Dodge Ram Truck 1500-2500-3500. Manual — part 27

4. Remove the shock (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/SHOCK - REMOVAL).

5. Install Spring Compressor DD-1278 up through the lower suspension arm, coil spring and shock hole in the

frame. The bell-shaped adapter goes against the lower suspension arm. Install the nut on top of the tool at the
shock hole.

6. Tighten the spring compressor nut against bell-shaped adapter finger tight then loosen 1/2 turn.

NOTE: This will hold the spring in place until the lower suspension arm is separated from the steering
knuckle.

7. Remove the stabilizer link (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/STABILIZER LINK - REMOVAL).

8. Remove the lower ball joint nut at the steering

knuckle (1).

9. Install Ball Joint Remover tool 8677 (2)on the lower

ball joint and separate the ball joint from the
knuckle.

NOTE: Do not allow the upper control arm and
steering knuckle to rebound downwards they must
be supported.

10. Support the upper control arm and steering

knuckle out of the way.

11. Remove the lower control arm support.

12. Tighten the spring compressor tool to allow clear-

ance for the lower ball joint to be removed out of
the knuckle.

13. Loosen the tension on the spring compressor tool slowly allowing the lower suspension arm to pivot downward.

14. Remove the spring compressor tool.

15. Remove coil spring and isolator pad from the vehicle.

16. Remove the front and rear pivot bolts (1&2).

17. Remove the lower control arm (3).

2 - 54

FRONT - INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION

DR/DH

INSTALLATION

LOWER CONTROL ARM - 4X4 (LD)

1. Position the lower control arm (1) at the frame rail

brackets. Install the pivot bolts (3&5) and nuts (4).
Tighten the nuts finger-tight.

CAUTION: The ball joint stud taper must be
CLEAN and DRY before installing the knuckle.
Clean the stud taper with mineral spirits to remove
dirt and grease.

2. Insert the lower ball joint stud into the steering knuckle. Install and tighten the retaining nut to 52 N·m (38 ft. lbs.)

(on 1500 series only an additional 90° turn is required).

3. Install the torsion bar, (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/TRACK BAR - INSTALLATION).

4. Install shock absorber lower bolt and tighten to 135 N·m (100 ft. lbs.).

5. Install the front halfshaft, (Refer to 3 - DIFFERENTIAL & DRIVELINE/HALF SHAFT - INSTALLATION).

6. Insert the upper ball joint into the steering knuckle. Install and tighten the retaining nut to 54 N·m (40 ft. lbs.)(on

1500 series only an additional 90° turn is required).

7. Install the stabilizer bar link (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/STABILIZER LINK - INSTALLATION).

8. Tighten the lower control arm front pivot nut to 204 N·m (150 ft. lbs.). Tighten rear pivot bolt to 204 N·m (150 ft.

lbs.).

9. Install the wheel and tire assembly, (Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS/WHEELS - STANDARD PROCEDURE).

10. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.

11. Adjust the front suspension height and perform a wheel alignment (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/WHEEL ALIGN-

MENT - STANDARD PROCEDURE).

LOWER CONTROL ARM - 4X2

1. Install the lower control arm (3) into place on the

vehicle.

2. Install the front and rear control arm pivot bolts

(1&2) finger tight.

DR/DH

FRONT - INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION

2 - 55

3. Install the coil spring into the frame pocket (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/SPRING - INSTALLATION).

4. Install the Spring Compressor DD-1278 up through the lower suspension arm, coil spring and shock hole in the

frame.

5. Tighten the tool nut to compress the coil spring.

6. Remove the support from the upper control arm and steering knuckle.

7. Position the lower ball joint into the steering knuckle.

8. Install the retaining nut on the lower ball joint and tighten to 52 N·m (38 ft. lbs.)(on 1500 series only an additional

90° turn is required) or 135 N·m (100 ft. lbs.)(HD 4X2 only).

