GM 85544426
Knuckle, Driver Side

To remove the Steering Knuckle from rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle, start by raising and supporting the vehicle. Lift off the component such as the tire and wheel, wheel hub and bearing. Secondly, remove the outer tie rod to Steering Knuckle retaining nut and loosen outer tie rod from the Steering Knuckle by using the steering linkage and tie rod puller (J 24319-B). Prying off the brake hose bracket retaining bolt of the Steering Knuckle and supporting the lower Control Arm with the backing of a suitable jack. Proceed to loosen the upper Ball Joint retaining nut and pull off the upper Ball Joint from the Steering Knuckle with the Ball Joint remover (J 43631) and Ball Joint separator protector adapters (J 45851). Repeat this with the lower Ball Joint by taking off its retaining nut and detaching it from the Steering Knuckle with the same tools. After removing the Steering Knuckle, you need to clean up the tapered parts and threads of the upper and lower ball joints and the tie-rod end, as well as inspect the taper holes and the mounting faces of the Steering Knuckle for signs of damage. Next, install the new Steering Knuckle, along with the lower Ball Joint retaining nut, tighten to 100 n.m (74 lb ft), and the upper Ball Joint retaining nut, which should be tightened to 50 n.m (37 lb ft). Attach the brake hose bracket retaining bolt and tighten it to 10 n.m (88 lb in), and the outer tie rod at the Steering Knuckle, attaching the retaining nut by tightening it to 63 n.m (47 lb ft). Finally, take the safety stand off, reinstall the Wheel Hub and bearing as well as the tire and wheel and lower the vehicle.

In order to replace the Steering Knuckle in a 4wd vehicle lift and support the car, take off the tire and wheel. Remove the torsion bars; remove the wheel drive shaft after that, and then take off the Wheel Hub and bearing. Then, unbolt the tie rod to Steering Knuckle retaining nut to remove the outer tie rod using the j 24319-b. Take off the brake hose bracket retaining bolt from the Steering Knuckle and remove the upper Ball Joint retaining, and disconnect the upper Ball Joint using the j 43631 and j 45851. Unscrew the lower Control Arm retaining nut and unscrew the lower Ball Joint from the Steering Knuckle with the same tools. Once you have removed the Steering Knuckle, ensure that all grease and contaminants are removed from the tapered portion and thread of the upper Ball Joint, lower Ball Joint and the Tie Rod End, and check the taper holes and mounting surface of the Steering Knuckle for damage. Install the new Steering Knuckle while ensuring that lower Ball Joint retaining nut is installed using the torque of 100 nm (74 lb ft) and installing the upper Ball Joint retaining nut that should have 50 nm (37 lb ft). Mount the brake hose bracket to the Steering Knuckle using a retaining bolt which is torqued to 10 nm (88 lb in), and fasten the outer tie rod with the retaining nut tightened about 63 nm (47 lb in). Replace the Wheel Hub and bearing, to it add the wheel drive shaft, to it the tyre and the wheel. Load torsion bars, lower the vehicle, and later align the vehicle.

Install the new steering knuckle, then tighten the lower ball joint to steering knuckle retaining nut to 100 N.m (74 lb ft), and the upper ball joint to steering knuckle retaining nut to 50 N.m (37 lb ft).

Connect the outer tie rod to the steering knuckle and tighten the outer tie rod to steering knuckle retaining nut to 63 Nm (47 ft. lbs.).