-1993-2001/remont/suspension-front/#front-suspension). Remove dust boot snap ring, dust boot, and ball joint snap ring.
2. Position Ball Joint Installer/Remover (07965-SB00100) so narrow end of tool fits over tapered end of ball joint shaft. Install and tighten ball joint nut. Position Ball Joint Removal Base (07JAF-SH20200) between ball joint housing and steering knuckle, and place assembly in vise. Press ball joint from knuckle. (Scheme 7)

Scheme 7

Installation (Integra)

1. Position ball joint into steering knuckle. Position ball joint installer wide end on ball joint shaft. Position Ball Joint Installation Base (07965-SB00200) over end of ball joint. Press ball joint into knuckle. (Scheme 7)
2. Inspect ball joint dust boot for damage or deterioration. Replace if necessary. Install ball joint snap ring and dust boot. Install dust boot clip with Boot Clip Guide (07974-SA50700). To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Check alignment.

Removal (2.2CL, 2.3CL & 3.0CL)

1. Remove steering knuckle. See «HUB & KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY»(/acura/integra/iii-1993-2001/remont/suspension-front/#front-suspension). Remove attaching bolts and remove hub unit from knuckle. Remove dust boot snap ring, dust boot, and ball joint snap ring.
2. Position Ball Joint Installer/Remover (07HAF-SF10110) so receiver end of tool fits over tapered end of ball joint shaft. Position Ball Joint Removal Base (07HAF-SF10130) between ball joint housing and steering knuckle, and place assembly in vise. Press ball joint from knuckle. (Scheme 7)

Installation (2.2CL, 2.3CL & 3.0CL)

1. Position ball joint into steering knuckle. Position Ball Joint Installer/Remover (07HAF-SF10110) so wide end goes over ball joint shaft. Position Ball Joint Installation Base (07HAF-SF10120) over end of ball joint. Press ball joint into knuckle. (Scheme 7)
2. Inspect ball joint dust boot for damage or deterioration. Replace if necessary. Install ball joint snap ring and dust boot. Install dust boot clip with Boot Clip Guide (07GAG-SD40700). To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Check alignment.

Remove ball joint boot clip and boot. Pack interior of boot and upper boot lip with grease. Wipe grease off of sliding surface of ball joint pin and repack with clean grease. Keep grease off of tapered part of ball joint pin. Install large end of boot into groove in ball joint and bleed air from boot. Install ball joint boot clip guide over boot until bottom of boot guide aligns with ball joint groove. See BALL JOINT BOOT CLIP GUIDE SPECIFICATION table. Install ball joint boot clip over boot clip guide. Remove boot clip guide.

BALL JOINT BOOT CLIP GUIDE SPECIFICATION

LOWER & UPPER CONTROL ARM

Removal

To remove components, refer to illustration. (Scheme 1), (Scheme 2), (Scheme 3), (Scheme 4) or (Scheme 5). Mark position of components for installation. Components are not interchangeable from side to side.

Installation

Inspect components and bushings for deterioration and damage. Replace worn or damaged parts. Check for location marks before installing components. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Check alignment.

To remove components, refer to illustration. (Scheme 1), (Scheme 2), (Scheme 3), (Scheme 4) or (Scheme 5). To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure stabilizer bar alignment marks align with stabilizer mounting bushings. Tighten stabilizer bar and stabilizer link mounting bolts and nuts to specification with suspension under vehicle load. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. Check alignment.

Raise and support front of vehicle. Remove wheel assembly and brake hose clamp from strut. Remove strut-to-fork pinch bolt and strut fork bolt. (Scheme 1), (Scheme 2), (Scheme 3), (Scheme 4) or (Scheme 5). Remove strut fork assembly. Remove cap and nuts from top of strut. Remove strut assembly.

Note. Struts and strut forks are not interchangeable from side to side.

Disassembly

Using a spring compressor, compress spring slightly to remove spring tension. Hold strut rod with Allen wrench and remove spring seat nut. Slowly release spring compressor. Remove spring. Disassemble strut, noting relative position of parts. (Scheme 8)

Scheme 8

Reassembly

Inspect parts for cracks, deterioration, or damage. Check shock absorber for leaks and improper operation. Replace strut if resistance is weak, uneven, or jerky when strut is compressed. Replace worn or damaged parts. Position mounting base with one stud aligned within the following range of the tab on strut housing. See ALIGNING STRUT HOUSING table. To complete reassembly, reverse disassembly procedure.