9. Support the lower control arm at the outboard side of the lower control arm to support vehicle weight.

10. Remove the spring compressor tool.

11. Install the shock absorber. (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/SHOCK - INSTALLATION).

12. Install the stabilizer link (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/STABILIZER LINK - INSTALLATION).

13. Remove the lower control arm support.

14. Install the wheel and tire assembly and lower the vehicle. (Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS/WHEELS - STAN-

DARD PROCEDURE).

15. Lower the vehicle to the floor with vehicle weight and Tighten the front and rear control arm pivot bolts to 204

N·m (150 ft. lbs.)(LD) or 285 N·m (210 ft. lbs.)(HD 4X2 only).

16. Perform a wheel alignment (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/WHEEL ALIGNMENT - STANDARD PROCEDURE).

SPRING

REMOVAL

1. Raise and support vehicle.

2. Remove the front wheel and tire assembly.

3. Support the lower control arm at the outboard side of the lower control arm to support vehicle weight.

4. Remove the shock absorber (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/SHOCK - REMOVAL).

5. Install Spring Compressor DD-1278 (1) up through

the lower suspension arm, coil spring and shock
hole in the frame. The bell-shaped adapter (2) goes
against the lower suspension arm. Install the nut
on top of the tool at the shock hole.

6. Tighten the spring compressor nut against bell-

shaped adapter finger tight then loosen 1/2 turn.

NOTE: This will hold the spring in place until the
lower suspension arm is separated from the steer-
ing knuckle.

7. Remove the stabilizer link (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/STABILIZER LINK - REMOVAL).

8. Remove the lower ball joint nut at the steering knuckle.

9. Install Ball Joint Remover tool 8677 on the lower ball joint and separate the ball joint from the knuckle.

NOTE: Do not allow the upper control arm and steering knuckle to rebound downwards they must be sup-
ported.

10. Support the upper control arm and steering knuckle out of the way.

2 - 56

FRONT - INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION

DR/DH

11. Remove the lower control arm support.

12. Tighten the spring compressor tool to allow clearance for the lower ball joint to be removed out of the knuckle.

NOTE: It may necessary to loosen the control arm pivot bolt to allow downward swing.

13. Loosen the tension on the spring compressor tool slowly allowing the lower suspension arm to pivot downward.

14. Remove the spring compressor tool.

15. Remove coil spring and isolator pad from the vehicle.

INSTALLATION

1. Tape the isolator pad to the top of the coil spring.

Position the spring in the lower suspension arm
well. Be sure that the coil spring is seated in the
well.

2. Install Spring Compressor DD-1278 (1) up through

the lower suspension arm, coil spring and shock
hole in the frame.

3. Tighten the tool nut to compress the coil spring.

4. Remove the support from the upper control arm

and steering knuckle.

5. Position the lower ball joint into the steering

knuckle.

6. Install the retaining nut on the lower ball joint and

tighten to 52 N·m (38 ft. lbs.)(on 1500 series only
an additional 90° turn is required) or 135 N·m (100
ft. lbs.)(HD 4X2 only).

7. Remove the spring compressor tool.

8. Support the lower control arm at the outboard side

of the lower control arm to support vehicle weight.

9. Install the shock absorber. (Refer to 2 - SUSPEN-

SION/FRONT/SHOCK - INSTALLATION).

10. Install the stabilizer link (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/STABILIZER LINK - INSTALLATION).

11. Remove the lower control arm support.

12. Install the wheel and tire assembly and lower the vehicle. (Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS/WHEELS - STAN-

DARD PROCEDURE).

13. Lower the vehicle to the floor with vehicle weight and Tighten the front and rear control arm pivot bolts if loos-

ened to 204 N·m (150 ft. lbs.)(LD) or 285 N·m (210 ft. lbs.)(HD 4X2 only).

14. Perform a wheel alignment (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/WHEEL ALIGNMENT - STANDARD PROCEDURE).

DR/DH

FRONT - INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION

2 - 57