2000 - 2004 Dodge Stratus 2.4L Front Suspension Torques

2002 Dodge Stratus Front End Torque Specs

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Dodge Stratus 2.4L Repair Information

Dodge Stratus 2.4L Engine Repair Information

Here you can find information regarding the assembly of the Dodge Stratus front end. In this guide we will cover the essential repairs for the front end of this vehicle. Included within these repairs is the inner and outer tie rod removal and change, the front wheel hubs installation, ball joint removal and installation, the upper and lower control arms, and the front strut installation. Along with the repair procedures we also include the corresponding bolt torque specs for each fastener involved. These guides are intended to assist in each procedure to help diyers with the job.

Dodge Stratus Tie Rod Change/Removal

Dodge Stratus Tie rod
To install a new tie rod on a Dodge Stratus you must first remove the old one from the vehicle. This can be done by raising the vehicle up by either the use of a floor jack or a vehicle hoist. Once the vehicle is in the air you can remove the corresponding tire for the side that you want to change the tie rod on. Once the tire is off you can now access the old tie rod and remove it for replacement. On this vehicle the tie rod is apart of an entire rod system which controls the steering of the vehicle. If any of the steering rods are loose be sure to replace them appropiately. The outer tie rod itself connects with another inner portion of the rod through the use of an inner tie rod. This inner tie rod screws into the power steering rack and can be torqued down to 55 ft-lbs. Be sure to inspect and measure your old tie rods so that the new ones can be installed correctly. Whenever steering components are changed I recommend having an alignment done after the job to ensure the vehicle is in good functional condition. When putting the tie rod onto the vehicle the tie rod end nuts get tightened down to 45 ft-lbs. Be sure to install new cotter pins to ensure that vehicle safety is maintained.

Dodge Stratus Outer Tie Rod End Torque Spec : 45 ft-lbs

Dodge Stratus Inner Tie Rod Torque Spec : 55 ft-lbs

 

Front Wheel Hub Installation

Dodge Stratus wheel hub
The front wheel hub on the Dodge Stratus tightens down to the steering knuckle through the use of 3 bolts. In order to remove the old part from the vehicle you will need to jack your car up and remove the wheel on the side you are working on. From here we can then begin to remove the braking system by taking off the caliper and brake rotor and removing the center axle nut which holds the cv axle to the steering knuckle. With those removed we can now gain access to the wheel hub bolts which will be on the back side of the steering knuckle and can be accessed by turning the steering wheel one way and then the other. As you move the wheel take the bolts out as the access becomes easier. Once the 3 bolts have been removed you can remove the old part using a hammer and pry bar and then clean the surface and put the new part onto the vehicle. With the new wheel hub installed we can begin to hand tighten down the 4 bolts and then torque them to specs. The 3 bolts which hold it onto the steering knuckle should be torqued down to 95 ft-lbs. Once all are tight you can then put the center axle nut onto the cv axle and torque it down to 150 ft-lbs. Once both have been torqued you can proceed to reinstall the braking system and then the wheel.

Dodge Stratus Front Axle Nut Torque Spec : 150 ft-lbs

Dodge Stratus Wheel Hub Bolts Torque Spec : 95 ft-lbs

 

Front Ball Joints Installation

Dodge Stratus Front Ball Joints
The Dodge Stratus has 2 front ball joints being the upper and lower ball joints. Both of which connect their corresponding control arms to the steering knuckle. For removal you can either press out the old ball joints and press new joints in or you can replace the entire control arm along with the frame bushings and ball joint. When removing the entire control arm please refer to the control arm section within this webpage. When installing the new parts be sure to torqued down the ball joints nut to 40 ft-lbs and the lower ball joint to 55 ft-lbs. Each ball joint will have a corresponding cotter pin that will need to be installed to ensure safety of the vehicle maintains.

