The front lower ball joints on your Mercedes Benz ML320 serve as the joint connector between the vehicle's wheels and its steering linkage. If the front lower ball joints are damaged in an accident, your ML320's steering will not function properly, which can lead to a serious accident. In such cases, the simplest solution is to replace the front lower ball joints. They are located underneath the ML320 and are easily accessible once the vehicle is lifted.
Place a jack underneath the ML320, lift it up and support it on jack stands. Use a wheel wrench to remove the lug nuts from the front wheels and then remove the wheels.
Use a socket wrench to remove the collar nut from the front axle shaft.
Disconnect the electrical connector for the speed sensor and brake lining wear indicator near the lower control arm.
Remove the bolts from the brake disc with a socket wrench and remove the brake disc.
Remove the RPM sensor from the steering knuckle by disconnecting it and pulling it off.
Remove the 10 tie rods from the steering knuckle with a socket wrench. Once the steering knuckle is loose, you can remove the ball joint.
Remove the ball joint nut below the ball joint. Use a rubber hammer to separate the ball joint from the control arm and remove it from the vehicle.
Place the new ball joint onto the control arm and reattach the ball joint nut.
Reconnect the steering knuckle to the control arm by reattaching the tie rods.
Reattach the RPM sensor, brake disc, speed sensor, and brake lining wear indicator. Reattach the collar nut to the front axle shaft.
Reattach the wheels, remove the jack stands and lower the ML320 to the ground.
