Rear Knuckle: Service and Repair

Wheel Knuckle













Removal

NOTICE: 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.

1. Remove the wheel bearing and wheel hub assembly. For additional information, refer to Wheel Bearing and Wheel Hub Rear Suspension.

2. Remove the parking brake shoes.

3. Remove the brake disc shield.

4. Compress the spring and depress the retaining tabs and detach the parking brake cable from the wheel knuckle and parking brake lever.

5. Remove and discard the upper arm-to-wheel knuckle nut.

6. Using the Ball Joint Separator, separate the upper arm from the wheel knuckle.





7. Remove and discard the lower ball joint nut.

8. Using the Ball Joint Separator, separate the lower ball joint from the wheel knuckle.





9. Remove and discard the 2 bolts and disconnect the lower trailing arm from the wheel knuckle.

10. Remove and discard the bolt and disconnect the toe link from the wheel knuckle.

11. NOTE: Use the hex-holding feature to prevent the stud from turning while removing the nut.

Using the hex-holding feature, remove and discard the stabilizer bar link nut and disconnect the link from the wheel knuckle.


12. Remove the upper trailing arm-to-wheel knuckle bolt and the wheel knuckle.
- Discard the bolt.


Installation

1. NOTE: Do not tighten the upper trailing arm-to wheel knuckle bolt at this time.

Position the wheel knuckle and loosely install the new upper trailing arm-to-wheel knuckle bolt.


2. Connect the stabilizer bar link to the wheel knuckle and install the new nut.
- Tighten to 63 Nm (46 lb-ft).


3. NOTE: Do not tighten the toe link-to-wheel knuckle bolt at this time.

Connect the toe link-to-the wheel knuckle and loosely install the new bolt.


4. Connect the lower trailing arm to the wheel knuckle and install the 2 new bolts.
- Tighten to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft).


5. Position the lower ball joint onto the wheel knuckle and install the new lower ball joint nut.
- Tighten to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft).


6. Position the upper arm and install the new upper arm-to-wheel knuckle nut.
- Tighten the nut to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft).


7. Compress the spring, insert the retaining tabs and attach the parking brake cable to the wheel knuckle and parking brake cable lever.





8. Install the brake disc shield.

9. Install the parking brake shoes.

10. Install the wheel bearing and wheel hub assembly. For additional information, refer to Wheel Bearing and Wheel Hub Rear Suspension.

11. Lower the vehicle so that the weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheel and tires.

12. Tighten the toe link-to-the wheel knuckle bolt to 225 Nm (166 lb-ft).

13. Tighten the upper trailing arm-to-wheel knuckle bolt to 250 Nm (184 lb-ft).