SUSPENSION - FRONT Pontiac Bonneville DESCRIPTION ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION SUSPENSION Front - "H" Body GM

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1 SUSPENSION - FRONT 1998 Pontiac Bonneville SUSPENSION Front - "H" Body GM Bonneville, Eighty Eight, LeSabre, LSS DESCRIPTION Suspension uses combined strut and coil spring assemblies. Lower control arms pivot on bushings at the frame (engine cradle). See Fig. 1. Upper end of strut rotates on a bearing. Lower end of strut is attached to the steering knuckle. Steering knuckle pivots on a ball joint on the lower control arm. Fig. 1: Exploded View Of Front Suspension Components ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION

2 WHEEL ALIGNMENT See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL BEARING Bearing Looseness Check 1) Remove wheel and caliper assembly. Use 2 wheel lug nuts to secure disc to hub. Mount dial indicator support to lower steering knuckle ball joint or to lower control arm. 2) Position dial indicator plunger onto outer lip of hub (not onto disc surface). Grasp disc outer edges and using a push-pull movement, note dial indicator readings. If looseness exceeds.005" (. 127 mm), replace complete hub assembly. Hub and bearing assembly is sealed and requires no maintenance or adjustment. Replace as a complete assembly. RIDE HEIGHT See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in BALL JOINT CHECKING Inspect ball joint seals for cracks or tears. Replace ball joint if seal is damaged. Grasp tire at top and bottom. Moving tire inward and outward, note horizontal movement of ball joint. Replace ball joint if any horizontal movement exists. 2) Ball joint stud tightness in steering knuckle boss should be checked by shaking wheel and looking for looseness at stud end or at castle nut. When ball joint is disconnected from steering knuckle, check ball joint free play by using finger pressure to spin ball joint stud in its socket. If stud spins in socket, replace ball joint. REMOVAL & INSTALLATION BALL JOINT CAUTION: When servicing suspension, place shop towels underneath outer joint to protect boot from damage. DO NOT overextend inner tripot joint, or internal parts may separate. Remove wheel. Remove cotter pin and castle nut that secures ball joint stud to steering knuckle. Use Ball Joint Separator (J-36226) to separate ball joint stud from steering knuckle. If ball joint cannot be removed because axle shaft is in the way, remove axle shaft nut (hub nut). Using Front Hub Spindle Remover (J-28733), press end of axle shaft through hub until enough clearance exists to allow ball joint to be removed. 2) Drill out rivets securing ball joint to lower control arm. DO NOT puncture axle shaft boot. Disconnect stabilizer bar from lower control arm. See STABILIZER BAR. Remove ball joint.

3 1) Install ball joint, ensuring bolts are facing downward. Tighten bolts. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Engage ball joint stud into steering knuckle. 2) Install castle nut and NEW cotter pin. 3) To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Check wheel alignment. See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in HUB & BEARING ASSEMBLY Hub and bearing are not serviceable separately. Remove wheel. Leaving brakeline connected, remove disc brake caliper, and wire aside. Remove rotor. Remove axle shaft nut and washer. See Figs. 1 and 2. 2) Mark hub and bearing assembly in relation to steering knuckle for installation reference. Remove bolts securing hub and bearing assembly to steering knuckle. Remove splash shield. Using Front Hub Spindle Remover (J A), press axle shaft toward engine. 3) Remove hub and bearing assembly. 1) Lightly grease steering knuckle bore where hub and bearing assembly is to be installed. Remove protective plastic cover from new hub and bearing assembly (if equipped). 2) Install hub and bearing assembly, aligning reference marks made during removal. Tighten hub and bearing assembly bolts. Install and tighten NEW axle shaft nut. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Install splash shield. To install remaining components, reverse removal procedure. Fig. 2: Exploded View Of Hub & Bearing Assembly LOWER CONTROL ARM

4 Raise and support vehicle. Allow suspension to hang free. Remove wheel. Disconnect stabilizer bar from lower control arm. Separate ball joint from lower control arm. See BALL JOINT. Remove lower control arm bolts. Remove lower control arm. Tighten lower control arm bolts with vehicle weight on lower control arms. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Check wheel alignment. See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS & 1) Remove lower control arm. See LOWER CONTROL ARM. On vehicles with bushing mounted on frame, remove and install bushing as illustrated, ensuring bushing is fully seated. See Fig. 3. 2) On vehicles with bushing mounted on lower control arm, use a hammer and punch to tap down flare on lip of bushing. Remove bushing. Install new bushing. To retain new bushing, tighten nut on flare tool to obtain a 45-degree flare on bushing See Fig. 4. Ensure bushing is secure in lower control arm. Fig. 3: Replacing Lower Control Arm Bushings (Frame-Mounted Bushings)

