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Jeep Commander XH XK 2006-2010 Workshop Repair Manual digital download

1) Quick theory — what the control arm does and what fails
- Function: the control arm locates the wheel hub relative to the body while allowing vertical motion. It provides two main load paths: a pivot/bushing at the chassis and a pivot/ball joint at the steering knuckle. Together they set wheel camber, caster and allow controlled compliance for bumps.
- Common faults: worn bushings (rubber/urethane) allow lateral/longitudinal play; worn ball joints allow rotational/play at the knuckle. Symptoms are clunks over bumps, wandering/poor steering return, uneven tyre wear, looseness or knocking, and changing toe/camber under load.
- How replacement fixes it: a new arm (or new bushings/ball joint) removes play and restores the designed pivot locations and stiffness. That corrects wheel geometry and removes uncontrolled motion that causes noise, tyre wear and poor handling.

2) Preparation and safety (do these first)
- Work on a flat, level surface. Chock opposite wheels and use rated floor jack + jack stands; never rely on the jack alone.
- Have wheel chocks, torque wrench, breaker bar, penetrating oil, ball-joint separator/pickle fork or puller, sockets/wrenches, hammer, pry bar, new control arm (or new bushings/balljoint as required), and factory torque specs/manual.
- Plan an alignment after the job.

3) Diagnosis / confirm which part to replace (before removal)
- With vehicle raised and wheel off, inspect control arm for torn/flattened bushings, play at the ball joint (push/pull on hub, watch movement), and any cracks in the arm. Measure free play or use a pry bar to detect excessive movement. Replace the component that shows play — if ball joint is worn or bushing severely damaged, replace the whole arm assembly if available (simpler and more reliable).

4) Removal — ordered steps (general sequence)
- Loosen wheel nuts slightly while car is on ground.
- Raise vehicle, secure on stands, remove wheel.
- Unbolt anything that restricts knuckle movement: sway-bar end-link at the arm (or disconnect at sway-bar), ABS sensor wiring clips if attached, and any brake or dust shields that obstruct access. Hang caliper out of the way; do not let it hang by the brake hose—use a hook or support strap.
- Separate the ball joint from the knuckle: remove cotter pin (if present) and nut, then use a separator/puller to free the taper. Don’t strike the stud through the joint unless using proper puller to avoid damage.
- Support the control arm while removing the chassis mounting bolts (one or two bolts depending on design). Remove the bolts and extract the arm. Use penetrating oil and careful persuasion; a gentle pry may be needed.

5) Replacement/installation — ordered steps with theory
- Compare old vs new arm: bushings/ball joint orientation and length must match. New parts should be identical to retain geometry.
- If replacing bushings only, press new bushings in using a press and correct cups, respecting bushing orientation. Note: some bushings are designed to be installed with the suspension at a specific ride height — see “torque with weight on wheels” below.
- Fit the new control arm into position and loosely fit the chassis bolts first. Do not fully torque yet — allow the arm to find the correct position when the wheel is loaded.
- Reconnect the ball joint to the knuckle and reinstall nut. If the joint uses a taper, it will self-center when tightened. Install cotter pin if applicable.
- Reattach sway-bar link and any wiring/clips.

6) Correct torqueing and bushing preload (important theory)
- Unless the factory manual specifies otherwise, major control-arm mounting bolts that clamp bushings should generally be torqued with the vehicle at normal ride height (i.e., weight on wheels) or at least with the suspension loaded. Reason: many bushings are compliant and will distort if tightened in the drooped position, causing misalignment, premature bushing wear and abnormal steering geometry.
- Procedure: tighten fasteners finger-tight while vehicle is on stands; lower vehicle so the suspension is under its normal load (or support it at ride height), then torque bolts to factory spec. If you cannot load the suspension, follow the factory instruction for preloading or use the specified procedure in service manual.

7) Final checks and post‑repair steps
- Torque all fasteners to factory specs (chassis bolts, ball-joint nut, sway-bar link, wheel nuts).
- Reinstall wheel, lower vehicle, torque wheel nuts to spec.
- Test for free play by moving wheel/hub by hand and checking for any remaining looseness.
- Road test at low speed checking for noises and steering behavior, then a longer test at varied speeds.
- Get a professional wheel alignment immediately — replacing an arm changes toe/camber/caster and alignment is needed to restore tyre life and handling.

8) What to inspect/replace while you’re there
- Tie rod ends, wheel bearings, strut top mounts, sway-bar links and bushings, and control-arm mounting hardware. Replace rusted or damaged bolts and any worn adjacent components to avoid repeating the job.

9) How the repair corrects specific faults (concise)
- Noise/clunk: removed by eliminating free play in bushings/ball joint.
- Wandering/steering instability: corrected because wheel pivot points return to designed geometry and stiffness.
- Uneven tyre wear: prevented because toe/camber remain stable under load once bushings and joints are tight and alignment is restored.
- Vibration: reduced because the control arm no longer transmits uncontrolled movement to the hub.

10) Quick safety reminders (no fluff)
- Use jack stands; torque to factory specs; replace fasteners if damaged; align after replacement; if you’re unsure, have a professional complete or check the job.

That’s the ordered theory-plus-practice overview. Follow the vehicle workshop manual for specific bolt sizes/torques and any model-specific procedures.
rteeqp73

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