Radius Arm Bushing

Replace the radius arm bushings on the front suspension to restore proper alignment geometry and eliminate clunking or loose steering feel.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Radius arm bushing set (front) × 2 — Moog K8607 or equivalent
• Cotter pins (1/8 inch) × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Spray all radius arm mounting bolts and ball joint nuts with penetrating oil and let soak for 15-30 minutes
4. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
5. Raise front of vehicle and support on jack stands at frame rails behind lower control arms
6. Remove front wheels completely

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect sway bar link from radius arm
   Locate the sway bar end link and determine its attachment point (typically to the axle bracket or spring perch on this platform). Hold the shaft with an Allen key or wrench flat to prevent spinning, then remove the nut connecting the link. Reference the factory service manual to confirm the exact link location for your suspension configuration.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove ball joint cotter pin and nut
   Locate the ball joint stud at the front of the radius arm where it connects to the steering knuckle. Straighten and remove the cotter pin using pliers. Remove the castle nut from the ball joint stud. Do not remove the ball joint from the knuckle yet.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Separate ball joint from steering knuckle
   Using a ball joint separator or pickle fork, break the taper between the ball joint stud and the steering knuckle. If your radius arm attaches to the axle housing rather than via a ball joint, disregard ball-joint separation and instead remove the radius-arm-to-axle mounting hardware. Verify the actual radius arm attachment method in the factory service manual before proceeding. The front of the radius arm will now be free.
   ⚠Ball joint separator can slip under load. Ensure tool is properly seated before applying maximum force.
4. 4

   Support radius arm with floor jack
   Place a floor jack under the middle of the radius arm to support its weight. Raise jack just enough to take light pressure off the rear mounting bolts. This prevents the arm from falling when bolts are removed.
   ⚠Radius arm will drop when rear bolts are removed. Jack must be positioned to control the descent.
5. 5

   Remove rear radius arm mounting bolts
   Locate the two large bolts that secure the rear of the radius arm to the frame bracket. These pass through the radius arm bushing. Remove both bolts completely. The bolts may be seized and require a breaker bar and penetrating oil. Slowly lower the jack to bring the radius arm down and away from the mounting bracket.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove radius arm from vehicle
   With the rear bolts removed and ball joint disconnected, maneuver the radius arm out from under the vehicle. It will be heavy and awkward. Inspect the mounting bracket on the frame for damage, rust, or distortion.
7. 7

   Press out old bushings
   Using a hydraulic press or bushing removal kit, press the old bushings out of the radius arm eyes. Note the orientation of the bushings and any offset positioning before removal. Clean the inside of the radius arm bores thoroughly with a wire brush, removing all rust, dirt, and old bushing material. Inspect the bores for cracks or elongation.
   ℹ️Bushing bores must be completely clean for new bushings to seat properly. Any debris will cause premature failure.
8. 8

   Press in new bushings
   Apply a light coating of soapy water or bushing lubricant to the outer shell of the new bushings. Position the new bushing in the radius arm bore, ensuring correct orientation (rubber voids should align with direction of arm movement). Using a hydraulic press with appropriately sized adapters, press the bushing straight into the bore until fully seated and flush. Repeat for second bushing if applicable to your radius arm design.
   ⚠Bushing must be pressed in perfectly straight. Cocking the bushing will damage both the bushing and the radius arm bore.
9. 9

   Reinstall radius arm to frame bracket
   Position the radius arm back into the frame bracket with the ball joint end pointing toward the steering knuckle. Support with the floor jack at mid-arm. Insert the rear mounting bolts through the frame bracket and radius arm bushings, but do NOT torque yet. Thread nuts on loosely to hold in position.
   ℹ️Radius arm mounting bolts must NOT be torqued until vehicle weight is on the suspension or bushing binding will occur.
10. 10

    Reconnect ball joint to steering knuckle
    Align the ball joint stud with the hole in the steering knuckle. You may need to use a pry bar or the floor jack to align the components. Insert the stud through the knuckle and thread on the castle nut. Torque the nut to specification, then advance to the next castellated slot if needed to align cotter pin hole. Install a new cotter pin and bend the ends to secure.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reconnect sway bar link
    Position the sway bar link stud through the radius arm bracket. Thread on the nut while holding the shaft with an Allen key. Torque to specification.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
    Install the front wheels and thread lug nuts on by hand. Lower the vehicle until the tires just touch the ground but jack stands are still supporting most of the weight. Torque lug nuts in a star pattern to specification. Fully lower vehicle to the ground and remove jack stands.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts183 Nm (135 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Torque radius arm mounting bolts with weight on suspension
    With the vehicle on the ground and full weight on the suspension, crawl under and torque the rear radius arm mounting bolts to specification. This is critical to prevent bushing bind and premature wear. Torque both sides.
    ⚠Final torquing must be done with vehicle weight on suspension. Torquing while suspended will preload bushings and cause premature failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Radius arm mounting bolts MUST be torqued with vehicle weight on the ground to prevent bushing bind
2. New cotter pins must be installed at ball joints - never reuse old pins
3. Repeat entire procedure for opposite side if both radius arms need bushings

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no clunking or loose feeling in front end during braking and acceleration
• Verify steering returns to center smoothly without binding
• Inspect underneath for any loose fasteners or components after 50 miles of driving
• Schedule alignment check within one week as radius arm bushing replacement affects caster and potentially camber settings

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