Aftermarket December/January 2023

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023 AFTERMARKET 33 Remove the lower ball joint locking nut and then use a ball joint extractor tool to separate the ball joint from the hub carrier. Please refer to Fig. 1. “Then remove the rear lower vertical arm bolt that attaches the back of the arm to the subframe, followed by the remaining fixing bolt. On this vehicle it was the O/S lower track control arm that was being replaced, a process that’s a little more difficult than the N/S, as this final bolt will not pass the oil sump without having to raise the engine a little. Please refer to Fig.2 and Fig.2a. “To do this, release and remove the nut securing the engine mounting to the chassis mounting. Please refer to Fig.3. Support the engine with either a transmission jack or engine support in a suitable location that won’t damage the sump, and then raise the engine enough for the bolt to slide out and pass the engine’s sump. Once the bolt is removed, the old control arm is free to be detached and discarded, and while the engine is still supported, offer the new arm from the FAG steering and suspension kit into place and secure it by hand, using the new bolts that are supplied within this complete repair solution.” Mike went on: “After securing the fixing bolts, lower the transmission jack and re-secure the engine mounting, tightening it to the vehicle manufacturer’s specified torque value, but remember that, to prevent unnecessary strain on the new rubber bushes, the bolts that secure the suspension bushes should only be fully tightened when the suspension is in its working position. “Locate the ball joint into the hub carrier and, taking care not to pinch the protective boot, tighten the nut to hold it in position. Then refit the wheel and lower the ramp to the ground. “Once the vehicle is on the ground and the suspension is in its working position, fully tighten the lower control arm fixings and ball joint nut and torque to the VM specification. Finally, torque the wheel bolts to the VM specification. Please refer to Fig.4.” Mike concluded: “To ensure a complete and thorough repair, Schaeffler recommends that any vehicle that undergoes a steering or suspension component replacement should subsequently go through a wheel alignment check, to make sure its tracking is correct before being handed back to the owner.” For more information on Schaeffler products, fitting instructions, repair times and more, visit: www.repxpert.co.uk Fig.3 Fig.4 Fig.5