Rear Knuckle: Service and Repair

Removal Procedure





1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
2. Remove the rear tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
3. Remove the brake drum/hub assembly (6). Refer to Brake Drum Replacement (Hub Design with ABS) or Brake Drum Replacement (Hubless Design Without ABS) in Brakes and Traction Control.





4. Remove the brake hose bracket (2) from the knuckle (3).
5. If the vehicle is ABS equipped, disconnect the wheel speed sensor electrical connector.





6. Remove the brake pipe from the wheel cylinder. Insert the bleeder valve cap onto the pipe (2) in order to prevent fluid from spilling.





7. Remove the brake backing plate from the knuckle by removing the four bolts (1).
8. Remove the control rod-to-knuckle nut and the washer.





9. Remove the control rod (2) from the knuckle (1).
10. Support the suspension arm using a floor jack.





11. Remove the strut-to-knuckle bolt (3).





12. Remove the suspension arm-to-knuckle bolt and the nut (1).
13. Remove the knuckle from the suspension arm and the nut.

Installation Procedure





1. Install the knuckle (2) to the strut. Position the bottom of the strut alignment projection (1) inside the knuckle opening.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.





2. Install the strut-to-knuckle bolt.
- Tighten the strut-to-knuckle bolt to 60 Nm (44 ft. lbs.).
3. Install the suspension arm-to-knuckle bolt and the nut (1).
- Tighten the suspension arm-to-knuckle nut and the bolt to 40 Nm (29 ft. lbs.).
4. Install the control rod to the knuckle stud. Secure the control rod with a washer and nut.
- Tighten the control rod-to-suspension knuckle nut to 80 Nm (59 ft. lbs.).
5. Remove the floor jack.





6. Apply GM P/N 12346240, or equivalent, to the mating surfaces of the brake backing plate and the suspension knuckle (1).
7. Install the brake backing plate to the knuckle. Secure the plate with four bolts.
- Tighten the brake backing plate bolts to 23 Nm (17 ft. lbs.).
8. Install the brake fluid pipe to the wheel cylinder
- Tighten the brake fluid pipe flare nut to 16 Nm (12 ft. lbs.).
9. If the vehicle is ABS equipped, connect the wheel speed sensor electrical connector.
10. Install the bleeder valve cap onto the bleeder valve.
11. Install the brake hose bracket to the knuckle.
- Tighten the brake hose bracket bolt to 23 Nm (17 ft. lbs.).
12. Install the brake drum/hub assembly to the knuckle spindle. Refer to Brake Drum Replacement (Hub Design with ABS) or Brake Drum Replacement (Hubless Design Without ABS) in Brakes and Traction Control.
13. Install the washer and the spindle nut to the knuckle spindle.
- If the vehicle is wheel hub equipped, tighten the spindle nut to 170 Nm (120 ft. lbs.).
- If the vehicle is non-wheel hub equipped, tighten the spindle nut to 100 Nm (74 ft. lbs.).
14. Stake the spindle nut.
15. Install the spindle nut dust cap.
16. Install the rear tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
17. Lower the vehicle.
18. Bleed the brake system. Refer to Hydraulic Brake System Bleeding.
19. Inspect the brake drum for free rotation. Refer to Brake Drum Inspection.
20. Inspect the brake system performance.
21. Inspect for brake fluid leaks. Refer to Brake Fluid Leak.