Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Installation Procedure
- Install the lower control arm.
- Install the control arm bolts and nuts. Hand tighten only.
Important: Align the ball stud cotter pin hole parallel to the knuckle in order to ease the cotter pin installation.
- Install the ball stud to the knuckle.
- Install the ball stud castle nut.
Tighten Tighten the ball stud castle nut to 55 N.m (40 lb ft).
Important: Do not loosen the ball stud nut in order to align the ball stud nut slots to the ball stud cotter pin hole.
- If necessary, tighten the ball stud castle nut in order to align the ball stud castle nut slot (1) to the ball stud cotter pin hole (2) as shown.
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Important: Ensure that the cotter pin ends do not contact the ABS sensor connector or the drive axle.
- Install a new cotter pin and bend the ends as shown in either example.
- Install the stabilizer shaft link. Refer to STABILIZER SHAFT LINK REPLACEMENT .
- Install the wheel speed sensor harness to the lower control arm.
Important: This is a prevailing torque type fastener.
This fastener may be reused only if:
- The fastener and its counterpart are clean and free from rust
- The fastener develops 3 N.m (27 lb in) of torque (drag) against its counterpart prior to the fastener seating
If the fastener does not meet these criteria, REPLACE the fastener.
- Install the lower control arm nuts.
Tighten Tighten the lower control arm nuts to 104 N.m (77 lb ft).
- Install the tire and wheel.
- Lower the vehicle.
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.