Chrysler Stratus RHD 1997 Interactive Electronic Service Manual page 20

JA
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
This vehicle's front suspension is a short long arm
design used in conjunction with a gas pressurized
shock absorber and coil spring assembly.
The upper control arm of the vehicle is mounted
using rubber isolation bushings to an aluminum cast-
ing which is attached to the shock tower using 4
mounting bolts. This aluminum casting is also used
as the upper mount for the front shock/coil spring
assembly. The shock absorber assembly is also iso-
lated from the aluminum bracket using a 2 piece rub-
ber bushing design. The lower control arm is
mounted to the vehicle's front suspension crossmem-
ber using 2 through bolts per control arm. The lower
control arm is also isolated from the vehicle using 2
rubber bushings of unique design for the front and
rear mounting location. The bottom of the shock
absorber is mounted to the lower control arm by a
clevis bracket which is part of the shock absorber
assembly. The clevis bracket is mounted to and iso-
lated from the lower control arm using a rubber iso-
lation bushing and a through-bolt. The front steering
knuckle is mounted to the vehicle by a ball joint
located in the upper and lower control arms. Steering
of the vehicle is provided by a rack and pinion steer-
ing gear which is connected directly to the steering
knuckle by an outer tie rod.
The front shock absorber assembly includes the fol-
lowing components: A rubber isolated top mount, an
upper spring seat, upper control arm/shock absorber
bracket, jounce bumper, dust shield, coil spring,
lower spring seat and the shock absorber clevis
bracket.
A sealed for life front hub and bearing assembly is
attached to the front steering knuckle. The outer C/V
joint assembly is splined to the front hub and bear-
ing assembly and is retained by a nut, nut retainer
and cotter pin.
CAUTION: ONLY FRAME CONTACT HOISTING
EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED ON THIS VEHICLE. All
vehicles have a fully independent rear suspension.
The vehicles can not be hoisted using equipment
designed to lift a vehicle by the rear axle. If this
type of hoisting equipment is used, damage to rear
suspension components will occur.
SHOCK ABSORBER ASSEMBLY
The front shock absorber and suspension of the
vehicle is supported by coil springs positioned around
the shock absorbers. The springs are contained
between an upper seat, located just below the top
shock absorber mounting bracket and a lower spring
seat located on the shock absorber.
The top of each shock absorber assembly is bolted
to the cast aluminum upper control arm bracket
which is then bolted to the shock tower of the vehicle
using 4 mounting bolts.
The bottom of the shock absorber assembly
attaches to the lower control arm of the vehicle using
a thru-bolt and prevailing torque nut. Caster and
camber is a fixed setting (net build) on all vehicles
and is not required nor can be adjusted.
STEERING KNUCKLE
The steering knuckle is a single casting with legs
machined for attachment to the vehicle's upper and
lower control arm ball joints. The steering knuckle
also has machined abutments on the casting to sup-
port and align the front brake caliper assembly. The
knuckle also holds the front drive shaft outer C/V
joint hub and bearing assembly. The hub is posi-
tioned through the bearing and knuckle, with the
constant velocity stub shaft splined through the hub.
The outer C/V joint is retained to the hub and bear-
ing assembly using a nut, nut lock and cotter pin.
LOWER CONTROL ARM
The lower control arm is a ductile iron casting
using 2 rubber bushings to isolate it from the front
suspension crossmember and body of the vehicle. The
isolator bushings consist of 2 metal encased rubber
isolated pivot bushings. The front of the lower control
arm is bolted to the front crossmember using a bolt
through the center of the rubber pivot bushing. The
rear of the lower control arm is mounted to the front
suspension crossmember using a thru-bolt. The lower
control arms are inter-connected through a linked
rubber isolated sway bar.
UPPER CONTROL ARM
The upper control arm is a high strength steel
stamping. The upper control arm uses the 2 rubber
bushings of the upper control arm/shock absorber
mounting bracket to isolate it from the mounting
bracket and the body of the vehicle. The isolator
bushings used in the upper control arm are a metal
encased rubber isolated pivot bushing. The bushings
isolate the upper control arm from the body of the
vehicle yet allows for the up and down movement of
the control arm during the jounce and rebound travel
of the vehicle suspension. The upper control arm is
bolted to the top of the steering knuckle using the
upper ball joint.
STABILIZER BAR
The stabilizer bar interconnects both front lower
control arms of the vehicle and is attached to the
front suspension cradle and the underbody of the
vehicle.
SUSPENSION 2 - 9