Chevrolet Trax: Steering knuckle replacement

Removal Procedure

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
2. Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
3. Disconnect the steering linkage outer tie rod from the steering knuckle. Refer to Steering Linkage Outer Tie Rod Replacement .
4. If equipped, remove the front wheel speed sensor from the steering knuckle. Refer to Front Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement .
5. Disconnect the front wheel drive shaft from the steering knuckle. Refer to Front Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement - Left Side , or Front Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement - Right Side .
6. Remove the front brake shield. Refer to Front Brake Shield Replacement .
7. Disconnect the lower control arm from the steering knuckle. Refer to Lower Control Arm Replacement.
8. Disconnect the strut assembly from the steering knuckle. Refer to Strut Assembly Removal and Installation.

Fig. 17: Steering Knuckle Assembly

9. Remove the steering knuckle (1) from the vehicle.
10. Remove the wheel bearing and hub assembly from the steering knuckle. Refer to Front Wheel Bearing and Hub Replacement.

Installation Procedure

1. Install the wheel bearing and hub assembly in the steering knuckle. Refer to Front Wheel Bearing and Hub Replacement.

Fig. 18: Steering Knuckle Assembly

2. Position the steering knuckle (1) on the vehicle.
3. Connect the strut assembly to the steering knuckle. Refer to Strut Assembly Removal and Installation.
4. Connect the lower control arm to the steering knuckle. Refer to Lower Control Arm Replacement.
5. Install the front brake shield. Refer to Front Brake Shield Replacement .
6. Connect the front wheel drive shaft to the steering knuckle. Refer to Front Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement - Left Side , or Front Wheel Drive Shaft Replacement - Right Side .
7. If equipped, install the front wheel speed sensor in the steering knuckle. Refer to Front Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement .
8. Connect the steering linkage outer tie rod to the steering knuckle. Refer to Steering Linkage Outer Tie Rod Replacement .
9. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
10. If the vehicle had a camber adjustment repair, check the front wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications .

LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT

Removal Procedure

Fig. 19: Front Suspension Measurement

1. Record the front suspension measurement (p) at curb weight which is the distance from the center of the wheel to the bottom of the front fender.
2. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
3. Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .

Fig. 20: Steering Knuckle Nut And Bolt

4. Remove the steering knuckle nut (1) and bolt (2).

Fig. 21: Front Lower Control Arm Front Bolt And Nut

5. Remove the front lower control arm front bolt (1) and nut (2).

Fig. 22: Front Lower Control Arm Rear Nut And Bolt

6. Remove the front lower control arm rear nut (1) and bolt (2).
7. Push the front brake corner forward and remove the lower control arm (3) from the vehicle.

Installation Procedure

Fig. 23: Front Lower Control Arm Rear Nut And Bolt

1. Push the front brake corner forward and position the lower control arm (3) on the vehicle.
2. Install the front lower control arm rear nut (1) and front lower control arm rear bolt (2) and tighten by hand.

Fig. 24: Front Lower Control Arm Front Bolt And Nut

3. Install the front lower control arm front bolt (1) and front lower control arm front nut (2) and tighten by hand.

Fig. 25: Steering Knuckle Nut And Bolt

4. Install the steering knuckle nut (1) and steering knuckle bolt (2) and tighten the nut to 37 N.m (27 lb ft).
5. After tightening, loosen the steering knuckle nut (1) 120 degrees.
6. After loosening, tighten the steering knuckle nut (1) to 30 N.m (22 lb ft) + (30-45 degrees).

Fig. 26: Front Suspension Measurement

7. Support the lower control arm with a hydraulic jack and lift the control arm until the previously recorded measurement (p) is achieved.

Fig. 27: Front Lower Control Arm Front Bolt And Nut

8. Tighten the front lower control arm front bolt (1) to 115 N.m (85 lb ft).
9. After tightening, loosen the front lower control arm front bolt (1) 720 degrees.
10. After loosening, tighten the front lower control arm front bolt (1) to 70 N.m (52 lb ft) + (90-105 degrees).

Fig. 28: Front Lower Control Arm Rear Nut And Bolt

11. Tighten the front lower control arm rear bolt (2) to 80 N.m (59 lb ft) + (60-75 degrees).
12. Install the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .

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