How to Service and Repair a Steering Knuckle in an Independent Front Suspension on 2003 Dodge Ram 3500?

Question

Accepted Answer

Before you begin, support and lift the vehicle, then take off the wheel and tire assembly. After that, remove the brake caliper, rotor, shield and ABS wheel speed sensor if your car has one. Remove the halfshaft nut first, then its tie rod end nut and cut the tie rod from the housing with Remover 8677, making sure not to harm the ball joint seal. Unscrew the upper ball joint nut and separate the ball joint from the knuckle with Remover 8677. Then remove the lower ball joint nut and take off the knuckle. After you're done, loosen and remove the hub/bearing from the steering knuckle. It is important that the ball joint stud is clean and dry before installing it with mineral spirits if it looks nasty. With the hub/bearing, make sure that the speed sensor opening points toward the front of the car. Fasten the hub/bearing to the steering knuckle and tighten the bolts to 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.) if your truck is LD or 176 Nm (130 ft. lbs.) if it is HD 4X2. After that, fasten the knuckle onto the upper and lower ball joints, then apply 54 Nm (40 ft. lbs.) to the upper ball joint nut, adding an extra 90° turn for the 1500 series and apply 52 Nm (38 ft. lbs.) to the lower ball joint nut, the same as the 1500 series or 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.) for HD 4X2. Once you've removed the hydraulic jack from the lower suspension arm, add the tie rod end and tighten its nut to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.). If you have front halfshafts, put the front halfshaft into the hub/bearing and tighten the halfshaft nut to 251 Nm (185 ft. lbs.). Should you have an ABS wheel speed sensor, install it again along with the brake shield, rotor and caliper. Then, refit the wheel and tire assembly, get rid of the jack stand, lower the vehicle and send it to the alignment station.

OEM 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Steering Knuckle

4 Steering Knuckles found

2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Knuckle, Front Passenger Side Part Number: 5086678AA

2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Knuckle, Front Driver Side Part Number: 5086679AA

2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Knuckle, Front Passenger Side Part Number: 52106790AD

2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Knuckle, Front Driver Side Part Number: 52106791AD

2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Steering Knuckle Parts and Q&A

Related 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Parts

Alternate Year Models