Front Steering Knuckle: Service and Repair
REMOVALCotter Pin, Nut Lock, And Spring Washer:
1. Remove the cotter pin, nut lock, and spring washer from the hub nut.
CAUTION: Wheel bearing damage will result if after loosening hub nut the vehicle is rolled on the ground or the weight of the vehicle is allowed to be supported by the tires for a length of time.
Loosening Front Hub Retaining Nut:
2. Loosen the hub nut while the vehicle is on the floor with the brakes applied. Once the hub nut is loosened, the vehicle needs to be raised immediately.
3. Raise the vehicle.
4. Remove the hub nut.
5. Remove the front tire and wheel assembly.
Disc Brake Caliper Attaching Bolts:
6. Remove front disc brake caliper to steering knuckle attaching bolts.
Brake Caliper Removal:
7. Remove the disc brake caliper from the steering knuckle. Caliper is removed by first lifting bottom of caliper away from steering knuckle, and then removing top of caliper out from under steering knuckle.
Supporting Brake Caliper:
8. Support brake disc brake caliper assembly using a wire hook. Do not support the caliper by letting it hang by the hydraulic hose.
Remove/Install Brake Rotor:
9. Remove the brake rotor from the front hub.
Tie Rod End Attaching Nut:
10. Remove the nut attaching the outer tie rod end to the steering knuckle; hold the tie rod end stud with a 11/32 inch socket while loosening and removing the nut with a wrench.
Tie Rod End Removal:
11. Remove the tie rod end from the steering knuckle using Remover, Special Tool MB-991113.
Steering Knuckle-To-Ball Joint Clamp Bolt:
12. Remove the nut and bolt clamping the ball joint stud to the steering knuckle.
Separate Ball Joint Stud From Knuckle Assembly:
13. Separate ball joint stud from steering knuckle by prying down on lower control arm.
NOTE: Use caution when separating ball joint stud from steering knuckle, so the ball joint seal does not get cut.
NOTE: Care must be taken not to separate the inner C/V joint during this operation. Do not allow the driveshaft to hang by the inner C/V joint, it must be supported.
Steering Knuckle Separation From Driveshaft:
14. Pull the steering knuckle out and away from outer C/V joint of the driveshaft.
CAUTION: The steering knuckle to strut assembly attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during removal. Remove the nuts while holding the bolts stationary in the steering knuckles.
Steering Knuckle-To-Strut Attaching Bolts:
15. Remove the 2 steering knuckle to strut damper clevis bracket attaching bolts.
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 steering knuckle on vehicle.
16. If the steering knuckle is to be replace, refer to Wheel Bearing for the wheel bearing and hub removal and installation procedure.
INSTALLATION
1. Install a new cartridge wheel bearing and hub into the steering knuckle.
CAUTION: The steering knuckle-to-strut assembly attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during installation. Install the nuts while holding bolts stationary in the steering knuckles.
2. Install steering knuckle back in the clevis bracket of strut damper assembly. Install the strut damper to steering knuckle attaching bolts. Torque attaching nuts to 54 Nm (40 ft. lbs.) plus an additional 1/4 turn after the specified torque is met. If the vehicle is equipped with the ACR competition package and the eccentric cam bolts for adjusting camber, torque these bolts to 100 Nm (75 ft. lbs.) plus an additional 1/4 turn after the specified torque is met.
3. Slide the driveshaft C/V back into the front hub. Then install steering knuckle onto the ball joint stud.
4. Install a new steering knuckle-to-ball joint stud clamp bolt and nut. Torque the clamp bolt to 100 Nm (75 ft. lbs.).
5. Install the tie rod end into the steering knuckle. Start the tie rod end to steering knuckle attaching nut onto stud of tie rod end. While holding stud of tie rod end stationary, tighten the tie rod end to steering knuckle attaching nut using an 11/32 inch socket and wrench. Then, using a crowfoot on a torque wrench, and an 11/32 inch socket, torque the tie rod end attaching nut to 55 Nm (40 ft. lbs.).
6. Install the brake rotor on the hub.
7. Install the disc brake caliper on the steering knuckle. The caliper is installed by first sliding the top of the caliper under top abutment on the steering knuckle. Then install the bottom of caliper against the bottom abutment of the steering knuckle.
8. Install the disc brake caliper to steering knuckle attaching bolts. Tighten the caliper attaching guide bolts to a torque of 22 Nm (192 inch lbs.).
Stub Axle And Hub Nut:
9. Clean all foreign matter from the threads of the outer C/V joint stub axle. Install the hub nut and tighten it.
Torquing Front Hub Nut:
10. With vehicle brakes applied to keep braking disc from turning, tighten the hub nut to a torque of 183 Nm (135 ft. lbs.).
11. Install the spring washer, hub nut lock, and new cotter pin. Wrap cotter pin prongs tightly around the hub nut lock.
12. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Install the wheel mounting nuts and tighten them to a torque of 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).
13. Lower the vehicle.
14. Set the front toe on the vehicle to required specification. Refer to Alignment.