GM 22156500
Ball Joints, Front Lower

Start your repair work on the lower Ball Joint by lifting up the vehicle while keeping it stable and taking out the tire and wheel. Set a floor jack under the lower Control Arm then uninstall and discard the lower Control Arm cotter pin before removing the lower Control Arm nut. Setting up the floor jack at the shock absorber base controls how the lower Control Arm and spring stay in position. After positioning the j 39549 Ball Joint/tie rod separator between the lower Ball Joint and Steering Knuckle you can press the lower Ball Joint out of the lower Control Arm with j 9519-7, j 9519-18, and j 9519-23 tools. Install the fresh lower Ball Joint into the Control Arm opening then use tools j 9519-18 and j 9519-23 to push the joint in completely through the lower Control Arm. Replace the lower Control Arm when the Ball Joint cannot fit properly into its housing. Place the installed Ball Joint onto the Steering Knuckle before screwing on the lower Control Arm nut which needs to be tightened to 110 nm or 81 ft. Lbs. Keeping the Control Arm nut tight prevents over-tightening; instead, turn the nut a small 1/6 turn to align the cotter pin slot. Put on the new Control Arm cotter pin and take the floor jack away below the arm before reinstalling the tire and wheel and inspecting wheel alignment after lowering the vehicle.

Place a floor jack under the shock absorber mounting location on the lower control arm, remove and discard the upper control arm cotter pin, and then remove the upper control arm nut.

Install a new upper control arm cotter pin, remove the floor jack from under the shock absorber seat, install the tire and wheel, and lower the vehicle.

Support the steering knuckle with a floor jack.