Removal
Unscrewing the nuts from the pivot bolts of the lower arm of the front suspension
1. Apply the handbrake, then raise the front of the car and secure it on stands. Remove the relevant front wheel.
2. Remove the screws and remove the engine splash shield from the bottom of the engine compartment.
3. Remove the nuts securing the stabilizer bar clamp to the front of the lower arm of the front suspension and remove the rubber cushion from the stabilizer.
4. Using a spring compressor, compress the spring so that it moves away from the upper mount. When using a spring compressor, make sure that the spring coils are securely gripped and compress the spring from opposite sides.
5. Use a jack to support the lower arm of the front suspension through a wooden block.
6. Remove the nut and clamp bolt securing the lower control arm ball joint pin to the steering knuckle. Carefully lower the lower control arm, removing the ball joint pin from the steering knuckle clamp until the coil spring can be removed from the support cup.
7. Using paint, mark the position of the eccentric washers of the pivot bolts that secure the lower control arm to the lower frame. This is necessary to set the lower control arm in its original position to maintain the camber and toe angles of the front wheels.
8. Unscrew the nuts securing the lower arm pivot bolts and remove the bolts and eccentric washers (see picture).
9. Remove the lower front suspension arm from under the vehicle.
Repair
1. Clean the lower arm of the front suspension from dirt and check its condition for cracks, deformation or mechanical damage. Pay special attention to the condition of the arm mounting bushings and the ball joint. If the bushings or the ball joint of the lower arm are subject to replacement, the replacement must be done in a specialized workshop, since this requires the use of a hydraulic press and special mandrels.
2. Check the condition of the lower arm ball joint boot for tears, cracks or deterioration and replace if necessary.
Installation
1. Install the lower control arm in place and install the front and rear pivot bolts with eccentric washers. Install the front pivot bolt at the rear of the vehicle and the rear pivot bolt at the front of the vehicle. Install the eccentric washers in the position they were in before removal. Thread new nuts onto the pivot bolts, but do not tighten them completely.
2. Check that the lower spring seat is clean, then install the upper spring seat onto the spring and install the spring and upper seat into place.
3. Rotate the coil spring so that its lower end is correctly positioned in the lower spring seat. Position the upper spring seat under the mount and carefully lift the lower front suspension arm while aligning the ball joint pin with the steering knuckle bore.
4. Check that the spring is positioned correctly, then insert the clamp bolt that secures the ball joint journal to the steering knuckle. Screw a new nut onto the clamp bolt and tighten it to the specified torque. To prevent corrosion, fill the gap between the ball joint journal clamp and the steering knuckle with sealant.
5. Install the rubber cushion onto the anti-roll bar, install it onto the lower arm, then install the mounting clamp and screw in the new bolts, tightening them to the required torque.
6. Remove the jack from under the lower control arm of the front suspension, then remove the spring compressor from the coil spring. Check that the ends of the spring are positioned correctly.
7. Install the wheel, then lower the vehicle to the ground and tighten the wheel bolts to the specified torque.
8. Rock the vehicle to properly seat the front lower control arm.
9. Check that the eccentric washers of the lower arm pivot bolts are installed in accordance with the marks made earlier, and tighten the pivot bolt nuts to the specified torque.