OEM 2005 Dodge Dakota Steering Knuckle

2005 Dodge Dakota Steering Knuckle Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Service and Repair a Steering Knuckle on 2005 Dodge Dakota?

  A: Before you begin service or repairs on the steering knuckle, raise and support the vehicle and take away the wheel and tire. Now, remove the brake caliper, rotor, shield and ABS wheel speed sensor if your vehicle has one. Pull out the nut that is on the front halfshaft of 4X4 models. Separate the nut from the tie rod end and use Remover C-3894-A to disconnect the tie rod from the knuckle. Make sure not to injure the ball joint seal while using Remover 8677 for separation. Take out the upper ball joint nut and use Remover 8677 to remove the ball joint from the knuckle. Hold down the lower control arm with a jack, take off its ball joint nut and pull the ball joint off the knuckle using Remover 8677, then pull the knuckle away. The following stage is to remove the hub/bearing bolts from the knuckle and the hub/bearing as well. Before installing, clean all the ball joint stud threads using mineral spirits if you find they are not dry or clean. Advance the knuckle over the bearing and tighten the bolts with around 163 Nm (120 ft. lbs.) Put the flat end of the knuckle onto both ball joints, then bolt and tighten them to 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.). Take the hydraulic jack out of the lower control arm, attach the tie rod end and secure it with a nut torque of 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.). First, fit the front halfshaft into the hub/bearing, then place on the front halfshaft nut and tighten to 251 Nm (185 ft. lbs.). If your car comes with an ABS wheel speed sensor, reinstall it, along with the brake shield, rotor and caliper. Next, mount the wheel and tire assembly again, get rid of the support, lower the vehicle and set wheel alignment.