Front Steering Knuckle: Service and Repair

Removal
1. Raise the vehicle and support the frame with suitable safety stands.
2. Remove wheel and tire assembly.
3. Remove the brake caliper.
4. Remove the disk rotor.
5. Remove the hub assembly.
6. Remove tie-rod end from the knuckle.
7. Remove the speed sensor from the knuckle
8. Loosen torsion bar by height control arm adjust bolt, then remove torsion bar.
9. Remove wheel speed sensor. (4x4 model)
10. Remove back plate.





11. Remove lower ball joint by using remover J-29107.

Caution: Be careful not to damage the ball joint boot





12. Remove upper ball joint by using remover J-36831.

Caution: Be careful not to damage the ball joint boot

13. Remove knuckle assembly.
14. Remove oil seal (Except 2WD model).

Inspection and Repair
Make necessary correction or parts replacement if wear, damage, corrosion or any other abnormal condition are found through inspection.
Check the following parts:
^ Knuckle
^ Knuckle arm

Installation





1. Use a new oil seal, and apply multipurpose type grease to the area surrounded by the lip (approximately 2 g). Then use installer J-45647 and J-8092 to install oil seal. After fitting the oil seal to the installer, drive it to the knuckle using a hammer or bench press (Except 2WD model).
2. Install knuckle assembly.





3. Install upper ball joint and tighten the nut to the specified torque, with just enough additional torque to align cotter pin holes. Install new cotter pin.
Torque: 98 Nm (72 ft. lbs.)
4. Install lower ball joint and tighten the nut to the specified torque, with just enough additional torque to align cotter pin holes. Install new cotter pin.
Torque: 147 Nm (108 ft. lbs.)
5. Install back plate.
6. Install wheel speed sensor.
7. Install torsion bar.

Note: Adjust the trim height.