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Front Suspension: Removal & Installation Jeep Cherokee III

Suspension Front 4 illustrations ~1637 words

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Note. When disassembling front brake components, suspend brake calipers from frame with wire to prevent damaging brake hoses. Tighten suspension components that use rubber bushings for pivot points after vehicle has been lowered and jounced to attain normal ride height.

  1. Raise vehicle and turn wheel outward to access sensor. Note sensor wire routing for installation reference. Remove sensor wire from mounting brackets. Clean area around sensor to prevent damage before removal. Remove bolt attaching sensor to steering knuckle and remove sensor. Remove sensor wire from brackets on body and steering knuckle. For Cherokee, unseat sensor wire grommet in wheel house panel. For all models (including Cherokee), disconnect sensor wire connector at harness plug. Remove sensor and wire.
  2. To install, reverse removal procedure. If original sensor is reinstalled, remove all of old spacer material from sensor pick-up face using a dry shop towel. Use new sensor bolt if original bolt is worn or damaged. Set air gap between sensor pick-up face and tone wheel to.014-.059" (.36-1.50 mm) for Cherokee, (not applicable for Grand Cherokee) and.0157-.051" (0.40-1.3 mm) for Wrangler. For all models, if new sensor is installed, install sensor with spacer on sensor pick-up face against tone wheel. Correct air gap will be established as tone wheel rotates and peels spacer off sensor pick-up face. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000). (Scheme 2)

Note. Air gap between ABS wheel speed sensor and tone wheel is not adjustable. Air gap can be checked if diagnosis indicates. If air gap is incorrect, sensor is either loose or damaged.

Scheme 2

Scheme 2
Scheme 2
  1. Raise and support vehicle on frame rails. Remove wheel assembly. On 4WD models, place reference mark onto drive shaft and front axle flanges. Disconnect drive shaft at front axle. Place reference marks onto cam adjusters and axle bracket for installation reference.
  2. Place floor jack under axle housing. Disconnect lower control arms at axle housing. Disconnect stabilizer bar links and lower shock absorber mounting bolts at axle housing. Disconnect track bar at frame rail bracket. Disconnect tie rod from pitman arm.
  3. Lower axle housing to relieve spring pressure. Remove spring retainer mounting bolt. Remove spring retainer and coil spring. Note component location for reassembly reference. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) .

Removal & Installation (Cherokee)

  1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove stabilizer bar link nuts from axle brackets. Remove stabilizer bar link nuts from stabilizer bar. Remove bolts and clamps from frame rails. Remove grommets from links at stabilizer bar. Remove stabilizer bar.
  2. To install, position stabilizer bar onto frame rails. Install clamps and bolts. Ensure stabilizer bar is equally spaced. Tighten clamp bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) .
  3. Install links and grommets onto stabilizer bar and axle brackets. Tighten nuts at axle bracket finger tight. Tighten stabilizer bar-to-link nuts to specification. Lower vehicle. Tighten nuts at axle bracket end to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) .

Removal & Installation (Grand Cherokee)

  1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove stabilizer bar link nuts from axle brackets. Remove stabilizer bar link nuts from stabilizer bar. Remove bolts and clamps from frame rails. Remove stabilizer bar.
  2. To install, position stabilizer bar onto frame rails. Install clamps and bolts. Ensure stabilizer bar is equally spaced. Tighten clamp bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) .
  3. Install links onto stabilizer bar and axle brackets, and finger tighten. Lower vehicle. Tighten stabilizer bar-to-link nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) .

Removal & Installation (Wrangler)

  1. Remove stabilizer bar link nuts from stabilizer bar. Separate stabilizer bar links from stabilizer bar using Tie Rod End Remover (MB-990635). Remove front bumper valance. Remove bolts and clamps from frame rails. Remove stabilizer bar. Remove stabilizer bar link nuts from axle brackets.
  2. To install, position stabilizer bar onto frame rails. Install clamps and bolts. Ensure stabilizer bar is equally spaced. Tighten clamp bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) .
  3. Install links onto stabilizer bar and axle brackets. Tighten nuts at axle bracket finger tight. Tighten stabilizer bar-to-link nuts to specification. Tighten nuts at axle bracket end to specification. Install bumper valence. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) .

