Home ReviewsRefund
Home/Lexus/RX/Lexus RX II (2003-2006)/Repair manual/Suspension Front/Front Suspension: Removal & Installation
Contents Wiring diagrams Section: Suspension Front All sections

Front Suspension: Removal & Installation Lexus RX II

Suspension Front 12 illustrations ~1028 words

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Note. For view of Special Tools referred to throughout the following procedures, see SPECIAL TOOLS .

Removal

  1. Remove front wheel. Check wheel bearing backlash and deviation (rotational free play). See «WHEEL BEARING INSPECTION»(ref-165164-S42739832822004082000000) under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION.
  2. Unstake the axle nut. Hold drive shaft from turning by applying brakes and remove drive shaft lock nut. Remove brake caliper and disc and support caliper out of way.
  3. Remove ABS speed sensor and wire harness clamp. (Scheme 9)
  4. Remove cotter pin and nut from tie rod end. Use tie rod separator to disconnect tie rod end from steering knuckle. Remove 2 nuts and 1 bolt and disconnect lower ball joint from lower control arm. Using a plastic hammer, separate the front drive shaft assembly from the front axle hub sub-assembly.
  5. Remove 2 nuts and bolts from lower end of shock absorber. Remove steering knuckle and axle hub from vehicle.
  6. Mount assembly in vise and use separator tool to remove lower ball joint from hub assembly. Carefully pry off dust deflector. Using snap ring pliers, remove the front axle hub hole snap ring. Use a slide hammer and attaching plate to remove axle hub.
  7. Place axle hub on press and use appropriate support plates to press inner bearing race from axle hub. Remove 4 Torx bolts and remove dust cover.
  8. Place inner race against outside of bearing and press wheel bearing from axle hub. (Scheme 9)

Installation

To install, reverse removal procedure. Use NEW snap ring after pressing in NEW wheel bearing. Use NEW cotter pins. Tighten bolts to specifications. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

Scheme 9

Scheme 9: Installation
Scheme 9: Installation
  1. Install the pneumatic front w/shock absorber cylinder assembly (lower side) to the steering knuckle. Insert the bolts from the front side of the vehicle and tighten the 2 nuts. (Scheme 12) Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000).Jack up the suspension lower arm assembly slowly using a wood block to avoid damage. Install the pneumatic front w/shock absorber cylinder assembly (upper side) on the vehicle and fix tightly with the 3 nuts. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000).
  2. Install the flexible hose and the front speed sensor wire harness on the pneumatic front w/shock absorber cylinder assembly with the bolt. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000).
  3. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000).
  4. Inspect and adjust front wheel alignment, see «WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES»(ref-165164-S28189136542004082000000).

Scheme 10

Scheme 10
Scheme 10

Scheme 11

Scheme 11
Scheme 11

Scheme 12

Scheme 12
Scheme 12
  1. Remove front wheel. Disconnect brake hose and ABS speed sensor clamp from shock absorber.
  2. Remove the nut and disconnect the front stabilizer link assembly from the shock absorber assembly. Loosen the top center lock nut. Remove 2 lower shock absorber nuts and bolts and disconnect shock absorber from steering knuckle. Remove 3 upper shock absorber mounting nuts from inside engine compartment and remove shock absorber with coil spring.
  3. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000) .

For an exploded view (Scheme 13)

  1. Remove engine assembly with transaxle. See REMOVAL & INSTALLATION in appropriate ENGINE MECHANICAL article in ENGINES.
  2. Remove the 3 nuts and engine mounting insulator. (Scheme 14)
  3. Remove the 2 bolts on the front side of the lower suspension arm. (Scheme 15)
  4. Remove the bolt and nut on the rear side of the lower suspension arm. Remove the lower suspension arm. Remove the lower suspension arm bushing stopper from the lower suspension arm shaft. (Scheme 16)

Scheme 13

Scheme 13
Scheme 13

Scheme 14

Scheme 14
Scheme 14

Scheme 15

Scheme 15
Scheme 15

Scheme 16

Scheme 16
Scheme 16
  1. Install the lower suspension arm bushing stopper to the lower suspension arm shaft. Install the lower suspension arm with the 2 bolts to the front side, and torque the nuts. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000) .
  2. Install the lower suspension arm with the bolt and nut to the rear side. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000) .
  3. Install the engine mounting insulator with 3 nuts. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000) .
  4. Install engine. See REMOVAL & INSTALLATION in appropriate ENGINE MECHANICAL article in ENGINES.
  1. Remove steering knuckle with axle hub. See «FRONT AXLE HUB & WHEEL BEARING»(ref-165164-S33380713942004082000000) . Using screwdriver, pry off dust cover. Remove cotter pin and nut. Use ball joint removal tool to remove lower ball joint from axle hub assembly.
  2. To install, reverse removal procedure. Check ball joint turning torque. See «BALL JOINT CHECKING»(ref-165164-S39385807392004082000000) under ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION. Install NEW cotter pin and NEW dust cover.

Note. For removal and installation reference see scheme 3and see scheme 4.

  1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove front wheel.
  2. Remove the 2 nuts and the stabilizer bar link on both sides of vehicle. (Scheme 17) Inspect the stabilizer link ball joints. See «BALL JOINT INSPECTION»(ref-165164-S39385807392004082000000). NOTE: If the ball joint turns together with the nut, use a hexagon (6 mm.) wrench to hold the stud.
  3. On 4WD models, remove center exhaust pipe assembly. see scheme 4 Remove the 2 bolts No. 2 bracket and the No. 1 bracket. Repeat procedure for other side. (Scheme 18)
  4. Separate the tie rod assembly using the Ball Joint Puller (09628-62011). See «BALL JOINTS»(ref-165164-S18926147862004082000000) removal.
  5. Separate steering gear outlet return tube. Separate steering intermediate shaft sub-assembly. Separate pressure feed tube assembly. Remove rack and pinion power steering gear assembly. See appropriate POWER RACK & PINION article in STEERING.
  6. Remove front stabilizer bar and No. 1 bushing.

Scheme 17

Scheme 17
Scheme 17

Scheme 18

Scheme 18
Scheme 18

Scheme 19

Scheme 19: Installation
Scheme 19: Installation

Scheme 20

Scheme 20
Scheme 20
  1. Install front stabilizer bar bushing No. 1 to the inner side of the bushing stopper on the stabilizer bar. For FWD (Scheme 19) For AWD (Scheme 20)
  2. Install front stabilizer bar.
  3. On AWD models, install center exhaust pipe assembly. see scheme 4
  4. Install rack and pinion power steering gear assembly. Install steering intermediate shaft assembly. Install pressure feed tube assembly. Install steering gear outlet return tube. See appropriate POWER RACK & PINION article in STEERING.
  5. Install the tie rod end to steering knuckle with the nut. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000). Install a new cotter pin.
  6. Install 2 front stabilizer No. 1 brackets with 2 bolts. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000).
  7. Install the stabilizer bar link assembly with 2 nuts. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000).
  8. Install front wheel. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-165164-S38983535862004082000000).
  9. Inspect and adjust front wheel alignment, see «WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES»(ref-165164-S28189136542004082000000).

More articles — Front Suspension