Steering Knuckle Replacement RWD
Removal Procedure
Tools Required
Caution: Floor jack must remain under the lower control arm during
removal and installation to retain the lower control arm in position. Failure
to do so could result in personal injury.
- Raise the vehicle. Refer
to
Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle
in General
Information.
• | Support the lower control arm with floor stands. |
• | Place floor stands under the lower control arms as far outboard
as possible (between spring seats and ball joint) to maintain maxium leverage. |
- Remove the rotor. Refer to
Front Wheel Hub, Bearing, and Seal Replacement
.
- Remove the bolts that
attach the splash shield to the steering knuckle.
- Remove the cotter pin.
- Remove the tie rod end stud nut.
- Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle using J 6627-A
.
- Remove the lower ball
joint stud from the steering knuckle using J 23742
.
Caution: Floor jack must remain under the lower control arm during
removal and installation to retain the lower control arm in position. Failure
to do so could result in personal injury.
- Remove the upper ball joint stud from the knuckle using J 23742
.
8.1. | Position a floor jack under the lower control arm near the spring
seat. Raise the jack until the jack supports the control arm. |
8.2. | Raise the upper control arm. Disengage the ball joint stud from
the steering knuckle. |
- Remove the steeringknuckle from the lower ball joint stud.
9.1. | Clean the steering knuckle. |
9.2. | Inspect the steering knuckle tapered hole. Replace the steering
knuckle if this tapered hole is out-of-round, deformed, or damaged. |
Installation Procedure
Tools Required
J 29193 Steering Linkage
Installer
- Install the upper ball joint into the steering knuckle. Refer
to
Upper Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement
.
- Install the lower ball joint into the steering knuckle. Refer
to
Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement
.
- Install the splash shield
to the steering knuckle.
Notice: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners
must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring
replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant
are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or
corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified.
These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage
the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when
installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.
- Install the splash
shield bolts.
Tighten
Tighten the splach shield bolts to 26 N·m (19 lb ft).
- Install the tie rod end into the knuckle using J 29193
.
- Tighten J 29193
.
- Remove the tool.
- Install the tie rod end retaining nut.
Tighten
Tighten the tie rod end retaining nut to 53 N·m (39 lb ft).
- Install the rotor. Refer to
Front Wheel Hub, Bearing, and Seal Replacement
.
- Lower the Vehicle.
- Check the front wheel alignment. Refer to
Wheel Alignment Specifications
in Wheel Alignment.
Steering Knuckle Replacement 4WD
Tools Required
• | J 24319-B Steering Linkage
and Tie Rod Puller |
• | J 43631 Ball Joint
Separator Tool |
Removal Procedure
- Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to
Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle
in General Information.
- Remove the tire and wheel. Refer to
Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation
in Tires and Wheels.
- Remove the wheel hub and bearing. Refer to
Front Wheel Hub, Bearing, and Seal Replacement
.
- Remove the cotter pin from the outer tie
rod retaining nut.
- Remove the outer tie rod retaining nut.
- Remove the outer tie rod end from the steering knuckle using J 24319-B
.
- Remove the wheel speed sensor wiring harness
bracket and brake hose bracket mounting bolts and nuts from the upper control
arm.
- Disconnect the wheel speed sensor wiring harness bracket and brake hose
bracket from the upper control arm.
- Remove the cotter pin from the upper ball
joint retaining nut.
- Remove the upper ball joint retaining nut.
- Using a pry bar, placed under the upper control arm and on top of the
frame, pry upward.
- With the aid of a helper, carefully hammer on the steering knuckle in
the area of the upper ball joint stud in order to release the stud from the steering
knuckle.
- Remove the upper ball joint from the steering knuckle.
- Remove the cotter pin from the lower joint retaining nut.
- Remove the lower ball joint retaining nut.
- Disconnect the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle using J 43631
.
- Remove the steering knuckle from the vehicle.
- Remove the steering knuckle seal.
Installation Procedure
- Install the steering knuckle seal.
- Install the steering knuckle to the upper and lower ball joints ball
studs.
Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.
- Install the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle retaining nut.
Tighten
• | Tighten the lower ball joint to steering knuckle retaining nut to 108 N·m
(79 lb ft). |
• | Tighten the lower ball joint retaining nut in order to align the cotter
pin. Do not tighten the lower ball joint retaining nut more than 1/6 turn. |
- Install a new cotter pin to the lower ball joint retaining nut. Bend
the pin ends against the nut.
- Install the upper ball joint to the steering knuckle retaining nut.
Tighten
• | Tighten the upper ball joint retaining nut to 83 N·m (61 lb ft). |
• | Tighten the upper ball joint retaining nut in order to align the cotter
pin. Do not tighten the upper ball joint retaining nut more than 1/6 turn. |
- Install a new cotter pin to the upper ball joint stud. Bend the pin ends
against the nut.
- Install the wheel speed sensor and the
brake hose bracket to the upper control arm.
- Install the wheel speed sensor and the brake hose bracket to the upper
control arm mounting bolts and nuts.
Tighten
Tighten the wheel speed sensor and brake hose bracket to the upper control
arm nuts to 24 N·m (18 lb ft).
- Install the tie rod end ball stud to the
steering knuckle.
- Install the outer tie rod ball retaining nut.
Tighten
Tighten the outer tie rod ball retaining nut to 53 N·m (39 lb ft).
- Install a new cotter pin to the outer tie rod retaining nut. Bend the
pin ends against the nut flats.
- Install the wheel hub and bearing. Refer to
Front Wheel Hub, Bearing, and Seal Replacement
.
- Check the front wheel alignment. Refer to
Wheel Alignment Measurement
in Wheel Alignment.