Page 16
Section B
Contents
Routine maintenance
Operation 1 Front suspension assembly - removal and
replacement
Operation 2 Anti-Roll bar - Removal and replacement
Operation 3 Damper and spring assembly - removal and
replacement
Operation 4 Upper ball joint - removal and replacement
Operation 5 Lower ball joint and pivot bracket - removal
and replacement
Operation 6 Upper wishbone - bush replacement
Operation 7 Lower wishbone and strut - bush replacement
Operation 8 Vertical link - removal and replacement
Operation 9 Front hub - overhaul
Operation 10 Hub bearing adjustment
Description
The independent front suspension comprises upper and lower
wishbone assemblies and vertical links assisted by coil spring and
damper units.
The upper wishbones are attached to a ball joint on the vertical link
and secured and pivoted to the vehicle chassis suspension tower.
The lower wishbone assembly, secured to a lower ball joint on the
vertical link, supports the coil spring and damper unit. Two brackets
bolted to the chassis support the wishbones, which are also pivoted.
Routine maintenance
The front suspension should need little or no maintenance other than
the lubrication of the upper wishbone ball joint and the lower
wishbone ball joint and at major services the re-packing of the front
wheel bearing.
Lubricating nipples are situated at the upper wishbone ball joint
(figure 2) and at the lower fulcrum ball joint (figure 3). Apply three or
four strokes of a grease gun every 6,000 miles (10,000 km).
The front wheel bearings are lubricated by means of grease packed in
the hub on assembly. Repacking of front wheel bearings should be
carried out every 36,000 miles (60,000 km).
Operation 1 Front suspension assembly - removal and
replacement
To remove (figure 1)
1. Place vehicle on a ramp or support on chassis stands.
2. Remove nave plate and road wheel.
3. Remove brake drum.
Front Suspension
4. Remove the damper bottom fixing nut and withdraw bolt
from damper bush.
5. From inside the engine compartment, remove the damper
top fixings, comprising nut and locknut, rubber spacer and two
retaining cups.
Note: Access to the fixing on the r/h side of the vehicle can be
facilitated by the removal of the heater flexible hose.
6. Remove the bottom wishbone to pivot bracket fixings to
facilitate removal of the damper assembly.
7. Withdraw the damper assembly.
8. Remove track rod end nut and using a splitter separate the
track rod end from the steering arm.
9. Disconnect the hydraulic brake flexible hose from the
bundy pipe at the support bracket and plug to prevent fluid leakage or
dirt ingress.
10. Remove the two nuts securing the top wishbone pivot
brackets to the frame.
11. Remove the nut, cup washer and rubber spacer securing
the anti-roll bar link to the lower wishbone.
12. Remove the bolt, nut and spacer tube securing the strut to
the lower wishbone.
13. Remove the nut and bolt securing the nut to the frame.
14. Remove the nut and bolt securing the lower wishbone
assembly to the frame.
15. Repeat the procedure for the opposite suspension unit.
To replace
Replace in the reverse order and bleed the brake hydraulics. Check
camber and tracking (Section D)
Operation 2 Anti-Roll bar - Removal and replacement
To remove
1. Place vehicle on ramp, or support on suitable chassis
stands.
2. Remove the nut, cup washer and rubber spacer from the
link stud on the left hand wishbone.
3. remove the two bolts securing the anti-roll clamping rubber
bar to the left-hand chassis rail.
4. Repeat operations 3 and 3 for the right-hand side. (figure 4)
5. The anti-roll bar complete with links can be lowered from
the frame, withdrawing the link bushes from the lower wishbones.
Replace in reverse order.
Operation 3 Damper and spring assembly - removal and
replacement
To remove (figure 1)
1. Place vehicle on ramp, or support on suitable chassis
stands.
2. Remove road wheel.
3. From inside the engine compartment, remove the damper
top fixings, comprising nut and locknut, rubber spacer and two
retaining cups.
Note: Access to the fixing on the r/h side of the vehicle can be
facilitated by the removal of the heater flexible hose.
4. remove damper bottom fixing nut and spacer and withdraw
the bolt from the bush.
5. Remove the bottom wishbone to pivot bracket fixings to
facilitate removal of the damper assembly.
Replace in reverse order and check camber and tracking (section D).
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