GM 12475485
Upper Control Arm

Start the front upper Control Arm service and repair process only after you raise and stabilize the vehicle. Before starting work on the front upper Control Arm remove the tire and wheel and disconnect the real time damping (RTD) link rod from the sensor if present. Starting with the brake hose and wheel speed sensor bracket retaining bolts the service moves to the wheel drive shaft. For the upper Ball Joint repair start by removing its nut which then gets discarded. The j 43631 (Ball Joint Separator) allows disconnection of the upper Control Arm from the Steering Knuckle. Both the upper Control Arm nuts and adjustment cams must be removed from all models of the 15 series rwd, 15 series 4wd, and 25 series rwd while the upper Control Arm bolts need to be removed from each series. The installation order for the 25 series 4wd includes upper Control Arm bolts followed by upper Control Arm nuts and adjustment cams for the same series. Tighten both components to 190 nm (140 ft. Lbs.). The same procedure applies successively to 15 series rwd together with 4wd and 25 series rwd. Connect the upper Control Arm to the Steering Knuckle after reinstalling the wheel drive shaft and install a new nut on the upper Ball Joint stud. Tighten the nut to 100 nm (74 ft. Lbs.). Reinstall brake hose motor and wheel speed sensor retainers using 9 nm (80 inch lbs.) torque settings followed by connecting the rtd link rod to the sensor if the vehicle includes the system. After wheel reinstallation you must remove safety stands until the vehicle reaches the floor then perform a wheel alignment check.

Install the retaining bolt and nut to the axle bracket first, followed by the retaining bolt to the frame bracket.

Place the lower control arm back in position.

Remove the rear axle support, take away the safety stands, and lower the vehicle.

Remove the safety stands, lower the vehicle, and verify the wheel alignment.