The lower ball joint on the 2002 Elantra is connected to the lower control arm behind the front wheels. The ball joint acts as a pivot point between the wheels and the suspension system. The lower ball joint is secured to the lower control arm by a slotted hex-head nut. The hex nut is screwed onto a threaded stud that is attached to the ball joint. A cotter pin is positioned through the hex-head nut and into the ball joint stud to prevent the nut from backing off.
Instructions
- 1
Slide under the front driver's side of the 2002 Elantra and locate the ball joint that is attached to the lower control arm of the front wheel. The hex-head ball joint nut is tightened to the bottom of the threaded stud that is attached to the top of the ball joint.
2Straighten the cotter pin that is sticking through the hex-head ball joint nut with the pliers. Pull the cotter pin out of the ball joint nut with the pliers and place it on the ground. Use a small hammer if necessary to tap the end of the cotter pin until it comes out of the nut.
3Position a socket onto the 1/2-inch drive breaker bar. Place the socket and the breaker bar onto the ball joint nut. Pull the breaker bar in a counterclockwise direction until the nut loosens from the threads on the ball joint stud. Once the nut is loose, finish loosening the nut until it is completely off the stud. If the top part of the stud begins to turn as you are trying to loosen the nut, you will need to secure the top of the stud so that the ball joint nut can be loosened.
4Open the large vise grip jaws until the are all the way open. Place the top vise grip jaw over the top of the ball joint stud. Position the bottom vise grip jaw under the lower control arm. Clamp the vise grips shut by squeezing the handles together. The tighter the vise grip jaws are around the top of the ball joint stud, the better the vise grips will hold the stud and keep it from moving.
5Position the breaker bar and socket back over the ball joint nut. Turn the breaker bar in a counterclockwise direction until the nut is loose. Continue loosening the nut until it is completely off the ball joint stud.
6Replace the lower ball joint nut by reversing the same process as outlined in the preceding steps. Once the ball joint nut is tight, torque the nut to 50 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and a socket. Remove the ratchet, socket and the vise grips from the ball joint.
