Page 1 of 9 ARTICLE BEGINNING DESCRIPTION Front suspension uses coil springs with integral shock absorbers. Coil springs are mounted between the upper control arms and vehicle frame. A stabilizer bar controls roll. ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES NOTE: See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT. BALL JOINT CHECKING 4. Inspect ball joints for wear. Raise and support front of vehicle. Allow suspension to hang freely. Set front wheels to straight-ahead position. Press brake pedal. Remove front wheel and install hub nuts to disc. Measure upper lower ball joint vertical play. Replace ball joint if vertical movement exceeds 0.020" (.50 mm). Measure rotating torque of ball joint with joint removed from vehicle. Flip joint stud back and forth 5 times. Install ball joint stud nut. Using INCH-lbs. torque wrench, rotate ball joint stud continuously one revolution per 2-4 seconds while measuring rotating torque. Replace ball joint if rotating torque exceeds specification. See BALL JOINT ROTATING TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. BALL JOINT ROTATING TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS Application INCH Lbs. (N.m) Lower Ball Joint 1-22 (.10-5) Upper Ball Joint 6-39 (.70-4.5) RIDING HEIGHT Riding height will differ, depending on model and vehicle tire size. Loaded and unloaded vehicle ride heights are adjusted for individual vehicles. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT. REMOVAL & INSTALLATION BALL JOINTS Removal & Installation
Page 2 of 9 Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Loosen 4 lower ball joint set bolts. DO NOT remove bolts. Remove cotter pin and nut from tie rod end and lower ball joint. Disconnect tie rod end from lower ball joint. Disconnect lower ball joint from lower control arm. Remove 4 lower ball joint set bolts. While lifting upper control arm and steering knuckle, remove lower ball joint. To remove upper ball joint, remove steering knuckle with axle hub. See STEERING KNUCKLE. Remove wire and boot. Using snap ring expander, remove snap ring. Remove upper ball joint from upper control arm. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten all nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. Check wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT. LOWER CONTROL ARM Removal Raise and support vehicle. Remove front wheels. Remove cotter pin and nut. Disconnect right and left tie rod ends from lower ball joint. Remove power steering gear set bolts and nuts. Remove nut, and disconnect stabilizer bar link from lower control arm. Disconnect shock absorber from lower control arm. Remove cotter pin and nut. Disconnect lower ball joint from lower control arm. Mark front and rear cam plates and chassis frame for installation reference. Remove 2 cam plates, bolts and adjuster cams. See Fig. 1. Shift power steering gear rearward, and remove lower control arm.
Page 3 of 9
Page 4 of 9 Fig. 1: Exploded View Of Lower Control Arm Courtesy of TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. Bushing Replacement Using a chisel and hammer, pry up flange of bushing. Using Split Clamp Plate (09613-26010) and press, press out bushing from lower control arms. Press in new bushings with adapter. DO NOT apply grease or oil to bushings. Installation Shift power steering gear rearward, and install lower control arm with 2 cams, bolts and cam plates. Align reference marks and torque bolts. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. Reconnect lower ball joint to lower suspension arm. Install nut and NEW cotter pin. Reconnect shock absorber and stabilizer bar link to lower control arm. Install power steering gear. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. See Fig. 2. Reconnect right and left tie rod ends to lower ball joint with nuts and new cotter pins.
Page 5 of 9 Fig. 2: Location Of Power Steering Gear Mounting Bolts & Nuts Courtesy of TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. 4. Install wheels. Tighten all remaining nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. Lower vehicle. Check front wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT. SHOCK ABSORBER Removal & Installation Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove nuts and washer retaining shock absorber to bracket. DO NOT remove bolt. Remove nuts, shock absorber and coil spring. To install, reverse removal procedure. STABILIZER BAR Removal Raise and support vehicle. Remove 2 nuts and disconnect stabilizer bar links from lower control arms. Remove bolts, nuts and stabilizer bar with cushions and brackets. Remove stabilizer bar link, 2 retainers and bushings from stabilizer bar. Inspection Inspect bushings for wear, and replace as necessary. Installation To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten stabilizer-to-lower control arm nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. HUB & KNUCKLE Removal 4. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove grease cap. On 4WD models, disconnect drive shaft. Remove cotter pin and lock cap. While depressing brakes, remove lock nut. On models with ABS, remove 2 bolts, and disconnect ABS speed sensor and harness clamp from steering knuckle. On all models, remove brake caliper and disc. Remove shock absorber. See SHOCK ABSORBER. Remove bolts and disconnect lower ball joint. Remove cotter pin and loosen nut. Disconnect and remove steering knuckle. Installation
Page 6 of 9 4. On 4WD models, install drive shaft into axle hub and temporarily tighten nut. Connect steering knuckle to upper control arm. Install nut and new cotter pin. On all models, connect lower ball joint to steering knuckle with 4 bolts. Install shock absorber. See SHOCK ABSORBER. Install disc, brake caliper and 2 bolts. Install brake line clamp to steering knuckle with bolt. On models with ABS, connect speed sensor and wire harness clamp to steering knuckle. Install bolts. Install drive shaft lock nut. Install lock cap and new cotter pin. Install grease cap and front wheel. Depress brake pedal several times. Tighten all nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. Check wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT. UPPER CONTROL ARM Removal Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove shock absorber with coil spring. See SHOCK ABSORBER. On models with ABS, remove speed sensor and wire harness clamp from steering knuckle and upper control arm. On all models, remove cotter pin, loosen nut and disconnect upper ball joint. Support steering knuckle, and set aside. Remove 4 clips and fender apron seal. See Fig. 3. Disengage 2 brake lines and fuel line. Remove nut and brake line clamp. Remove nut, bolt, 2 washers and upper control arm.
Page 7 of 9
Page 8 of 9 Fig. 3: Exploded View Of Upper Control Arm Courtesy of TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. Bushing Replacement Using a chisel and hammer, pry up flange of bushing. Using Split Clamp (09613-26011) and press, remove bushing. Press in new rear bushing. Installation To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten all nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS Application Ft. Lbs. (N.m) Adjusting Cam Bolts 96 (130) Brake Line Clamp-To-Knuckle Arm Bolt 21 (28) Disc Brake Caliper 90 (123) Drive Shaft Lock Nut 173 (235) Lower Ball Joint-To-Lower Control Arm Nut 103 (140) Lower Ball Joint-To-Steering Knuckle Bolts 59 (80) Lower Control Arm-To-Frame Bolts 96 (130) Power Steering Gear Bolts/Nuts "A" Bolt 122 (165) "B" Nut 96 (130) "C" Bolt & Nut 122 (165) Shock Absorber-To-Frame Nuts 47 (64) Shock Absorber-To-Lower Control Arm Bolt/Nut 100 (135) Stabilizer Bar Link Nuts 14 (19) Stabilizer Bar-To-Lower Control Arm Nuts 51 (69) Steering Knuckle-To-Upper Control Arm Bolt 77 (105) Tie Rod End Lock Nuts 41 (55) Tie Rod Ends-To-Lower Ball Joint Nuts 67 (91) Upper Ball Joint-To-Upper Control Arm Nut 77 (105) Upper Control Arm-To-Frame Nut 72 (98) Wheel Lug Nut 81 (110) INCH Lbs. (N.m) ABS Speed Sensor Wire Harness 71 (8) Brake & Fuel Line Clamp 49 (5.5)
Page 9 of 9 2008 Mitchell Repair Information Co., LLC.