QuestionHI HOPE YOU CAN HELP I, HAVE A 2001 300M AND NEED TO CHANGE THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM ,I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW DO I HAVE TO CHANGE THE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT AS ONE UNIT AS THERE BOTH TOGETHER BY A BUSHING,BECAUSE WHEN I WENT TO BUY THE CONTROL ARM IT WAS JUST THE ARM NOT THE TENSION STRUT,OR CAN I BUY BOTH ALREADY TOGETHER. THANK YOU
AnswerREMOVAL - LOWER CONTROL ARM
Raise vehicle on jackstands or centered on a frame contact hoist. See Hoisting in Lubrication and Maintenance.
Remove the wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.
Remove the ball joint stud to steering knuckle attaching nut and bolt (Control Arm To Steering Knuckle).
CAUTION: Pulling steering knuckle out from vehicle after releasing from ball joint can separate inner C/V joint. See Driveshafts.
CAUTION: When lower control arm is separated from steering knuckle, do not let ball joint seal hit up against steering knuckle. If ball joint seal hits steering knuckle, seal damage may occur. If ball joint seal becomes torn, replace seal before assembling lower control arm to knuckle.
Carefully insert a pry bar between lower control arm and steering knuckle (Separating Ball Joint From Steering Knuckle). Push down on pry bar to separate ball joint stud from steering knuckle (Separating Ball Joint From Steering Knuckle).
Remove tension strut to cradle attaching nut and washer from end of tension strut (Tension Strut To Cradle Mounting). When removing tension strut nut, keep strut from turning by holding tension strut at flat using an open end wrench (Tension Strut To Cradle Mounting). Discard tension strut to cradle retaining nut. A NEW tension strut to cradle nut must be used when installing tension strut.
Loosen and remove lower control arm pivot bushing to cradle assembly pivot bolt (Lower Control Arm Pivot Bolt).
Remove lower control arm and tension strut from the cradle as an assembly. Remove them from cradle by first removing pivot bushing end from cradle and then sliding tension strut out of isolator bushing (Lower Control Arm Removal/Installation)(Lower Control Arm And Tension Strut).
Remove tension strut to control arm retaining nut and washer from end of tension strut (Lower Control Arm And Tension Strut). While removing nut, keep strut from turning by holding tension strut at flat using an open end wrench. Discard the retaining nut. A NEW nut must be used when installing tension strut.
Separate the tension strut from the lower control arm
