OEM 2003 Toyota Tundra Control Arm

2003 Toyota Tundra Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to service and repair the lower control arm on 2003 Toyota Tundra?

  A: Begin by removing both front wheels before disconnecting tie rod ends by removing their respective cotter pins and nuts followed by the use of Special Service Tool: 09610-20012 to separate tie rod ends from lower ball joints for both sides. The next step requires you to take out power steering gear set bolts and nuts before unconnecting the stabilizer bar link from the lower suspension arm through nut removal. A hexagon (6 mm) wrench must be used to hold the ball joint stud when it turns with the nut. To detach the shock absorber from the lower suspension arm, start by removing the lower side set nut and washer before preventing the bolt removal and protect the drive shaft boot by wrapping the bolt head with vinyl tape. Then pry down the lower suspension arm to disconnect the shock absorber. The lower ball joint removal from the lower suspension arm requires first removing its cotter pin and nut and cutting it loose with Special Service Tool: 09628-62011. The procedure for removing the lower suspension arm requires you to mark the front and rear cam plates together with the chassis frame. Subsequently remove the 2 cam plates with bolts and cams and lower suspension arm by shifting the power steering gear slightly backward but avoid damaging the power steering gear tubes. The bushing replacement process requires first lifting the bushing flange with a chisel and hammer followed by using Special Service Tool: 09613-26010, 09632-36010, 09950-00020 with a press to remove the bushing before installing a new No. 1 bushing with Special Service Tool: 09502-12010, 09631-12090, a press, and steel plate while maintaining correct direction orientation. Install the new No. 2 bushing by using Special Service Tool: 09631-12090 and 09950-60020 (09951-00680) with a press and steel plate while keeping it oriented correctly. The repair procedure requires removal of the front wheel to install Special Service Tool: 09922-10010 which needs a 23 Nm (235 kgf-cm, 17 ft. lbs.) torque before replacing the No. 2 spring bumper through the same tooling process with matching specifications. Restore the front wheel with a torque of 110 Nm (1,150 kgf-cm, 83 ft. lbs.). When installing the lower suspension arm to the chassis frame users should position the power steering gear in a slightly rearward direction and torque 130 Nm (1,325 kgf-cm, 96 ft. lbs.) with no damage to the power steering gear tubes. When the suspension reaches its stabilized point align the matchmarks present on the front and rear cam plates to the chassis frame before tightening the bolts. The lower ball joint installation requires attaching it to the lower suspension arm while using a new cotter pin and nut which should be torqued to 140 Nm (1,450 kgf-cm, 103 ft. lbs.). Additionally torque the nut up to 60 degrees but only when the cotter pin holes remain misaligned. The shock absorber must be connected to the lower suspension arm using a force of 135 Nm (1,400 kgf-cm, 100 ft. lbs.) before installing the stabilizer bar link to the lower suspension arm with a torque of 69 Nm (700 kgf-cm, 51 ft. lbs.). To prevent the ball joint from rotating with the nut install a hexagon (6 mm) wrench on the stud. Install the power steering gear, applying a torque of 165 Nm (1,700 kgf-cm, 122 ft. lbs.) for bolt A, 130 Nm (1,350 kgf-cm, 96 ft. lbs.) for nut B, and 165 Nm (1,700 kgf-cm, 122 ft. lbs.) for bolt and nut C. Connect the RH and LH tie rod ends to the lower ball joints with the nuts and new cotter pins, applying a torque of 91 Nm (930 kgf-cm, 67 ft. lbs.) and tightening the nut further up to 60 degrees if the cotter pin holes are not aligned, then install the RH and LH front wheels with a torque of 110 Nm (1,150 kgf-cm, 83 ft. lbs.) and check the front wheel alignment.