Removal and Installation
NOTE: Before proceeding with this procedure, review SERVICE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS found under Service Precaution.REMOVAL
1. Apply the brakes and hold in place.
2. Raise the vehicle, refer to Maintaince for procedure.
3. Remove the front tire and wheel assembly.
4. While the brakes are applied, loosen and remove the hub nut on the end of the driveshaft.
6. Remove the two guide pin bolts securing the front disc brake caliper to the steering knuckle.
7. Remove the disc brake caliper from the steering knuckle. The caliper is removed by first tipping either the top (right side) or bottom (left side) of the caliper away from the brake rotor, then pulling the caliper off the opposite end's caliper slide (on the knuckle) and rotor.
8. Hang the caliper out of the way using a wire hanger or cord. Do not support the caliper by letting it hang by the hydraulic hose.
9. Remove any retainer clips from the wheel mounting studs. Remove the brake rotor from the front hub.
10. Remove the nut attaching the outer tie rod to the steering knuckle. To do this, hold the tie rod end stud with a wrench while loosening and removing the nut with a standard wrench or crowfoot wrench.
11. Remove the tie rod end from the steering knuckle using Remover, Special Tool MB991113.
12. Remove the tie rod heat shield.
13. Remove the nut and pinch bolt clamping the ball joint stud to the steering knuckle.
CAUTION: The strut assembly-to-steering knuckle attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during removal. Hold the bolts stationary in the steering knuckles while removing the nuts, then tap the bolts out using a pin punch.
14. Remove the two bolts attaching the strut to the steering knuckle.
NOTE: Use caution when separating the ball joint stud from the steering knuckle, so the ball joint seal does not get cut.
15. Separate the ball joint stud from the steering knuckle by prying down on lower control arm and up against the ball joint boss on the steering knuckle.
NOTE: Do not allow the driveshaft to hang by the inner ON joint; it must be supported to keep the joint from separating during this operation.
16. Pull the steering knuckle off the driveshaft outer C/V joint splines and remove the steering knuckle.
NOTE: The cartridge type front wheel bearing used on this vehicle is not transferable to the replacement steering knuckle. If the replacement steering knuckle does not come with a wheel bearing, a new bearing must be installed in the steering knuckle. Installation of the new wheel bearing and hub must be done before installing the steering knuckle on the vehicle.
17. If the steering knuckle is to be replaced, refer to Disassembly and Assembly for the wheel bearing and hub removal and installation procedure. Do not reuse the wheel bearing
INSTALLATION
1. If the steering knuckle has been replaced, refer to Disassembly and Assembly for the wheel bearing and hub installation procedure. Do not reuse the old wheel bearing.
2. Slide the hub of the steering knuckle onto the splines on the driveshaft C/V joint.
3. Install the steering knuckle onto the ball joint stud aligning the bolt hole in the knuckle boss with the notch formed in the side of the ball joint stud.
4. Install a new ball joint stud pinch bolt and nut. Tighten the nut to a torque of 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.).
CAUTION: The strut assembly-to-steering knuckle attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during installation. Install the nuts while holding the bolts stationary in the steering knuckle.
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5. Position the lower end of the strut assembly in line with the upper end of the steering knuckle and align the mounting holes. Install the two attaching bolts. The bolts should be installed with so that the nuts face towards the front of the vehicle once installed. Install the nuts. Holding the bolts in place tighten the nuts to a torque of 53 Nm (40 ft. lbs.) plus an additional 90° turn after the specified torque is met.
6. Place the tie rod heat shield on the steering knuckle arm so that the shield is positioned straight away from the steering gear and tie rod end once installed. align the hole in the shield with the hole in the steering knuckle arm.
7. Install the outer tie rod ball stud into the hole in the steering knuckle arm. Start the tie rod attaching nut onto the stud. Hold the tie rod end stud with a wrench while tightening the nut with a standard wrench or crowfoot wrench. To fully tighten the nut to specifications, use a crowfoot wrench on a torque wrench to turn the nut, and a wrench on the stud. Tighten the nut to a torque of 55 Nm (40 ft. lbs.).
8. Install the brake rotor on the hub.
9. Install the disc brake caliper (with pads) on the brake rotor and steering knuckle. The left side caliper is installed by first sliding the top of the caliper past the top abutment on the steering knuckle to hook the top edge of the caliper, then pushing the lower end of the caliper into place against the knuckle. The right side caliper is installed by first sliding the bottom edge of the caliper past the lower abutment on the steering knuckle to hook the lower edge of the caliper, then pushing the top of the caliper into place against the steering knuckle.
10. Install the two guide pin bolts securing the front disc brake caliper to the steering knuckle. Tighten the guide pin bolts to a torque of 22 Nm (192 inch lbs.).
11. Clean all foreign matter from the threads of the driveshaft outer C/V joint.
12. Install the hub nut in the end of the driveshaft and snug it.
13. Have a helper apply the brakes. With vehicle brakes applied to keep brake rotor and hub from turning, tighten the hub nut to a torque of 244 Nm (180 ft. lbs.).
14. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Install the wheel mounting nuts and tighten them to a torque of 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).
15. Lower the vehicle.
16. Set the front toe on the vehicle to required specification.