Chrysler Stratus Convertible. Manual — part 55

(9) Remove the bolts (Fig. 49) attaching the one

stabilizer bar bushing clamp to the front suspension
crossmember and the body of the vehicle.

(10) Lower the one side of the stabilizer bar away

from the lower control arm and body of vehicle.

(11) Remove the nut and bolt (Fig. 50) attaching

the rear of the lower control arm to the front suspen-
sion crossmember.

(12) Remove nut and bolt attaching the front of

the lower control arm to the front suspension cross-
member (Fig. 51).

CAUTION: When removing lower control arm from
crossmember care must be taken to prevent hitting
lower ball joint seal against steering knuckle, caus-
ing damage to the ball joint seal.

(13) Remove the front of the lower control arm

from the front suspension crossmember first.

(14) Then, remove the rear of the lower control

arm from the front suspension crossmember. When
removing rear of lower control arm from crossmem-
ber, keep control arm as level as possible. This will
keep rear bushing from binding on crossmember
making it easier to remove control arm from cross-
member.

INSTALLATION

(1) Position rear of lower control arm into front

suspension crossmember first. Then install front of
lower control arm in front suspension crossmember.
Install bolts and nuts (Fig. 51) and (Fig. 50) attach-
ing the front and rear of lower control arm to front
suspension crossmember. Do not tighten front
attaching bolt at this time.

(2) Tighten lower control arm rear attaching nut

and bolt (Fig. 50) to a torque of 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.).

(3) Install the lower control arm ball joint stud

into

the

steering

knuckle.

Install

the

steering

knuckle to ball joint stud castle nut (Fig. 45).

(4) Install the tie rod end into the steering

knuckle. Start the tie rod end to steering knuckle
attaching nut onto stud of tie rod end. While holding
stud of tie rod end stationary, tighten tie rod end to
steering knuckle attaching nut (Fig. 43). Then using

Fig. 49 Stabilizer Bar Bushing Clamp Attachment To

Vehicle

1 – STABILIZER BAR BUSHING CLAMP
2 – FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER
3 – ATTACHING BOLTS
4 – STABILIZER BAR
5 – VEHICLE BODY

Fig. 50 Lower Control Arm Attachment To Front

Suspension Crossmember

1 – FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER
2 – LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLT AND NUT
3 – LOWER CONTROL ARM

Fig. 51 Attaching Front Of Lower Control Arm To

Suspension Crossmember

1 – ATTACHING BOLT AND NUT
2 – SHOCK CLEVIS
3 – STABILIZER BAR
4 – LOWER CONTROL ARM
5 – FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER

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SUSPENSION

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REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

a crowfoot and 11/32 socket tighten the attaching nut
to a torque of 61 N·m (45 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 52).

(5) Tighten the lower control arm ball joint stud

castle nut (Fig. 45) to a torque of 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.).
Install the cotter pin (Fig. 45) in the ball joint stud.

(6) Position sway bar link into its lower control

arm mounting hole.

(7) Align sway bar bushing clamp with mounting

holes in front suspension crossmember and body of
vehicle. Then install and securely tighten the bush-
ing clamp mounting bolts (Fig. 49) to a torque of 61
N·m (45 ft. lbs.).

(8) Install and securely tighten the stabilizer bar

link to lower control arm attaching nut to a torque of
102 N·m (75 ft. lbs.). When tightening and torquing
attaching nut, hold stud of attaching link from turn-
ing with an allen wrench (Fig. 48).

(9) Install the clevis on the lower control arm.

Loosely install the clevis to bushing thru-bolt (Fig.
47).

CAUTION: When supporting lower control arm with
jack stand, do not position jack stand under the ball
joint cap on the lower control arm. Position in area
of lower control arm shown in (Fig. 53).

(10) Lower vehicle to the ground with a jack stand

positioned under the lower control arm (Fig. 53).
Continue to lower vehicle so the total weight of the
vehicle is supported by the jack stand and lower con-
trol arm.

CAUTION: When tightening the thru-bolt do not
turn the bolt in the clevis. The serrations on the
bolt and the hole in the clevis will be damaged.

(11)

With the vehicle’s suspension at curb

height, tighten the clevis to lower control arm bush-
ing thru-bolt nut (Fig. 47) to a torque of 88 N·m (65
ft. lbs.).

(12) Tighten front lower control arm nut and bolt

(Fig. 51) to a torque of 182 N·m (135 ft. lbs.).

(13) Install wheel and tire assembly.
(14) Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in

proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half
specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to
the full specified torque of 135 N·m (100 ft. lbs.).

(15) Remove jack stand from under lower control

arm and lower vehicle to the ground.

(16) Check the vehicles alignment specifications

and set front Toe to preferred specifications.

STABILIZER BAR (FRONT)

REMOVAL

(1) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a

frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual, for
the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.

(2) Remove nuts and stabilizer bar attaching link

assemblies from the front lower control arms (Fig.
54). When removing attaching link nut, keep stud
from turning by installing an allen wrench in the end
of the stud (Fig. 54).

