Here’s a step-by-step guide to replacing the lower ball joints. The pictures below are with the strut assembly removed as I am doing the entire suspension work at the same time & had just removed the struts.
Tools Needed:
- Various sockets, wrenches, & ratchet
- 2 or 3 jaw puller
- Jack & stands
1) Loosen wheel lugnuts. Raise and support front of car, and remove wheel.
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2) There’s 2 different ways you could go about doing this. First, here’s probably the ‘proper’ way. I’ll let you decide which will be easier.
1-3) Remove the two 14mm bolts that hold the knuckle to the ball joint. Ignore the strut assembly, rotor, and caliper being off…
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1-4) Remove the 2 nuts holding the strut arm to the control arm. The control arm should then fall down toward the ground. If not, you may need to loosen the bolt holding the arm to the chassis.
1-5) Remove the cotter pin & castle nut from the ball joint, and attach your 2 or 3 jaw puller. Beware, the ball joint will literally POP out of the control arm, so keep away from inside the fenderwell while you tighten it down.
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Now here’s another way…i haven’t tried it this way so it may not work as well as I envision it to.
2-3) Remove the 2 nuts holding the strut arm to the control arm.
2-4) Remove the cotter pin and castle nut from the ball joint. Hit the top of the control arm near the hub with a mallet. Give it a good whack. That should loosen the ball joint from the control arm. This way you don’t have to bother with a 2 or 3 jaw puller. The control arm should fall to the ground once it is loose.
2-5) Remove the ball joint from the hub by removing the two 14mm bolts.
6) Here’s the new ball joint:
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11) Bolt it onto the steering knuckle.
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12) Now, place the steering knuckle onto the control arm and tighten down the castle nut. Insert new cotter pin.
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13) The rest of the assembly is opposite the removal.
This documentation in no way replaces the Toyota MR2 Repair Manuals. The purpose of this content is only to provide supplementary information to fellow MR2 enthusiasts. Midship Runabout and its contributing authors will not be held responsible for any injury or damages that may occur as the result of practicing any of the methods or procedures described within this website. Article and photo submissions are property of the contributing author.