ALIGNING STRUT HOUSING

1. Loosely install the strut onto the frame with aligning tab facing inside, and loosely install the nuts to the studs in the strut tower holes. Install strut fork onto lower control arm. Position strut assembly so tab on strut housing aligns with slot in fork. Loosely install the bolts and nuts. Place jack under knuckle, and raise it until vehicle just lifts from safety stand. NOTE: Strut mount base nuts must be tightened with strut under vehicle load.
2. In the following order, tighten the upper fork bolt, the lower bolt self-locking nut, and the upper strut-to-body nuts. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(/acura/integra/iii-1993-2001/remont/suspension-front/#front-suspension) . On 3.2TL and 3.5RL, strut bolts/nuts must be tightened with vehicle's weight on strut.

Upper ball joint is not replaceable as a separate component. If ball joint is worn excessively, replace upper control arm. See LOWER & UPPER CONTROL ARM .

1. Remove steering knuckle. See «HUB & KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY»(/acura/integra/iii-1993-2001/remont/suspension-front/#front-suspension) . Using Front Hub Remover/Installer (07GAF-SE00100), Hub Remover/Installer Base (07GAF-SD40700) and hydraulic press, remove hub from steering knuckle. Remove splash guard screws and splash guard. Remove bearing retaining snap ring and knuckle ring from knuckle.
2. Using bearing driver and Attachment (07746-0010500), base and hydraulic press, remove bearing from knuckle. Using commercially available bearing separator, remove inner bearing race from hub. Clean knuckle and hub thoroughly before reassembly.

Using press and old bearing, install NEW bearing into knuckle. Install snap ring into knuckle groove. Install bearing retaining snap ring splash guard. Invert knuckle. Press new bearing into hub. Press hub into knuckle. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Check alignment.

Removal & Installation (2.2CL, 2.3CL & 3.0CL)

1. Remove steering knuckle. See HUB & KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY. Remove knuckle from hub unit. Remove the splash guard from the knuckle. On 1997 models, separate the hub from the brake disc. On all models, use Hub Disassembly Driver (07GAF-SE00100) and Hub Disassembly Base (07GAF-SD40700) to press front hub from wheel bearing.
2. Using standard 0-4 1/2" bearing separator and Hub Disassembly Driver (07GAF-SE00100), press inner bearing race from hub. Clean knuckle and hub thoroughly before reassembly. To install, reverse removal procedure, using Hub Assembly Driver (07749-001000), Hub Assembly Base (07965-6920201) and Attachment (07746-0010400).

Removal & Installation (2.5TL)

1. Remove steering knuckle. See «HUB & KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY»(/acura/integra/iii-1993-2001/remont/suspension-front/#front-suspension) . Remove knuckle from hub unit. Separate hub unit from brake disk. Using Hub Disassembly Driver (07GAF-SE00100) and Hub Disassembly Base (07GAF-SD40700), press front hub from wheel bearing.
2. Using bearing separator, Hub Disassembly Driver (07GAF-SE00100), and support base, press bearing race from hub. Clean knuckle and hub thoroughly before reassembly. To install, reverse removal procedure, using Seal Driver (07LAD-PT3010A), Support Base (07965-SD90100), and a hydraulic press.

Removal & Installation (3.2TL & 3.5RL)

1. Remove steering knuckle. See «HUB & KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY»(/acura/integra/iii-1993-2001/remont/suspension-front/#front-suspension) . Clamp steering knuckle into soft-jawed vise. Using universal hub puller, separate hub from knuckle. Remove splash guard screws and splash guard.
2. Remove circlip from knuckle. Using Hub Disassembly Driver (07749-0010000) and Hub Disassembly Attachment (07746-0010600), press wheel bearings from knuckle. Remove outboard inner bearings race from hub using Hub Disassembly Driver (07GAF-SE00100) and a standard 0-4 1/2" bearing separator. Clean knuckle and hub thoroughly before reassembly. To install, reverse removal procedure. Check alignment.

INTEGRA

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS (INTEGRA)

2.2CL, 2.3CL & 3.0CL

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS (2.2CL, 2.3CL & 3.0CL)

2.5TL

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS (2.5TL)

3.2TL & 3.5RL

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS (3.2TL & 3.5RL)

See also:
• WHEEL BEARING
• LOWER & UPPER CONTROL ARM