Rear Knuckle: Service and Repair
REMOVALCAUTION: MAKE SURE VEHICLE IS PROPERLY SUPPORTED AND SQUARELY POSITIONED ON HOIST. TO HELP AVOID PERSONAL INJURY, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE VEHICLE THAT COMPONENTS WILL BE REMOVED FROM.
1. Raise vehicle on hoist.
2. Remove road wheel and brake drum corresponding to the knuckle being replaced.
3. Remove four hub-to-knuckle bolts and remove hub.
4. Suspend the brake assembly clear of knuckle.
5. Loosen lateral link and strut-to-knuckle fasteners.
IMPORTANT: Do not remove fasteners at this time.
6. Remove trailing arm-to-knuckle fastening nut.
7. Remove two trailing arm-to-body fasteners.
8. Slide trailing arm out of knuckle.
9. Remove lateral link and strut-to-knuckle fasteners and remove knuckle.
INSTALLATION
1. Place knuckle in strut and install fasteners. Do not torque fasteners at this time.
2. Install lateral link onto knuckle with fastener. Do not torque fastener at this time.
3. Place trailing arm into knuckle and install fastener nut. Do not torque fastener at this time.
4. Install trailing arm-to-body fasteners.
Torque: 120 Nm (89 ft. lbs.)
5. Torque trailing arm-to-knuckle fastener nut.
Torque: 100 Nm (74 ft. lbs.)
6. Torque lateral link-to-knuckle fastener.
Torque: 165 Nm (122 ft. lbs.)
IMPORTANT: With fasteners installed but not tightened, push bottom of strut inward while tightening.
7. Torque strut-to-knuckle fasteners.
Torque: 170 Nm (126 ft. lbs.)
8. Join hub, brake backing plate, and knuckle with four fasteners. Torque to specifications.
Torque: 85 Nm (63 ft. lbs.)
9. Install brake drum.
NOTICE: Before installing wheels, remove rust or corrosion from wheel mounting surfaces and brake rotors/drums. Failure to do so can cause wheel nuts to loosen in service.
10. Position wheel onto hub.
11. Install wheel nuts and tighten in a crisscross pattern. Repeat tightening pattern to make sure torque is correct.
Torque: 140 Nm (103 ft. lbs.)
12. Lower vehicle from hoist.
13. Perform vehicle wheel alignment. (Refer to "Wheel Alignment".)