Note: A new ball joint nut will be required for installation.
Internal hinge
Removing
1. Apply the parking brake and place wedges under the rear wheels. Raise the front of the car with a jack and place it on stands (see "Lifting the vehicle and placing it on stands").
2. Clean the inner end of the tie rod and loosen the ball joint clamp bolt. Mark the tie rod and measure the distance from the mark to the center of the ball joint. Record this measurement as it will be needed to ensure wheel alignment when installing the pivot.
3. Loosen and remove pivot nut and disconnect intermediate arm/bipod pivot (whatever is required). If necessary, separate the tapered pivot pin using a universal puller.
4. Count the exact number of turns needed to unscrew the ball joint from the tie rod end.
5. Thoroughly clean the ball joint and threads. Replace the ball joint if it is stuck, worn or damaged. Carefully check the condition of the taper surface of the pin and the thread.
Installation
6. Screw the ball joint onto the tie rod the number of turns required for removal. This should ensure that the hinge is at an appropriate distance from the mark that was made prior to removal.
7. Install the ball joint pin on the intermediate arm / bipod, then install a new mounting nut and tighten it to the required torque.
8. Torque tighten the ball joint clamp bolt and lower the vehicle to the ground.
9. Check and, if necessary, adjust the front wheel toe setting as described in paragraph 31.
External hinge
Removing
10. Apply the parking brake and place wedges under the rear wheels. Raise the front of the car with a jack and place it on stands (see "Lifting the vehicle and placing it on stands"). Remove the relevant wheel.
11. Clean the tie rod ends and loosen the jam nut and ball joint clamp. Mark the tie rod and measure the distance from the mark to the center of the ball joint. Record this measurement as it will be needed to ensure wheel alignment when installing the pivot.
12. Loosen and remove the pivot nut and disconnect the pivot from the steering knuckle. If necessary, separate the tapered hinge pin using a universal puller (see fig. 29.12).
Pic. 29.12. Using a ball joint remover, disconnect the tie rod from the steering knuckle
13. Count the exact number of turns needed to unscrew the ball joint from the tie rod end.
14. Thoroughly clean the ball joint and threads. Replace the ball joint if it is stuck, worn or damaged. Carefully check the condition of the taper surface of the pin and the thread.
Installation
15. If necessary, transfer the locknut to the new tie rod ball joint.
16. Screw the spherical joint onto the tie rod by the number of revolutions that was during removal. This should ensure that the hinge is at an appropriate distance from the mark that was made prior to removal.
17. Install the ball joint pin on the steering knuckle, then install a new fastening nut and tighten it with the required force (see fig. 29.17).
Pic. 29.17. When installing, screw on a new fastening nut and tighten it with the required force
18. Install the wheel and lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the wheel bolts to the required torque.
19. Check and, if necessary, adjust the front wheel toe setting as described in paragraph 31. Then tighten the clamping ring to the required torque and tighten the locknut securely.