Front Hub/Knuckle

Description
The front wheel mounting area on each side of the vehicle is located at the junction of various drive, steering, braking, and suspension components. The outboard length of the halfshaft is the front wheel drive member. The steering knuckle is the steering, suspension, and support member for the wheels. As a steering member, the knuckle is connected to the steering gear tie rod end. As a suspension member, the knuckle is connected to the control arm and MacPherson strut. As a support member, the knuckle contains the wheel hub bearings. The brake components associated with the front hubs include the disc brake caliper, which is mounted on the steering knuckle, and the disc brake rotor.
The wheel hub is supported in the steering knuckle on opposed tapered roller bearings. A press fit secures the bearing inner races to the hub and the outer races in the steering knuckle. Bearing preload is set using a selective spacer that is installed in the steering knuckle between the inner and outer bearings and the races.
The halfshaft, which is splined to the hub, is secured to the hub with a staked nut and a large flat washer. Whenever the nut is loosened, it must be replaced with a new nut.