5 Fig. 4: Flaring Lower Control Arm Bushing STABILIZER BAR Remove wheels. Disconnect stabilizer bar from lower control arms. Remove stabilizer bar mounting brackets. 2) Remove tie rod end nuts. Disconnect tie rod ends. Disconnect exhaust pipe from exhaust manifold. Turn passenger-side strut assembly completely to right. Slide stabilizer bar over steering knuckle and remove from frame. Inspect and replace all rubber bushings showing signs of wear, damage or deterioration. 1) Set stabilizer bar in position. Loosely install stabilizer bar mounting brackets, ensuring split in insulator bushing is toward front of vehicle. Loosely install stabilizer bar at lower control arms. Connect tie rod ends. 2) Tighten stabilizer bar mounting brackets bolts. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Tighten stabilizer bar ends at lower control arms. Tighten tie rod end nuts. Install NEW cotter pins. To install remaining components, reverse removal procedure. STEERING KNUCKLE 1) Remove hub and bearing assembly. See HUB & BEARING ASSEMBLY. Disconnect stabilizer bar from lower control arm. See Fig. 1. Remove tie rod end nut. Disconnect tie rod end. 2) Separate ball joint from steering knuckle. See BALL JOINT. Mark strut in relation to steering knuckle. Remove bolts securing strut to steering knuckle. Remove steering knuckle. 1) Install NEW grease seal into steering knuckle. Lubricate seal lips. Set steering knuckle in place. Install steering knuckle

6 onto strut assembly, but do not tighten bolts. Install steering knuckle onto ball joint stud. Tighten ball joint stud nut. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. 2) Install hub and bearing assembly. At steering knuckle and strut assembly, align reference marks made during removal. To install remaining components, reverse removal procedure. Check wheel alignment. See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in STRUT ASSEMBLY WARNING: DO NOT remove nut from top of strut rod unless coil spring has been compressed. Coil spring is under extreme pressure. If nut is removed without first compressing spring, coil spring will violently decompress, possibly resulting in severe personal injury. 1) Locate strut housing tie bar that runs between strut towers. Loosen through-bolts on ends of tie bar. Disconnect strut electrical connector (if equipped). Remove nuts securing upper strut to body mount (DO NOT remove nut on end of strut rod). CAUTION: After separating strut from steering knuckle, support steering knuckle in upright position to prevent damage to components. DO NOT overextend axle shaft CV joints. DO NOT chip or crack coil spring coating. Coil spring may fail if coating is damaged. 2) Raise and support vehicle, allowing suspension to hang free. Remove wheel. Disconnect ABS wheel speed sensor connector (if equipped). Remove brakeline bracket from strut. Disconnect tie rod end (if necessary). Mark strut in relation to steering knuckle (if reusing strut). Remove strut bolts. Remove strut. Disassembly Wear safety goggles. Slightly compress strut spring in a spring compressor. While using a socket to prevent strut rod from turning, remove nut from top of strut rod. Loosen spring compressor, and disassemble strut assembly. Reassembly To reassemble, reverse disassembly procedure. Ensure flat on upper spring seat faces strut mounting flange. See Fig. 5. Ensure bearing is installed into recess of upper spring seat before fully assembling. Tighten strut rod nut. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. To install, reverse removal procedure. If installing old strut assembly, align marks made during removal. Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS table. Check wheel alignment. See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT section. Fig. 5: Orienting Spring Seat Flat

7 TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS Application Ft. Lbs. (N.m) Axle Shaft Nut (145) Ball Joint-To-Control Arm Bolt/Nut (68) Brake Caliper Bolt (52) Hub & Bearing Assembly Bolt (95) Lower Control Arm-To-Frame Bolt Front (190) Rear (123) Stabilizer Bar To Control Arm (Nut) (18) To Crossmember (Bolt) (47) Strut Assembly To Steering Knuckle (Bolt) (190) To Upper Body Mount (Nut) (24) Rod (Shaft) Nut (75) Tie Bar Through-Bolts (37) Tie Rod End Nut... (1) 35 (47) Wheel Lug Nut (136) INCH Lbs. Ball Joint-To-Steering Knuckle Nut... (2) 88 (10) (1) - Tighten nut to specification, then tighten nut further only as far as necessary to align cotter pin hole. (2) - Tighten an additional 2 flats to 41 ft. lbs. (56 N.m) minimum, then tighten nut further only as far as necessary to align cotter pin hole.