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CONTROL ARMS RAM Pickup 2500

Front Suspension & Wheel Alignment 6 illustrations ~1310 words

CONTROL ARMS

The lower control arm (2) bolts in frame brackets. The frame brackets have slotted holes which allow the arms (2) to be adjusted with cam bolts (1) for caster and camber adjustment.

Scheme 84

Scheme 84
Scheme 84

The upper control arms (2) bolt to the upper frame brackets and pivots through bushings.

The control arms have lube for life ball studs (3). The control arm travel (jounce) is limited through the use of rubber/urethane bumpers. Rebound travel is limited by the shock absorber.

Having the suspension at curb ride height when torquing bolts ensures good ride characteristics and longer bushing life by preventing excessive "wind-up" of the bushing.

  1. Install the lower control arm into place on the vehicle.
  2. Install the front and rear control arm pivot bolts finger tight.
  3. Install the coil spring (1) into the frame pocket. Refer to «SPRING, Front Coil , Installation»(ref-457771-S05470369002012030200000) .
  4. Install the Spring Compressor (special tool #DD-1278, Compressor, Front Spring) (2) up through the lower suspension arm, coil spring and shock hole in the frame.
  5. Tighten the tool nut to compress the coil spring (1).
  6. Install the knuckle (1) to the control arms.
  7. Position the lower ball joint into the steering knuckle.
  8. Install the retaining nut on the lower ball joint and tighten to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  9. Position the upper ball joint to the knuckle (1).
  10. Install the retaining nut on the upper ball joint and tighten to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  11. Support the lower control arm at the outboard side of the lower control arm to support vehicle weight.
  12. Remove the spring compressor tool (3).
  13. Install the shock absorber. Refer to «SHOCK ABSORBER, Suspension , Installation»(ref-457771-S37575475172012030200000) .
  14. Install the stabilizer link. Refer to «LINK, Stabilizer Bar , Installation»(ref-457771-S04033077222012030200000) .
  15. Remove the lower control arm support.
  16. Install the wheel and tire assembly and lower the vehicle. Refer to «Wheels , Standard Procedure»(ref-457774-S22159730232012030200000) .
  17. Lower the vehicle to the floor with vehicle weight and tighten the front and rear pivot bolts to the frame to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  18. Perform a wheel alignment. Refer to «Wheel Alignment , Standard Procedure»(ref-457771-S15548608852012030200000) .

Scheme 85

Scheme 85
Scheme 85
  1. Position the lower control arm (2) at the frame rail brackets. Install the pivot bolts (1) and nuts, and tighten the nuts finger-tight. CAUTION: The ball joint stud taper must be CLEAN and DRY before installing the knuckle. Clean the stud taper with mineral spirits to remove dirt and grease.
  2. Insert the lower ball joint stud into the steering knuckle. Install and tighten the retaining nut to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  3. Install shock absorber lower bolt/nut (7) and tighten to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  4. Install the stabilizer bar link lower nut (8) and tighten to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  5. Install the front halfshaft to the axle by pushing the inner C/V (1) firmly to engage axle shaft snap ring into the inner C/V housing.
  6. Clean hub bearing bore, hub bearing mating surface and half shaft splines (2) and apply a light coating of grease to the front axle shaft output splines.
  7. Install half shaft (2) into the knuckle.
  8. Insert the upper ball joint (4) into the steering knuckle (6).
  9. Install and tighten the upper ball joint retaining nut to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  10. Tighten the lower control arm front pivot nut and rear pivot bolt to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  11. Install half shaft hub nut (1) and tighten to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  12. Install the wheel and tire assembly. Refer to «Wheels , Standard Procedure»(ref-457774-S22159730232012030200000) .
  13. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.
  14. Perform a wheel alignment. Refer to «Wheel Alignment , Standard Procedure»(ref-457771-S15548608852012030200000) .

Scheme 86

Scheme 86
Scheme 86
  1. Raise and support the vehicle.
  2. Remove wheel and tire assembly.
  3. Remove the disc brake caliper adapter with the caliper. Refer to «ADAPTER, Disc Brake Caliper , Removal»(ref-457773-S33358142482012030200000) .
  4. Remove the rotor.
  5. Remove the wheel speed sensor wire from the upper control arm.
  6. Remove the nut from upper ball joint (4). CAUTION: When installing Remover (special tool #9360, Remover, Ball Joint) (5) to separate the ball joint, be careful not to damage the ball joint seal.
  7. Separate upper ball joint (4) from the steering knuckle (6) with Ball Joint Remover (special tool #9360, Remover, Ball Joint) (5).
  8. Remove the control arm pivot bolts (3) and flag nuts (2) remove control arm (1).