Fig. 52 Torquing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut

1 – HEAT SHIELD
2 – TIE ROD END
3 – STEERING KNUCKLE
4 – TORQUE WRENCH
5 – 11/32 SOCKET
6 – CROWFOOT

Fig. 53 Supporting Lower Control Arm With Jack

Stand

1 – SHOCK ABSORBER CLEVIS
2 – LOWER CONTROL ARM
3 – BALL JOINT CAP

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SUSPENSION

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REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(3) Remove the 4 bolts attaching the stabilizer bar

bushing retainers to the front suspension crossmem-
ber and body (Fig. 55). Then remove the stabilizer
bar assembly from the vehicle.

STABILIZER BAR INSPECTION

Inspect for broken or distorted stabilizer bar bush-

ings, clamps and attaching links. If stabilizer bar to
front crossmember bushing replacement is required,
bushing can be removed using the stabilizer bar

bushing removal procedure in the Disassembly And
Assembly section in this group of the service manual.

If inspection determines that replacement of a sta-

bilizer bar to lower control arm attachment link is
required, replace the link before installing stabilizer
bar.

INSTALLATION

(1) Position stabilizer bar and bushings as an

assembly into front crossmember. Install the stabi-
lizer bar bushing retainer to crossmember and body
attaching bolts (Fig. 55).

(2) Tighten the bushing retainer attaching bolts to

a torque of 61 N·m (45 ft. lbs.).

(3) Align stabilizer bar attaching link assemblies

with attaching link mounting holes in the lower con-
trol arms. Install stabilizer bar attaching links into
both lower control arms. Install the attaching link to
lower control arm retaining nuts. Torque the stabi-
lizer bar attaching link nuts to 101 N·m (75 ft. lbs.).

WHEEL MOUNTING STUDS (FRONT)

CAUTION: If a wheel mounting stud needs to be
replaced in the hub and bearing assembly, DO NOT
hammer the studs out of the hub flange. If a stud is
removed by hammering it out of the bearing flange,
damage to the hub and bearing assembly will occur
leading to premature bearing failure.

REMOVAL

(1) Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a

frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubri-
cation and Maintenance section of this manual, for
the required lifting procedure to be used for this
vehicle.

(2) Remove the front wheel and tire assembly from

the vehicle.

(3) Remove front disc brake caliper to steering

knuckle attaching bolts (Fig. 56).

(4) Remove disc brake caliper assembly from steer-

ing knuckle. Caliper is removed by first lifting bot-
tom of caliper away from steering knuckle, and then
removing top of caliper out from under steering
knuckle (Fig. 57).

(5) Support brake caliper/adapter assembly using a

wire hook and not by hydraulic hose (Fig. 58).

(6) Remove braking disc from front hub (Fig. 59).
(7) Install a lug nut on wheel stud to be removed

from hub and bearing assembly, (Fig. 60) so threads
on stud are even with end of lug nut. Rotate hub so
stud requiring removal is aligned with notch cast
into front of steering knuckle. Install Remover, Spe-
cial Tool C-4150 on hub and bearing assembly flange
and wheel stud (Fig. 60).

Fig. 54 Stabilizer Bar Attaching Link Nut Removal

1 – ALLEN WRENCH
2 – LOWER CONTROL ARM
3 – WRENCH
4 – STABILIZER BAR LINK ASSEMBLY

Fig. 55 Stabilizer Bar Bushing Retainer Attaching

Bolts

1 – STABILIZER BAR BUSHING CLAMP
2 – FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER
3 – ATTACHING BOLTS
4 – STABILIZER BAR
5 – VEHICLE BODY

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SUSPENSION

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REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(8) Tighten down on special tool, this will push the

wheel stud out of the hub and bearing flange.

INSTALLATION

(1) Install replacement wheel stud into flange of

hub and bearing assembly. Install washers on wheel
stud, then install a wheel lug nut on stud with flat
side of lug nut against washers (Fig. 61).

(2) Tighten the wheel lug nut, pulling the wheel

stud into the flange of the hub and bearing assembly.

When the head of the stud is fully seated against the
bearing flange, remove lug nut and washers from
wheel stud.

(3) Install braking disk back on front hub (Fig.

59).

(4) Install disc brake caliper assembly on steering

knuckle. Caliper is installed by first sliding top of
caliper under top abutment on steering knuckle.
Then installing bottom of caliper against bottom
abutment of steering knuckle (Fig. 57).

Fig. 56 Brake Caliper Attaching Bolts

1 – DISC BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY
2 – STEERING KNUCKLE
3 – CALIPER ASSEMBLY GUIDE PIN BOLTS

Fig. 57 Brake Caliper Assembly Removal And

Installation

1 – ROTOR
2 – DISC BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY
3 – OUTBOARD BRAKE SHOE
4 – STEERING KNUCKLE
5 – LIFT THIS END OF CALIPER AWAY FROM STEERING

KNUCKLE FIRST

Fig. 58 Supporting Brake Caliper

1 – ABS SPEED SENSOR CABLE
2 – STEERING KNUCKLE
3 – ROTOR
4 – UPPER CONTROL ARM
5 – DISC BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY
6 – WIRE HANGER

Fig. 59 Removing/Installing Front Braking Disc

1 – BRAKING DISC
2 – STEERING KNUCKLE
3 – DISC BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY (STORED)

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SUSPENSION

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REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)