Rear Knuckle: Service and Repair
Knuckle/Hub/Wheel Bearing ReplacementKnuckle/Hub/Wheel Bearing:
Special Tools Required
^ Attachment, 62 x 68 mm 07746-0010500
^ Driver 07749-0010000
^ Hub dis/assembly tool 07965-SA70100
^ Support base 07965-SD90100
NOTE: The illustrations show except SC model.
Knuckle Replacement
1. Raise the rear of the vehicle, and support it with safety stands in the proper locations.
2. Remove the wheel nuts and rear wheel.
3. Release the parking brake lever.
4. Remove the brake hose mounting bolt (A).
5. Remove the caliper bracket mounting bolts (B), and hang the caliper (C) to one side. To prevent damage to the caliper or brake hose, use a short piece of wire to hang the caliper from the undercarriage.
6. Release the parking brake, and remove the brake disc/drum (A) from the hub bearing unit.
NOTE:
^ Remove the access plug (B), then, if necessary, turn the adjuster bolt (C) with a flat-tip screwdriver until the shoes become loose if necessary.
^ If the brake drum has clung to the hub bearing unit. Screw two 8 x 1.25 mm bolts (D) into the brake disc/drum to push it away from the hub bearing unit. Turn each bolt 90° at a time to prevent cocking the brake disc/drum.
^ After installation, press the brake pedal several times to make sure the brakes work if adjusted to loose the shoes.
7. Raise the stake (A) of the spindle nut (B), then remove and discard the nut. Remove the rear axle shaft (C) from vehicles with 2WD.
8. Remove the parking brake shoes.
9. Remove the parking brake cable (A) from the backing plate.
NOTE: The parking brake cable must not be bent or distorted. This will lead to stiff operation and premature cable failure.
10. Remove the wheel sensor (A) from the knuckle.
11. Place a floor jack under the trailing arm (A) to support it.
NOTE: Do not place the jack against the plate section of the lower arm. Be careful not to damage any suspension components.
12. Remove the flange bolt, and disconnect the upper arm (B) from the knuckle.
13. Mark the cam positions of the adjusting bolt (A) and adjusting cam (B), then remove the self-locking nut (C), adjusting cam, and adjusting bolt. Discard the self-locking nut.
14. Remove the flange bolt (D).
15. Remove the knuckle (A) while pushing in the driveshaft and holding the driveshaft outboard joint (B) (4WD only).
16. Install the knuckle in the reverse order of removal, and note these items:
^ First install all the suspension components, and lightly tighten the bolts and nuts, then place a floor jack under the trailing arm, and raise the suspension to load it with the vehicle's weight before fully tightening the bolts and nuts to the specified torque values.
^ Align the cam positions of the adjusting bolt and adjusting cam with the marked positions when tightening.
^ Use a new self-locking nut during reassembly.
^ Use a new spindle nut during reassembly.
^ Before installing a new spindle nut, apply a small amount of engine oil to the seating surface of the nut. After tightening, use a drift to stake the spindle nut shoulder against the driveshaft (4WD) or rear axle shaft (2WD).
^ Before installing the brake disc/drum, clean the mating surfaces of the rear hub and the inside of the brake disc/drum.
^ Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surfaces of the brake disc/drum and the inside of the wheel.
^ Check the rear wheel alignment, and adjust it if necessary.
Wheel Bearing Unit Replacement
1. Remove the brake hose mounting bracket (A).
2. Separate the bearing unit (A) from the knuckle (B).
3. Separate the hub (A) and backing plate (B) from bearing unit (C) using the hub dis/assembly tool and a hydraulic press. Hold the bearing unit with a press attachment (D) or equivalent tool. Be careful not to deform the backing plate. Hold onto the hub to keep it from falling when pressed clear.
4. Press the wheel bearing inner race (A) out of the hub (B) using the hub dis/assembly tool, a commercially available bearing separator (C), and a press.
5. Wash the knuckle and hub thoroughly in a high flash point solvent before reassembly.
6. Install the hub (A) and backing plate (B) on the new bearing unit (C) using the driver, the attachment, the support base and a hydraulic press. Be careful not to deform the backing plate.
NOTE:
^ Remove any oil, grease, dust, or other foreign material from the encoder surface (D).
^ Keep magnetic tools away from the encoder surface.
^ Be careful not to damage the encoder surface.
7. Install the bearing unit (A) and knuckle (B).
8. Install the brake hose mounting bracket (A).
