Dodge Dakota (R1). Manual - part 188

wheel to adapt to different road surfaces indepen-
dently. The wheels are mounted to hub bearings on
the cast iron steering knuckle spindles. The double-
row hub bearings are sealed and lubricated for life.
The steering knuckles turn (pivot) on ball joints riv-
eted to the outboard portion of the suspension arms.
The ball joints are lubricated for life.

The 4x2 front suspension is comprised of (Fig. 1):

CAUTION: Components attached with a nut and cot-
ter pin must be torqued to specification. Then if the
slot in the nut does not line up with the cotter pin
hole, tighten nut until it is aligned. Never loosen the
nut to align the cotter pin hole.

CAUTION: Suspension components with rubber/ure-
thane bushings (except stabilizer bar) should be
tightened with the vehicle at normal ride height. It is
important to have the springs supporting the weight
of the vehicle when the fasteners are torqued. If
springs are not at their normal ride position, vehicle
ride comfort could be affected and premature bush-
ing wear may occur.

• Shock absorbers

• Coil springs

• Suspension arms

• Stabilizer bar

• Jounce/Rebound Bumpers

• Steering Knuckle

• Hub/Bearing

• Ball Joints

2 - 6

FRONT - 2WD

DESCRIPTION - SUSPENSION ARMS

The upper suspension arm bolts on frame brackets

through the arm pivot shaft. The frame brackets
have slotted holes which allow the arms to be
adjusted for caster and camber. Pivot shaft bushings
are not replaceable.

The lower suspension arms bolt to the lower frame

brackets and pivot through bushings, these bushings
are not replaceable.

The suspension arms have lube for life riveted ball

studs. The suspension arm travel (jounce) is limited
through the use of urethane bumpers. Rebound
travel is limited by the shock absorber.

SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE CHART

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

DESCRIPTION

N·m

Ft. Lbs.

In. Lbs.

Shock Absorber

Upper Nut

—

Shock Absorber

Lower Bolts

—

Lower Suspension Arm

Front Nut

175

130

—

Lower Suspension Arm

Rear Nut

108

—

Lower Suspension Arm

Ball Joint Nut

127

—

Upper Suspension Arm

Pivot Shaft Nuts

167

130

—

Upper Suspension Arm

Pivot Shaft to Frame Nuts

210

155

—

Upper Suspension Arm

Ball Joint Nut

—

Stabilizer Bar

Link Upper Nut

—

Stabilizer Bar

Link Ball Stud Nut

—

Stabilizer Bar

Retainer Bolts

—

Hub/Bearing

Spindle Nut

251

185

—

Fig. 1 Front Suspension - 4X2

1 - UPPER SUSPENSION ARM
2 - STEERING KNUCKLE
3 - COIL SPRING
4 - LOWER SUSPENSION ARM
5 - STABILIZER BAR

FRONT - 2WD

2 - 7

FRONT - 2WD (Continued)

SPECIAL TOOLS

FRONT SUSPENSION

BUSHINGS - CONTROL ARM

REMOVAL

(1) Remove the control arm from the vehicle,(Refer

to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/UPPER CONTROL
ARM - REMOVAL).

(2) Mount the control arm securely in a vise.
(3) Remove the nut and washer from the control

arm shaft.

(4) Install the bushing tool (Fig. 2).
(5) Press out the old bushings.

INSTALLATION

(1) Install the bushing in the control arm and

inserted over the shaft.

(2) Install the bushing tool (Fig. 3).

(3) Press the bushing into the control arm.
(4) Install the washer and nut to the control arm

shaft. Tighten the nut to 167 N·m (130 ft. lbs.).

(5) Remove the control arm from the vise.
(6) Install the control arm in the vehicle, (Refer to

2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/UPPER CONTROL ARM -
INSTALLATION).

