Front Steering Knuckle: Service and Repair

Steering swivel member
To remove

IMPORTANT: The bearing will be rendered unserviceable on dismantling.





1. Slacken the hub center nut when the car is standing on all four wheels.
2. Raise the car. If a jack is used, safety stands should be placed under the car.
3. Remove the wheel.
4. Completely undo the hub center-nut. The nut must not be reused
5. Press back the brake piston using a pair of slip-joint pliers. Remove the brake caliper from the swivel member and suspend it from the coil spring with a piece of wire or cable tie, etc.





6. Undo the brake disc retaining bolt and remove the disc.
7. Undo the ABS sensor retaining bolt and lift up the sensor.





8. Undo the nut on the outer track-rod end and remove the track rod end Puller, balljoint 89 96 696.
9. Remove the bolts securing the steering swivel member to the MacPherson strut. Bend aside the bracket for the ABS sensor cable and brake hose.





10. Remove the bolt securing the steering swivel member's ball joint to the steering swivel member.





11. Remove the brake backplate retaining bolts through the holes in the hub and remove the backplate
12. Remove the holder for the ABS sensor.
13. Tap the drive shaft out of the hub, using a plastic mallet.





14. Lift off the steering swivel member.
15. Press out the center hub using Drift, front-wheel bearings 89 96 70 (KM-500-5).





16. Remove the circlip.





17. Press out the bearing using Drift, front-wheel bearings 89 96 70 KM-500-2 and KM-500-3).

To fit





1. Lubricate the surface of the steering swivel member bearing with Molycote Rapid G and press in a new bearing with Drift, front-wheel bearings (KM-500-4 and KM-500-5).





2. Fit the circlip with the opening facing downwards.





3. Press in the hub using Drift, front- wheel bearings 89 96 704 (KM-500-3 and KM-500-5).
4. Fit the drive shaft in the hub and pull it in with a new hub center-nut.

IMPORTANT: A new hub center-nut should always be fitted if it has been removed since the clamping force of the lock embossing will be reduced if refitted.





5. Refit the holder for the ABS sensor and the brake backplate.





6. Fit the steering swivel member's ball joint in the steering swivel member, insert the bolt securing the steering swivel member to the ball joint and screw on the nut. Make sure that the bolt fits in the milled recess on the ball joint.

WARNING: Make sure that the journal on the ball joint sticks up above the steering swivel member mounting.

7. Press the steering swivel member into the MacPherson strut and mount the bracket for the ABS sensor cable and the brake hose. Press the steering swivel member inwards and tighten the bolts (use threadlocker Locktite 242) securing the steering swivel member to the MacPherson strut.
Tightening torque 100 Nm (75 ft. lbs.). +45°.
8. Tighten the bolt securing the steering swivel member's ball joint to the steering swivel member.
Tightening torque 95 Nm (70 ft. lbs.).
9. Attach the outer track-rod end to the steering swivel member and tighten the nut.
Tightening torque 60 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).





10. Fit the ABS sensor.
11. Fit the brake disc in place and tighten the brake disc retaining bolt.





12. Make sure that the brake piston is pressed back into the cylinder and mount the brake caliper on the bolts (use Locktite 242) of the steering swivel member.
Tightening torque 120 Nm (80 ft. lbs.).
13. Fit the wheel.
Tightening torque 110 Nm (90 ft. lbs.).
Lower the car and fit a new hub center-nut with a torque wrench while the car is standing on all four wheels.
Tightening torque: 170 Nm + 45° (us nut with top groove)
15. Depress the brake pedal to force out the pistons in the brake calipers.