Renault Clio: Front driveshaft lower arm: Removal - Refitting

EQUIPMENT LEVEL E3 LEISURE or EQUIPMENT LEVEL EA1 or EQUIPMENT LEVEL EA2 or EQUIPMENT LEVEL EA3 or EQUIPMENT LEVEL EA4 or EQUIPMENT LEVEL EA5 or EQUIPMENT LEVEL EAG

WARNING

Do not use the lower arm for support with a lifting system.

REMOVAL

I - REMOVAL PREPARATION OPERATION

• Position the vehicle on a two-post lift (see Vehicle: Towing and lifting) (MR 392, 02A, Lifting equipment).
• Unlock the steering wheel.
• Remove the front wheels (see 35A, Wheels and tyres, Wheel: Removal - Refitting, 35A-1).
• Strap the cooling radiator by the cooling radiator top hose and the bonnet opening striker plate.
• Remove:
  • the wheel arch protector (see Front wheel arch liner: Removal - Refitting) (MR 393, 55A, Exterior protection),
  • the engine undertray.

II - OPERATION FOR REMOVAL OF PART CONCERNED

• Remove:
  • the side stiffener lower bolts (1),
  • the bumper lower mounting bolts (2),
  • the radiator cross member mounting bolt (3),
  • the radiator cross member,
  • the lower ball joint stud (4).
• Remove the lower ball joint.

• Position the component jack under the sub-frame.
• Remove:
  • the lower arm front and rear mounting bolts (5),
  • the lower arm.

REFITTING

I - REFITTING PREPARATIONS OPERATION

• Always replace the sub-frame and arm mounting bolts after each removal.
• Leave the component jack under the sub-frame.

WARNING

It is essential to place a 10 mm thick shim between the radiator cross member and the subframe.

Centre the radiator cross member pin in the sub-frame hole at the level of the lower arm front mounting, to torque tighten the radiator cross member mountings.

• Position the lower ball joint bolt head so that it faces the front of the vehicle.

II - REFITTING OPERATION FOR PART CONCERNED

• Refit:
  • the lower arm,
  • the lower arm front and rear mounting bolts,
  • the lower ball joint into its housing.

WARNING

Check that the bush is correctly positioned on the lower arm ball joint.

• Remove the component jack.

WARNING

When refitting, position the lower arm below the sub-frame rear mounting bolt head (H) = 6 mm to tighten the rubber bushes freely.

• Position the component jack in contact with the sub-frame rear mounting bolt head.
• Lower the component jack by (H) = 6 mm.
• Rest the lower arm ball joint (6) on the component jack without adjusting the settings.
• In this position, tighten to torque:
  • the front mounting stud on the lower arm of the sub-frame (70 Nm),
  • the rear mounting bolt on the lower arm of the sub-frame (105 Nm)
• Remove the component jack.
• Torque tighten the lower ball joint stud (62 Nm).
• Refit the radiator cross member with 10 mm shims.
• Torque tighten the radiator cross member bolts (105 Nm).
• Refit the side reinforcement lower bolts.
• Torque tighten the side reinforcement lower bolts (21 Nm).

III - FINAL OPERATION.

• Remove the safety strap(s) from the cooling radiator between the cooling radiator top hose and the bonnet opening striker panel.
• Refit:
  • the engine undertray,
  • the wheel arch protector (see Front wheel arch liner: Removal - Refitting) (MR 393, 55A, Exterior protection).
• Refit the front wheels (see 35A, Wheels and tyres, Wheel: Removal - Refitting, 35A-1).
• Check the values of the axle assemblies (see 30A, General information, Front axle assembly: Adjustment values, 30A-18).

EQUIPMENT LEVEL EAC or EQUIPMENT LEVEL SPORT

REMOVAL

I - REMOVAL PREPARATION OPERATION

• Position the vehicle on a two-post lift (see Vehicle: Towing and lifting) (MR 392, 02A, Lifting equipment).
• Unlock the steering wheel.
• Remove the front wheels (see 35A, Wheels and tyres, Wheel: Removal - Refitting, 35A-1).
• Attach the cooling radiator by the radiator top hose and the bonnet opening striker plate.
• Remove the radiator mounting cross member (see Radiator mounting cross member: Removal - Refitting) (MR 393, 41A, Front lower structure).

II - OPERATION FOR REMOVAL OF PART CONCERNED

• Remove the nuts (1) from the anti-roll tie rod.

Note: Do not fit the component jack against the brake disc.

• Engage the driveshaft using a component jack.
• Remove the anti-roll tie-rod.
• Remove the component jack.

• Remove the bolts (4) from the hub carrier.

• Fit a component jack (5) under the sub-frame to secure the sub-frame.
• Remove:
  • the bolts (6) from the lower arm,
  • the lower arm.

REFITTING

I - REFITTING PREPARATIONS OPERATION

• Always replace the driveshaft lower arm bolts after each removal.

II - REFITTING OPERATION FOR PART CONCERNED

• Refit:
  • the front driveshaft lower arm,
  • the lower arm rear bolt on the sub-frame,
  • the front bolt between the front driveshaft interior arm and the hub carrier.

WARNING To tighten the rubber bushes freely, position the lower arm below the head of the rear bolt on the sub-frame (H) = 6 mm.

• Lower the component jack by (H) = 6 mm.
• In this position, tighten to torque:
  • the front bolt mounting the lower arm on the sub-frame (70 Nm),
  • the rear bolt mounting the lower arm on the sub-frame (105 Nm).
• Remove the component jack.

• Torque tighten:
  • the bolts between the lower arm and the hub carrier (110 Nm) (7),
  • the hub carrier ball joint bolt (27 Nm) (8).
• Engage the driveshaft using a component jack.
• Refit the linkage between the lower arm and the hub carrier.
• Remove the component jack.
• Torque tighten the anti-roll tie-rod nuts (80 Nm).

III - FINAL OPERATION.

• Refit the radiator mounting cross member (see Radiator mounting cross member: Removal - Refitting) (MR 393, 41A, Front lower structure).
• Detach the radiator by the radiator top hose and the bonnet opening striker plate.
• Refit the front wheels (see 35A, Wheels and tyres, Wheel: Removal - Refitting, 35A-1).
• Check the values of the axle assemblies (see 30A, General information, Front axle system: Adjustment, 30A-23).

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