Front Steering Knuckle: Service and Repair

REMOVAL
1. Raise and support the vehicle.
2. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
3. Remove the brake caliper, rotor, shield and ABS wheel speed sensor if equipped.
4. Remove the front halfshaft nut (if equipped).
5. Remove the tie rod end nut. Separate the tie rod from the knuckle with Remover 8677.

CAUTION: When installing Remover 8677 to separate the ball joint, be careful not to damage the ball joint seal.

Fig. 17:

6. Remove the upper ball joint nut. Separate the ball joint from the knuckle with Remover 8677.





7. Remove the lower ball joint nut. Separate the ball joint from the knuckle with Remover 8677 and remove the knuckle.
8. Remove the hub/bearing from the steering knuckle.

INSTALLATION

CAUTION: The ball joint stud tapers must be CLEAN and DRY before installing the knuckle. Clean the stud tapers with mineral spirits to remove dirt and grease.

NOTE: When installing hub/bearing with ABS brakes, position the speed sensor opening towards the front of the vehicle.

Fig. 19:

1. Install the hub/bearing to the steering knuckle and tighten the bolts to 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.) (LD) or 176 Nm (130 ft. lbs.) (HD 4X2).
2. Install the knuckle onto the upper and lower ball joints.
3. Install the upper and lower ball joint nuts. Tighten the upper ball joint nut to 54 Nm (40 ft. lbs.) (on 1500 series only an additional 90° turn is required) and the lower ball joint nut to 52 Nm (38 ft. lbs.) (on 1500 series only an additional 90° turn is required) (LD) or 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.) (HD 4X2).
4. Remove the hydraulic jack from the lower suspension arm.
5. Install the tie rod end and tighten the nut to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).
6. Install the front halfshaft into the hub/bearing (if equipped).
7. Install the halfshaft nut and tighten to 251 Nm (185 ft. lbs.) (if equipped).
8. Install the ABS wheel speed sensor if equipped and brake shield, rotor and caliper.
9. Install the wheel and tire assembly.
10. Remove the support and lower the vehicle.
11. Perform a wheel alignment.