Fig. 2 BUSHING REMOVAL

1 - 8441-1

2 - 8441-2
3 - 8441-3

Fig. 3 BUSHING INSTALLATION

1 - 8441-1
2 - 8441-4

Compressor, Coil Spring DD-1278

Remover Ball Joint MB-991113

Remover Ball Joint C-4150A

Puller Tie Rod C-3894-A

2 - 8

FRONT - 2WD

HUB / BEARING

REMOVAL

(1) Raise and support vehicle.
(2) Remove wheel and tire assembly.
(3) Remove brake caliper, rotor, and ABS wheel

speed sensor if equipped, (Refer to 5 - BRAKES/HY-
DRAULIC/MECHANICAL/ROTORS - REMOVAL).

(4) Remove hub/bearing spindle nut and discard

nut (Fig. 4).

CAUTION: The hub/bearing spindle nut can not be
re-used.

(5) Slide hub/bearing off spindle.

INSTALLATION

(1) Slide hub/bearing on spindle.
(2) Install new spindle nut and tighten to 251

N·m (185 ft. lbs.).

(3) Install brake rotor, caliper, and ABS wheel

speed sensor if equipped, (Refer to 5 - BRAKES/HY-
DRAULIC/MECHANICAL/ROTORS

INSTALLA-

TION).

(4) Install wheel and tire assembly. (Refer to 22 -

TIRES/WHEELS/WHEELS - STANDARD PROCE-
DURE).

(5) Remove support and lower vehicle.

KNUCKLE

DESCRIPTION

The knuckle is a single casting with legs machined

for the upper and lower ball joints. The knuckle also

has machined mounting locations for the front brake
calipers and hub bearing.

OPERATION

The steering knuckle pivot between the upper and

lower ball joint. Steering linkage attached to the
knuckle allows the vehicle to be steered.

REMOVAL

(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
(3) Remove disc brake caliper, rotor, shield and

ABS speed sensor, (Refer to 5 - BRAKES/HYDRAU-
LIC/MECHANICAL/ROTORS - REMOVAL).

(4) Remove tie-rod from steering knuckle arm,

(Refer to 19 - STEERING/LINKAGE/TIE ROD END -
REMOVAL).

(5) Remove the hub/bearing. (Refer to 2 - SUS-

PENSION/FRONT/HUB / BEARING - REMOVAL).

(6) Remove the shock absorber. (Refer to 2 - SUS-

PENSION/FRONT/SHOCK - REMOVAL).

(7) Install Spring Compressor DD-1278 up through

the lower suspension arm, coil spring and upper
shock mounting hole (Fig. 9).

(8) Tighten the tool lower nut to compress the coil

spring.

(9) Remove the lower ball joint nut and separate

the ball joint from the knuckle with Remover
C-4150A (Fig. 10).

(10) Remove the upper ball joint nut and separate

the ball joint from the knuckle with Remover
MB-991113 (Fig. 5).

CAUTION: When install Remover MB-991113 to sep-
arate the ball joint, be careful not to damage the
ball joint seal.

(11) Remove steering knuckle.

INSTALLATION

(1) Position steering knuckle on upper and lower

ball joints and install nuts. Tighten lower nut to 127
N·m (94 ft. lbs.). Tighten upper nut to 81 N·m (60 ft.
lbs.) and install new cotter pins.

(2) Remove the spring compressor.
(3) Install the shock absorber. (Refer to 2 - SUS-

PENSION/FRONT/SHOCK - INSTALLATION).

(4) Install the hub/bearing. (Refer to 2 - SUSPEN-

SION/FRONT/HUB / BEARING - INSTALLATION).

(5) Install ABS speed sensor, brake dust shield,

rotor and caliper, (Refer to 5 - BRAKES/HYDRAU-
LIC/MECHANICAL/ROTORS - INSTALLATION).

(6) Install tie rod to steering knuckle arm, (Refer

to 19 - STEERING/LINKAGE/TIE ROD END -
INSTALLATION).

Fig. 4 Hub/Bearing

1 - KNUCKLE
2 - HUB/BEARING
3 - SPINDLE NUT

FRONT - 2WD

2 - 9

Content .. 186 187 188 189 ..