OEM 2006 Toyota Solara Ball Joint

2006 Toyota Solara Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to service and repair the front lower ball joint on 2006 Toyota Solara?

  A: The repair process for front lower ball joints requires beginning by removing the front wheel and the front axle hub LH nut followed by disconnecting speed sensor front LH and the front disc brake caliper assembly LH and front disc and tie rod assembly LH and front suspension No.1 lower arm sub-assembly LH. Proceed with standard procedure by taking out the cotter pin and castle nut of the front axle assembly LH and front lower ball joint assembly. Then apply Special Service Tool: 09628-62011 to extract the lower ball joint assembly front LH. Secure the lower ball joint assembly front LH in a vise before installing the nut to the stud bolt and flipping the ball joint several times between the fifth and more times total. Leaning on a torque wrench set to rotate the nut at 3 to 5 seconds for each turn enables serial torque measurements; halt the process while the fifth turn reaches 0.98 to 3.43 Nm (10 to 35 kgf-cm, 8.7 to 30 ft. lbs.). Deviations from these readings warrant replacing the lower ball joint assembly. The installation process requires the lower ball joint assembly front LH attached to the steering knuckle using a castle nut at 123 Nm (1,250 kgf-cm, 91 ft. lbs.) torque then the nut can be tightened further to up to 60 degrees if the cotter pin holes are in the wrong position. The installation sequence begins with a new cotter pin then the front axle assembly LH followed by the front suspension No.1 lower arm sub-assembly after which the tie rod assembly LH the front disc and the front disc brake caliper assembly LH and speed sensor front LH until the front axle hub LH nut reaches 103 Nm (1,050 kgf-cm, 76 ft. lbs. torque). The inspection of front wheel alignment and ABS speed sensor signal testing occurs after both VSC and without VSC activation.