Spindle: Service and Repair

Fig. 25 Front Wheel Spindle Replacement. 4X2:

4 X 2 MODELS
1. Raise and support front of vehicle. Remove front wheel, then the brake caliper assembly. Support caliper with a length of wire.
2. Remove dust cap, cotter pin, nut retainer, nut, washer, outer bearing and rotor from spindle.
3. Remove inner bearing cone and seal, then the brake dust shield. Discard the seal.
4. Disconnect steering linkage from spindle by removing cotter pin and nut.
5. Remove nut from upper ball joint stud, then the cotter pin and nut from lower ball joint stud.
6. Strike lower side of spindle to pop ball joints loose from spindle, Fig. 26, then remove the spindle.
7. Reverse procedure to install. Note the following:
a. When installing ball joint stud nuts, coat studs with Loctite 242, or equivalent.
b. Install lower ball joint stud nut first and torque to 30 ft. lbs., then install upper ball joint stud nut and torque to 85-110 ft. lbs. Complete the tightening sequence by torquing lower ball joint stud nut to 104-106 ft. lbs.
c. Torque steering linkage to spindle nut to 51-75 ft. lbs.

4 X 4 MODELS
Refer to the ``Front Wheel Drive Section'' in this chapter for front wheel spindle replacement procedure.