Subaru Outback manuals

Subaru Outback (BR): Front Ball Joint

Subaru Outback (BR) 2010-2015 Service Manual / Chassis / Front Suspension / Front Ball Joint

A: REMOVAL

1) Lift up the vehicle, and then remove the front wheels.

2) Remove the left and right stabilizer brackets.

Subaru Outback. Front Suspension

3) Remove the ball joint.

  1. Extract the cotter pin (a) from the ball stud.
  2. Remove the castle nut (b).
  3. Extract the ball stud from the front arm.
  4. Remove the bolt securing the ball joint to the front axle housing.

Subaru Outback. Front Suspension

  1. Extract the ball joint from the front axle housing.

B: INSTALLATION

1) Install the ball joint to the front axle housing.

CAUTION:

Subaru Outback. Front Suspension

  1. Lower side of front axle housing
  2. Raised section of ball joint
  3. Front axle housing
  4. Ball joint

Tightening torque: 50 N*m (5.1 kgf-m, 36.9 ft-lb)

2) Install the ball joint into front arm.

  1. Connect the ball joint to the front arm.

Tightening torque: 39 N*m (3.98 kgf-m, 28.8 ft-lb)

  1. Retighten the castle nut further up to 60º until the hole in the ball stud is aligned with a slot in castle nut.
  2. Insert a new cotter pin and bend it around the castle nut.

3) Install the stabilizer bracket.

NOTE: The stabilizer bracket has a set orientation. Install it with the arrow mark facing the upper side of the vehicle.

Subaru Outback. Front Suspension

  1. Front side of vehicle

Tightening torque: 25 N*m (2.55 kgf-m, 18.4 ft-lb)

C: INSPECTION

1) Measure the play of the ball joint using the following procedures. Replace with a new part if the play exceeds specification.

  1. With 686 N (70 kgf, 154 lbf) loaded in direction shown in the figure, measure the length Subaru Outback. 11.

Subaru Outback. Front Suspension

  1. With 686 N (70 kgf, 154 lbf) loaded in direction shown in the figure, measure the length Subaru Outback. 22.

Subaru Outback. Front Suspension

  1. Determine free play using the following formula.

    S = Subaru Outback. 22 -Subaru Outback. 11

  2. Replace with a new part if the play exceeds specification.

Front ball joint
Replacement standard S: Less than 0.3 mm (0.012 in)

2) If the play is within specification, visually check the dust cover.

3) If the dust cover is damaged, replace with a new ball joint.

READ NEXT:

 Front Arm

A: REMOVAL 1) Lift up the vehicle, and then remove the front wheels. 2) Remove the front arm. Remove the nut and disconnect the front stabilizer link. Remove the bolt, and then remove the ball joi

 Front Strut

A: REMOVAL 1) Lift up the vehicle, and then remove the front wheels. 2) Remove the front strut. Place an alignment mark on the camber adjusting bolt and strut. Remove the brake hose bracket. R

 Rear Suspension

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