Raise and support vehicle. Remove ABS wheel speed sensor wire from lower control arm. Support axle. Paint reference marks onto adjuster cams and control arm. Disconnect lower control arm mounting bolts at axle housing and frame brackets. Remove lower control arm. To install, reverse removal procedure. When installing axle and frame-rail fasteners, finger tighten, lower vehicle, and tighten to specification. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

With vehicle at normal ride height, remove nut, washer and rubber grommet from top of shock absorber. Raise and support vehicle. Remove lower shock mounting bolts from axle housing bracket. Remove shock absorber. Inspect units for damage or leaks. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolt and nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

Removal

  1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel and tire assembly. Remove brake caliper and rotor. See BRAKES DISC & DRUM article. Remove ABS wheel speed sensor, if necessary. See «ANTI-LOCK BRAKE (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR»(ref-99073-S26235600912001061500000) under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Remove cotter pin, nut retainer and axle hub nut. (Scheme 3)
  2. Remove hub-to-knuckle bolts. Remove hub from steering knuckle and axle shaft, if necessary. Remove axle shaft from axle tube (4WD). See FRONT AXLE SHAFTS article in DRIVE AXLES. Avoid damaging axle shaft oil seals in axle housing. Remove brake rotor shield from hub bearing or knuckle.
  3. Disconnect tie-rod or drag link from steering knuckle arm. Remove cotter pins from ball joints. Remove ball joint nuts. Strike steering knuckle with brass hammer to loosen knuckle from ball studs. Remove knuckle from ball studs. (Scheme 4)

Installation

  1. Position steering knuckle onto ball joint studs. Install and tighten bottom retaining nut to specification. Install NEW cotter pin. Install and tighten top retaining nut to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) . Install NEW cotter pin.
  2. Thoroughly clean axle shaft and apply thin film of wheel bearing grease to shaft splines, seal contact surface, and hub bore. Install brake rotor shield onto knuckle. Install hub bearing and axle shaft assembly, or axle shaft, into housing and differential side gears. Avoid damaging axle shaft oil seals in axle housing.
  3. Install hub bearing, if necessary. Install hub-to-knuckle bolts and tighten to specification. Install hub washer and nut, if necessary. Tighten hub nut to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) . Install nut retainer and NEW cotter pin. Install ABS wheel speed sensor, if necessary. See «ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR»(ref-99073-S39852793722001061500000) . Install brake rotor, caliper and wheel. See DISC & DRUM article in BRAKES. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) .
  4. Connect tie-rod or drag link end to steering knuckle arm. Lower vehicle.

Scheme 3

Scheme 3
Scheme 3

Scheme 4

Scheme 4
Scheme 4
  1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove cotter pin (if used) and nut at frame rail bracket. Remove track bar-to-axle housing bolt and flag nut.
  2. Track bar is fastened to frame bracket with a tapered rod end, similar to a tie rod. Use universal puller to free track bar from bracket. Remove track bar. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000) .
  1. Raise vehicle and remove upper control arm mounting bolt from axle housing. Disconnect control arm mounting bolt at frame rail. Remove upper control arm.
  2. Inspect control arm for damage or distortion, and replace as needed. Check pivot bushings for excessive distortion, deterioration or wear.
  3. If pivot bushing requires replacement, on 2WD models, install spacer from Remover/Installer Set (8279) for Grand Cherokee, spacer from Set (7932) for all other models, between ears of control arm bracket on axle housing. (Scheme 5)
  4. Install bushing Remover/Installer Set (8279) for Grand Cherokee, Remover/Installer Set (7932) for all other models, and, for all models, Bolt (7604) and Nut (7603) onto pivot bushing. (Scheme 5)
  5. Rotate nut to press bushing from axle housing and into receiver. (Scheme 5) Once bushing is removed, remove bushing remover/installer components.
  6. Position bushing on Remover/Installer Set (8279) for Grand Cherokee, or Remover/Installer Set (7932) for all other models, and Nut (7603) for all models. Position bushing and installer components in control arm bracket. Assemble remaining installer components. (Scheme 5)
  7. Rotate nut to press bushing into housing until fully seated in bore. (Scheme 5) Remove bushing installer components. To install upper control arm, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000).

Scheme 5

Scheme 5: Removal
Scheme 5: Removal
  1. Remove steering knuckle assembly. See «STEERING KNUCKLE»(ref-99073-S16361551762001061500000). To remove upper ball joint, install Receiver (6761) over top of upper ball joint. Place Adapter (6289-3) in "C" clamp. Install "C" clamp, adapter and receiver. Tighten "C" clamp screw to remove ball joint. see scheme 6
  2. To remove lower ball joint, position Receiver (6289-1) onto "C" clamp and Adapter (6289-3) at base of clamp. see scheme 6 Install "C" clamp, adapter and receiver. Tighten "C" clamp to remove ball joint.
  1. Place upper ball joint into position. Position Ball Joint Installer (6752) over new upper ball joint. Install Receiver (6289-12) and "C" clamp. Tighten "C" clamp to fully seat ball joint. see scheme 6
  2. To install lower ball joint, position Ball Joint Installer (6289-4), "C" clamp and Receiver (6289-12). see scheme 6 Tighten "C" clamp to install ball joint. Ensure ball joint is fully seated. Install steering knuckle. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000).
  1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel, disc brake caliper, rotor, ABS speed sensor, cotter pin, nut retainer, axle hub nut and washer. (Scheme 3)
  2. Remove hub mounting bolts. Separate hub bearing and brake dust shield assembly from back of steering knuckle, and off axle shaft. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-99073-S25710140132001061500000).

Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly, brake caliper and rotor. Remove stud using Remover (C-4150A). To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

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