Rear Knuckle: Service and Repair

Wheel Knuckle

Special Tool(s):

Removal

All vehicles

CAUTION: Suspension fasteners are critical parts because they affect performance of vital components and systems and their failure may result in major service expense. New parts must be installed with the same part numbers or equivalent part, if replacement is necessary. Do not use a replacement part of lesser quality or substitute design. Torque values must be used as specified during reassembly to make sure correct retention of these parts.

CAUTION: Suspension bushing fasteners must be tightened with the weight of the vehicle resting on the wheel and tires or incorrect clamp load and bushing damage may occur.

1. Remove the wheel and tire.

2. CAUTION: Do not allow the brake caliper and anchor plate assembly to hang from the brake hose or damage to the hose can occur.

Remove the 2 anchor plate bolts and position the brake caliper and anchor plate assembly aside.
^ Support the brake caliper and anchor plate assembly using mechanic's wire.
3. Remove the brake disc.
4. Disconnect the parking brake shoe retaining spring and remove the spring and brake shoe assembly.
5. Remove the 2 bolts and disconnect the parking brake cable.
6. Remove the nut and disconnect the stabilizer bar link and parking brake cable bracket from the wheel knuckle.
^ Discard the nut.
7. Remove the bolt, unclip the 2 retainers and position aside the wheel speed sensor.
8. Remove the brake hose bracket bolt.

All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles
9. Remove and discard the outer and inner halfshaft nuts.
10. Using the special tool, separate the halfshaft from the wheel bearing and wheel hub.





All vehicles
11. Position a suitable jackstand under the lower arm.





12. Remove and discard the lower shock bolt and nut.
13. Remove and discard the upper arm outboard bolt and nut.
14. Remove and discard the lower arm outboard bolt and nut.
15. Remove and discard the toe link outboard bolt and nut.

AWD vehicles
16. Position the halfshaft through the wheel knuckle opening and secure the halfshaft aside.





All vehicles
17. Remove the 5 wheel knuckle bracket-to-frame bolts and the wheel knuckle.
^ Discard the bolts.
18. Remove and discard the wheel knuckle bracket bolt nut.

Installation
All vehicles

CAUTION: Suspension bushing fasteners must be tightened with the weight of the vehicle resting on the wheel and tires or incorrect clamp load and bushing damage may occur.

1. Install the wheel knuckle bracket bolt and nut.
^ Tighten the bolt to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).
2. Position the wheel knuckle and install the 5 wheel knuckle bracket-to-frame bolts.
^ Tighten the bolts to 47 Nm (35 lb-ft).

AWD vehicles
3. Position the halfshaft into the wheel bearing and hub.





All vehicles
4. Position the wheel knuckle onto the toe link and lower arm.

5. NOTE: Do not tighten the lower arm outboard bolt at this time.

Loosely install the lower arm outboard bolt.

6. NOTE: Do not tighten the toe link outboard bolt at this time.

Loosely install the toe link outboard bolt.

7. NOTE: Do not tighten the shock absorber lower bolt at this time.

Loosely install the shock absorber lower bolt.
8. Using the jack, raise the suspension and install the upper arm outboard bolt and nut.
9. If installing a new wheel knuckle, tighten the lower outboard bolt in the following sequence.
1) Tighten the bolt to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).
2) Loosen the bolt 180 degrees.
3) Tighten the bolt to 80 Nm (59 lb-ft).
4) Tighten the bolt an additional 90 degrees.
10. If installing the original wheel knuckle, tighten the lower arm outboard bolt to 80 Nm (59 lb-ft).
^ Tighten the bolt an additional 90 degrees.
11. Tighten the toe link outboard bolt to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).
12. Tighten the shock absorber lower nut to 80 Nm (59 lb-ft).

AWD vehicles
13. Using a suitable installation tool, install the halfshaft into the wheel hub.
14. Install the inner halfshaft nut.
^ Tighten to 275 Nm (203 lb-ft).
15. Install the outer halfshaft nut.
^ Tighten to 175 Nm (129 lb-ft).

All vehicles
16. Install the brake hose bracket bolt.
^ Tighten to 7 Nm (62 lb-in).
17. Position the wheel speed sensor, clip the 2 retainers to the upper arm and install the bolt.
^ Tighten to 7 Nm (62 lb-in).

18. NOTE: The parking brake cable bracket is fastened to the wheel knuckle with the same bolt as the stabilizer bar link.

Connect the parking brake cable bracket and the stabilizer bar link to the wheel knuckle.
^ Tighten the bolt to 35 Nm (26 lb-ft).
19. Connect the parking brake cable and install the 2 bolts.
^ Tighten to 18 Nm (13 lb-ft).
20. Install the parking brake shoe and retaining spring.
21. Install the brake disc.
22. Position the brake caliper and anchor plate assembly and install the anchor plate bolts.
^ Tighten to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft).
23. Install the wheel and tire.