Front Suspension: Other Dodge Stratus I

WHEEL BEARINGS

No lubrication or adjustment is necessary for permanently sealed front bearings.

RIDING HEIGHT

Note. See the RIDING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT in SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

Lower Ball Joint

Raise and support vehicle. Position dial indicator to measure vertical movement of steering knuckle near ball joint stud. Grasp wheel assembly, and push it up and down. If reading on dial indicator exceeds .059" (1.5 mm), replace lower control arm assembly. Do not lube lower ball joint.

Upper Ball Joint

With vehicle on ground and wheels in straight-ahead position, grasp grease fitting and attempt to move fitting. No mechanical assistance or added force is needed to check ball joint. If ball joint is worn, fitting will move easily. If movement is noted, replace upper control arm assembly.

Scheme 9

1. Remove cotter pin, nut lock and spring washer from hub. Loosen hub nut with vehicle on ground and brakes applied. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove hub nut. Remove caliper and wire aside. Remove brake rotor. Remove lower ball joint heat shield (if equipped). Remove nut attaching tie rod end to steering knuckle. NOTE: Hub and axle shaft are splined together through steering knuckle/bearing assembly and retained by hub nut.
2. Using Remover (MB-991113), separate tie rod end from steering knuckle. Remove speed sensor cable routing bracket (if equipped with ABS). Remove cotter pin and nut attaching lower ball joint stud-to-steering knuckle. Pull front of steering knuckle outward. Using a hammer, strike steering knuckle boss to separate lower ball joint stud from steering knuckle. (Scheme 9) DO NOT damage ball joint seal during separation.
3. Support axle shaft. Pull knuckle assembly out and away from axle shaft to separate steering knuckle from outer CV joint. Remove cotter pin and nut attaching upper ball joint stud-to-steering knuckle. Using Puller (C-3894-A), remove upper ball joint stud from steering knuckle. (Scheme 10) Remove steering knuckle from vehicle. Mount steering knuckle in a vise. Remove 3 steering knuckle-to-hub and bearing assembly bolts. Separate hub and bearing assembly from steering knuckle.

Scheme 10

LOWER CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT

Note. Lower ball joint is an integral component of the lower control arm and is not serviceable. Lower ball joint must be serviced by replacing complete control arm assembly.

Scheme 11

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove ball joint seal heat shield (if equipped). Remove 2 bolts attaching brake caliper-to-steering knuckle. Remove caliper and wire aside. Remove brake rotor. Remove cotter pin and retaining nut from lower ball joint stud.
2. Pull front of steering knuckle outward. Using a hammer, strike steering knuckle boss to separate lower ball joint stud from steering knuckle. (Scheme 9) Do not insert tool between knuckle and lower arm to separate. Ensure damage to ball joint seal does not occur during separation.
3. Remove through-bolt attaching strut clevis-to-lower control arm. Separate strut clevis from lower control arm. Remove nut attaching stabilizer bar link-to-lower control arm. Insert Allen Wrench into end of stabilizer bar link to prevent stabilizer bar link from rotating. (Scheme 11)
4. Remove bolts attaching stabilizer bar bracket-to-crossmember. It is not necessary to remove both brackets. Remove bracket on side of vehicle that control arm is to be removed from. Lower stabilizer bar away from lower control arm. Remove front and rear pivot bolts attaching control arm-to-crossmember.
5. Remove lower control arm assembly. Inspect lower control arm for distortion and check bushings for deterioration. Replace as necessary. See «LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS»(ref-52714-S15396122412001011600000).

UPPER CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT

Note. Upper ball joint is an integral component of the upper control arm and is not serviceable. Upper ball joint must be serviced by replacing complete upper control arm assembly.