Replacing the ball joints of the front suspension GAZelle Next

If there is play in the ball joints or if the protective rubber boots are damaged, the ball joints must be removed and replaced.

Replacing the upper ball joint

We prepare the vehicle for the task.

Place wheel chocks under the rear wheels.

Raise the front of the vehicle with a jack, support it on robust stands, and remove the corresponding wheel.

Place a jack under the lower control arm of the front suspension and raise it by a few centimetres to simulate the working load.

Unscrew the nut of the upper ball joint pin.

**Fig. 2.** Holding the ball joint pin with an Allen key if it turns.

If the ball joint pin «Б» turns in the conical hole of the steering knuckle, hold it with an Allen key «А» inserted into the axial hole at its end (shown on a removed joint for clarity).

Extracting the ball joint pin — **Fig. 3.** Extracting the joint pin from the steering knuckle hole.

Using a separator, extract the joint pin from the conical hole of the steering knuckle.

Ball joint attachment to the arm — **Fig. 4.** Unscrewing the nuts of the bolts securing the ball joint to the arm.

Install the new ball joint in the reverse order.

Replacing the lower ball joint

Required tools: 17 mm and 30 mm spanners, hammer, pliers, ball joint pin separator.

Prepare the vehicle: place wheel chocks under the rear wheels, raise the front with a jack, support it on robust stands, and remove the wheel.

Place a jack under the lower arm and raise it by a few centimetres.

Important: The lower ball joint can only be removed and installed when the steering knuckle is dismantled.

Brake caliper attachment — **Fig. 6.** Unscrewing the mounting bolts of the front brake mechanism caliper.

Hanging the caliper — **Fig. 7.** Removing the caliper and securely tying it to the suspension components with wire.

Unscrew the two caliper mounting bolts. Remove the caliper and securely tie it to the suspension components with wire, absolutely avoiding letting it hang by the brake hose.

Brake hose bracket — **Fig. 8.** Unscrewing the bracket mounting bolt and disconnecting it from the steering knuckle.

Unscrew the nut securing the tie rod joint pin to the steering knuckle arm, holding the pin to prevent it from turning.

Tie rod separator — **Fig. 10.** Extracting the tie rod joint pin from the arm boss.

Install the ball joint separator and extract the pin from the boss of the steering knuckle arm.

Upper joint of the lower arm — **Fig. 11.** Unscrewing the nut of the upper ball joint pin.

Unscrew the nut of the upper ball joint pin. If the ball joint pin turns, hold it with an Allen key inserted into the axial hole at its end.

Lower ball joint attachment — **Fig. 14.** Unscrewing the bolts securing the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle.

**Fig. 15.** Removing the steering knuckle with the hub assembly.

Unscrew the two bolts securing the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle and remove the steering knuckle with the hub assembly.

Unscrew the nut securing the ball joint pin.

Ball joint separator — **Fig. 16.** Extracting the support pin from the knuckle hole and removing the support.

Installing the new joint — **Fig. 17.** Installing the ball joint in the reverse order.

Tightening the joint bolts — **Fig. 18.** Screwing in the joint mounting bolts.

Important: Before screwing the joint mounting bolts into the steering knuckle, be sure to clean the threads and holes of any old sealant and degrease them.

Apply anaerobic thread locker to the threaded part of the bolts.

Tighten the bolts securing the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle to a torque of 80–100 N·m.