Scheme 87

Scheme 87
Scheme 87
  1. Position the control arm (1) into the frame brackets. Install bolt (3) and nut (2), and tighten to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  2. Insert the ball joint in the steering knuckle (3) and tighten the upper ball joint nut (2) to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  3. Install the rotor to the hub.
  4. Install the disc brake caliper and adapter to the knuckle. Refer to «ADAPTER, Disc Brake Caliper , Installation»(ref-457773-S04718048592012030200000) .
  5. Install the wheel speed sensor wire to the upper control arm.
  6. Install the wheel and tire assembly. Refer to «Wheels , Standard Procedure»(ref-457774-S22159730232012030200000) .
  7. Remove the support and lower vehicle.
  8. Perform a wheel alignment. Refer to «Wheel Alignment , Standard Procedure»(ref-457771-S15548608852012030200000) .
  1. Raise and support the vehicle.
  2. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
  3. Remove the brake caliper and rotor. Refer to «ROTOR, Brake , Removal»(ref-457773-S05897377922012030200000) .
  4. Remove the ABS wheel speed sensor if equipped. Refer to «SENSOR, Wheel Speed, Front , Removal»(ref-457776-S19416339052012030200000) .
  5. Remove the halfshaft nut. NOTE: Do not strike the knuckle with a hammer to remove the tie rod end or the ball joint. Damage to the steering knuckle will occur.
  6. Remove the tie rod end nut and separate the tie rod from the knuckle using Ball Joint Remover (special tool #9360, Remover, Ball Joint).
  7. Remove the upper ball joint nut and separate the upper ball joint from the knuckle using Ball Joint Remover (special tool #9360, Remover, Ball Joint).
  8. Pull down on the steering knuckle to separate the halfshaft (2) from the hub/bearing.
  9. Remove the three hub/bearing mounting bolts (1) from the steering knuckle.
  10. Slide the hub/bearing out of the steering knuckle.
  11. Remove the brake dust shield.

Scheme 88

Scheme 88: 4X2
Scheme 88: 4X2
1 - HUB/BEARING
2 - DUST SHIELD
3 - STEERING KNUCKLE
4 - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRE
5 - HUB/BEARING MOUNTING BOLT
  1. Install the brake dust shield (2).
  2. Install the hub/bearing (1) into the steering knuckle (3) and tighten the bolts (5) to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  3. Install the brake rotor and caliper. Refer to «ROTOR, Brake , Installation»(ref-457773-S03930091312012030200000) .
  4. Install the ABS wheel speed sensor (4) if equipped. Refer to «SENSOR, Wheel Speed, Front , Installation»(ref-457776-S17244010282012030200000) .
  5. Install the wheel and tire assembly. Refer to «Wheels , Standard Procedure»(ref-457774-S22159730232012030200000) .
  6. Remove the support and lower vehicle.

Scheme 89

Scheme 89: 4X4
Scheme 89: 4X4
1 - HUB/BEARING
2 - DUST SHIELD
3 - STEERING KNUCKLE
4- WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRE
5 - HUB/BEARING MOUNTING BOLT
  1. Install the brake dust shield (2).
  2. Install the hub/bearing (1) into the steering knuckle (3) and tighten the bolts to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) . .
  3. Install the brake rotor and caliper. Refer to «ROTOR, Brake , Installation»(ref-457773-S03930091312012030200000) .
  4. Install the ABS wheel speed sensor if equipped. Refer to «SENSOR, Wheel Speed, Front , Installation»(ref-457776-S17244010282012030200000) .
  5. Install the upper ball joint nut to the steering knuckle and tighten to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  6. Install the tie rod end nut to the steering knuckle and tighten to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  7. Install the halfshaft nut and tighten to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  8. Install the wheel and tire assembly. Refer to «Wheels , Standard Procedure»(ref-457774-S22159730232012030200000) .
  9. Remove the support and lower vehicle.

Note. Upper shock nut must be replaced or use Mopar Lock 'N Seal or Loctite R 242 on existing nut.

  1. Install the lower retainer and grommet on the shock absorber stud. Insert the shock absorber through the frame bracket hole.
  2. Install the lower bolts and tighten the bolts to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  3. Install the upper grommet, retainer (2) and new nut or use Mopar Lock 'N Seal or Loctite R 242 on existing nut, on the shock absorber stud. Using Strut Nut Wrench (special tool #9362, Wrench, Strut Nut) (1), tighten nut to specifications. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-457771-S20789387792012030200000) .
  4. Remove the support from the lower control arm outboard end.
  5. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.