Q: How to Remove and Install a Steering Knuckle on 2002 Dodge Stratus?
A: To take the knuckle out, lift the car, take the wheel and tire assembly off the hub and make sure the hub nut is not loosened while the car is parked. While the brakes are engaged, relax the hub nut. With the caliper, adapter and rotor removed, you can take out the shoes. Then, hold the stud while loosening the nut with a wrench and use Remover, Special Tool MB-991113, to unfasten the tie rod end from the steering knuckle. Take off the routing bracket and the cotter pin and castle nut from the lower ball joint stud; do not try to put any tools between the steering knuckle and the lower ball joint. Turn the steering knuckle outward and then hit the boss on the steering knuckle with a hammer, being sure not to harm the grease seal as the steering knuckle separates from the stud. Lift the steering knuckle up, detaching it from the lower ball joint stud and be sure the inner C/V joint does not get damaged. Following this, separate the steering knuckle from the outer C/V joint and detach the upper ball joint stud from the knuckle using Puller, Special Tool C-3894-A, before removing the knuckle from your vehicle. If you change the steering knuckle, also move the hub and bearing if they are still good. If using a hub/bearing assembly, set that in the steering knuckle first, attach the steering knuckle to the vehicle and make sure the heat shield for the lower control arm ball joint grease seal is present. Put the driveshaft back in front of the hub assembly and then slide the steering knuckle onto the lower ball joint stud, screwing in the castle nut. Secure the upper ball joint nut into the steering knuckle and tighten it to 27 Nm (20 ft. lbs.) torque. Then, using a crowfoot and torque wrench, secure the lower ball joint nut to 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.). Join the speed sensor cable routing bracket in place and properly tighten the screw. Put the tie rod end onto the steering knuckle, screw in the attaching nut to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.) and then place the brake rotor, caliper, shoes and adapter assembly back. Wipe the threads of the outer C/V joint stub axle, fit the hub nut on the driveshaft stub axle and with the vehicle brakes set, tighten the hub nut to 203 Nm (150 ft. lbs.). After that, put the front wheel and tire in place, tighten each lug nut with a crisscross pattern to 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.), lower the car, then set the front toe to the specified spec.