Steering knuckle and hub — removal and installation

Warning: Dust created by the brake system is harmful to your health. Never blow it out with compressed air and don’t inhale any of it. Do not, under any circumstances, use petroleum-based solvents to clean brake parts. Use brake system cleaner only.

Removal

1. Loosen the wheel lug nuts, raise the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands. Remove the wheel.

2. Remove the drive axle/hub nut (see Clutch and driveline). Remove the brake caliper and support it with a piece of wire as described in Brakes. Remove the caliper mounting bracket, then remove the brake disc from the hub.

3. Remove the stabilizer end link nut.

4. Mark the strut to the steering knuckle, then remove the strut-to-steering knuckle nuts, but do not remove the bolts.

5. Detach the ABS wheel speed sensor from the steering knuckle (see Clutch and driveline).

6. Separate the control arm from the ball joint (see Control arm (front) — removal and installation). Detach the tie-rod end from the steering knuckle (see Tie-rod ends — removal and installation).

7. Push the drive axle from the hub as described in Clutch and driveline. Support the end of the drive axle with a piece of wire.

8. Remove the bolts and separate the steering knuckle from the strut.

9. Installation is the reverse of removal.

Installation

10. Guide the knuckle and hub assembly into position, inserting the drive axle into the hub.

11. Push the knuckle into the strut flange and install the bolts and nuts, but don’t tighten them yet.

12. Connect the ball joint to the control arm and tighten the fasteners to the torque listed in this Chapter’s Specifications.

13. Tighten the strut bolt nuts and the tie-rod end nut to the torque values listed in this Chapter’s Specifications.

14. Place the brake disc on the hub and install the caliper mounting bracket and caliper as outlined in Chapter Brakes.

15. Install the drive axle/hub nut and tighten it to the torque listed in the Chapter Clutch and driveline Specifications.

16. Install the wheel and lug nuts. Lower the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts to the torque listed in the Tune-up and routine maintenance Specifications.

17. Have the front wheel alignment checked and, if necessary, adjusted.