Front Steering Knuckle: Service and Repair

Steering Knuckle Replacement

Tools Required
^ J42188 Ball Joint Separator
^ J45059 Angle Meter

Removal Procedure
1. Raise and support the vehicle on an alignment rack. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
2. Remove the tire and wheel assembly.
3. Remove the front brake rotor.
4. Remove the cotter pin from the outer tie rod nut.
5. Remove the outer tie rod nut.
6. Use the OTC 7314A, or the equivalent ball joint separator, in order to separate the outer tie rod from the knuckle.





7. Remove and discard the 2 nuts (5, 6).
8. If equipped, remove the 2 washers (4, 7) from the bolts.
9. Remove and discard the 2 bolts (2, 3).

10. Important: The camber adjustment screw has thread sealant in the form of micro-encapsulation.

If you are replacing the knuckle, remove the camber adjusting screw from the knuckle.
11. Separate the steering knuckle from the strut.
12. Remove and discard the nut that retains the control arm ball joint stud to the knuckle.
13. Use the J42188, or equivalent, in order to separate the control arm ball joint stud from the knuckle.
14. Remove the wheel bearing and hub assembly (1).
15. Remove the knuckle from the vehicle.

Installation Procedure





1. Install the wheel bearing and hub assembly (1).
2. Install the steering knuckle to the control arm ball joint stud.
3. Align the bolt holes in the knuckle with the bolt holes in the strut.

4. Important: Do NOT tighten the bolts or the nuts yet.

Install the 2 NEW bolts (2, 3) in order to retain the knuckle to the strut.
5. Install the 2 washers (4, 7) to the bolts.
6. Install the 2 NEW nuts (5, 6) to the bolts.
7. Position a jack and a block of wood below the control arm ball joint.
8. Raise the jack in order to support the control arm.
9. Raise the jack in order to seat the knuckle on the control arm ball joint stud.

10. Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.

Install the nut to the control arm ball joint stud.
Tighten the nut to 60 Nm (44 ft. lbs.).
11. Remove the jack and the wood.
12. Ensure the plastic spacer is on the ball stud for the outer tie rod end.
13. Install the outer tie rod to the knuckle.

14. Important: Do not loosen the nut in order to insert the cotter pin.

Install the nut to the ball stud for the outer tie rod.
Tighten the nut to 68 Nm (50 ft. lbs.). Align the cotter pin slot by tightening the nut up to 1/6 additional turn, or 85 Nm (63 ft. lbs.) maximum.
15. Install the cotter pin into the hole in the tie rod stud.





16. If you removed the camber adjusting screw (1), install the camber adjusting screw to the knuckle.
17. Tighten the 2 nuts (2) that retain the strut to the knuckle.
Tighten the nuts to 85 Nm (63 ft. lbs.).
18. Install the front brake rotor.
19. If you replaced the hub, measure the assembled lateral runout (LRO) of the brake rotor in order to ensure optimum performance of the disc brakes. Refer to Brake Rotor Assembled Lateral Runout (LRO) Measurement.
20. If the brake rotor assembled LRO measurement exceeds the specification, adjust the LRO to the specification.
21. Install the tire and wheel assembly.
22. Lower the vehicle onto the alignment rack in order to place the weight of the vehicle onto the tires.
23. Push down on the front bumper 3 times in order to stabilize the suspension.
24. Measure the wheel alignment.
25. If necessary, adjust the alignment to the specification. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications. If necessary, rotate the camber adjusting screw in order to adjust the front camber.
26. Tighten the 2 nuts that retain the strut to the knuckle.
1. Tighten the nuts to 100 Nm (74 ft. lbs.).
2. Use the J45059 in order to tighten the nuts an additional 90 degrees.

27. Lower the vehicle.