- Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
- Support the lower control arm with a jack.
- Remove the clip attaching the brake hose to the upper control arm and disconnect
the hose from the arm.
- Remove the cotter pin and nut from the upper ball joint stud. Using tool
49 0727 575 or equivalent, separate the upper ball joint from the knuckle.
- Install tool 49 0180 510B or equivalent to the ball joint stud and attach
a suitable pull scale to the stud.
- After rocking the ball joint stud back and forth 3–4 times, measure
the pull scale reading while the ball joint stud is rotating. The pull scale
reading should be 4.4–7.7 lbs.
- If the pull scale reading is not as specified, replace the upper ball joint.
- Raise the vehicle and position a jackstand under the I-beam axle beneath
the coil spring. Check and adjust the front wheel bearings.
- Have a helper grasp the lower edge of the tire and move the wheel assembly
in and out.
- While the wheel is being moved, observe the upper spindle arm and the upper
part of the axle jaw.
- One thirty-second inch (0.8mm) or greater movement between the upper part
of the axle jaw and the upper spindle arm indicates that the upper ball joint
must be replaced.