Dodge Stratus Lower Ball Joint to Knuckle Torque Spec : 55 ft-lbs

Dodge Stratus Upper Ball Joint to Knuckle Torque Spec : 40 ft-lbs

 

Front Control Arms Installation

Lower Control Arm
Dodge Stratus Front Control arms

On the Dodge Stratus there are 2 control arms which aid in the vehicles suspension and handling. On this particular vehicle there is the use of both a strut and upper control arm which connect together through the use of an upper strut mounting plate as shown in the picture. When removing the upper control arm be sure to remove the lower strut bolts before trying to move it as the extra moveability and accessibility is very helpful during the procedure. When installing the new upper control arm be sure to torqued down the mounting frame sided bolts to 66 ft-lbs and the upper ball joint to 40 ft-lbs. As for the lower control arm it simply has 2 frame bolts and a single ball joint nut. When installing the new part be sure to torqued down the bolts at ride height to ensure the bushings seat properly. You can torque down the lower contorl arm frame sided front pivot bolt to 135 ft-lbs. The rearward bolt can be torqued down to 70 ft-lbs while the lower ball joint nut goes to 55 ft-lbs.

Dodge Stratus Upper Arm Ball Joint Torque Spec : 40 ft-lbs

Dodge Stratus Upper Arm Mounting Bolts Torque Spec : 66 ft-lbs

Dodge Stratus Lower Arm Ball Joint Torque Spec : 55 ft-lbs

Dodge Stratus Lower Arm Front Pivot Bolt Torque Spec : 135 ft-lbs

Dodge Stratus Lower Arm Rear Bolt Torque Spec : 70 ft-lbs

 

Front Strut Installation

Dodge Stratus Front struts
To replace the front struts on the Dodge Stratus you will need to lift the vehicle up into the air and start by removing the tire on the side you want to replace. With that removed we can now remove the bolts and nuts that hold the strut to the vehicle frame and lower control arm. Starting with the single lower bolt which holds the strut assembly to the steering knuckle. Simply remove the nut from the bolt and then lightly tap the bolt out of the steering knucle assembly. Be sure not to damage the threads on the bolt as they will need to be reused when installing the new strut into the vehicle. With the lower bolt removed we can then remove the single nut which holds the stabilizer bar to the front strut. With that remove we can move to under the hood and remove the 4 boltss which hold the upper portion of the strut to the vehicles frame and the upper control arm. With the upper 4 bolts removed and the upper ball joint nut taken off the old strut assembly and upper control arm should be able to be removed from the car. The new strut assembly can be placed into the location of the old one and the upper bolts can be hand tightened. Before torqueing down any fasteners be sure that everything is first hand tightened. The lower bolt can then be installed and hand tightened up along with the stabilizer endlink nut. From here we can torque down the upper bolts to 66 ft-lbs and then the lower strut bolt to 85 ft-lbs. The stabilizer endlink can be torqued down to 25 ft-lbs.

Dodge Stratus Front Strut Upper Mounting Bolts Torque Spec : 66 ft-lbs

Dodge Stratus Front Strut Lower Bolt Torque Spec : 85 ft-lbs

 

Front Swaybar Installation

Dodge Stratus swaybar
The front swaybar on the Dodge Stratus consists of a series of brackets that hold it to the frame of the vehicle and a couple of endlink nuts that fasten it the the outer side of the car. To remove the swaybar you will need to jack up the front of the vehicle and remove both the endlink nuts as well as the brackets. To install the new swaybar you will need to move it back into the place as the old one and torque the endlink nuts to 17 ft-lbs and then torque the bracket bolts to 40 ft-lbs as well.

Dodge Stratus Front Swaybar Bracket Torque Spec : 45 ft-lbs

Dodge Stratus Front Swaybar Endlinks Torque Spec : 27 ft-lbs

 


Front Steering Torque Specs
Outer Tie Rod Endlink Torque Spec 45 ft-lbs
Inner Tie Rod Torque Spec 55 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub / Knuckle
Brake Caliper Slide Pin Torque Spec 17 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Bearing Hub Bolts Torque Spec 95 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Axle Nut Torque Spec 150 ft-lbs
Control Arms Torque Specs
Front Lower Ball Joint Nut Torque Spec 55 ft-lbs
Front Lower Arm Rear Frame Bolt Torque Spec 70 ft-lbs
Front Lower Arm Pivot Bolt Torque Spec 135 ft-lbs
Front Upper Ball Joint Nut Torque Spec 40 ft-lbs
Front Upper Arm Frame Bolts Torque Spec 66 ft-lbs
Front Shock and Extra Knuckle Torques
Front Strut Upper Bolts Torque Spec 66 ft-lbs
Front Strut Lower Bolt Torque Spec 85 ft-lbs
Stabilizer Frame Bracket Bolt Torque Spec 45 ft-lbs
Stabilizer End Link Torque Spec 27 ft-lbs