Front Steering Knuckle: Service and Repair

Fig. 9 Exploded view of steering knuckle & hub assembly:

REMOVAL

1. Raise and support front of vehicle.
2. Remove wheel and tire assembly.
3. Remove brake hose retaining clip from strut, then disconnect hose from caliper.
4. Unfasten caliper from steering and support caliper.

Fig. 10 Hub removal:

5. Remove rotor, Fig. 9, then the hub as mentioned previously,Fig. 10.
6. Remove splash shield.
7. Remove tie rod using tool No. J-21687-02 or equivalent.
8. Remove 2 ball joint-to-control arm and tension rod attaching nuts and bolts.

Fig. 11 Steering knuckle removal:

9. Remove steering knuckle-to-strut attaching nuts and bolts and the steering knuckle, Fig. 11.

Fig. 9 Exploded view of steering knuckle & hub assembly:

DISASSEMBLY

1. Remove inner seal, snap rings and inner bearing race from steering knuckle, Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 Hub bearing removal:

2. Press hub bearing from knuckle, Fig. 12.

Fig. 13 Outer bearing race removal:

3. Press outer bearing race from hub, Fig. 13. The hub bearing, both inner and outer seals and races must not be reused.

ASSEMBLY

1. Install outer snap ring to knuckle.
2. Install hub bearing assembly using a suitable press.
3. Install inner snap ring, then the inner and outer seals using tool J-35303 or equivalent.
4. Install outer race using tool No. J-3502 or equivalent.

INSTALLATION

1. Install ball joint-to-control arm attaching nuts and bolts and torque to 80 ft. lbs.
2. Install strut-to-knuckle attaching nuts and bolts and torque to 80 ft. lbs.
3. Install tie rod-to-knuckle attaching nut and torque to 42 ft. lbs.
4. Install brake rotor.
5. Install brake caliper-to-knuckle attaching bolts and torque to 41 ft. lbs.
6. Install brake hose to caliper and torque fitting to 13 ft. lbs.
7. Install wheel and tire assembly, then lower vehicle.
8. Apply suitable grease to axle shaft threads and nut, then install axle-to-hub attaching nut, washer and cotter pin. Torque nut to 137 ft. lbs.
9. Tighten wheel nuts, then bleed brake system.