Steering knuckles — removal and installation (Opel Vectra B)

Warning: When installing the steering knuckle, you must use all new bolts and nuts.

Hub and steering knuckle

Removal

1. Raise the front of the vehicle and secure it on stands. Remove the relevant front wheel.

2. Unscrew the nut securing the steering rod to the steering knuckle. Using a puller, remove the steering rod ball joint from the steering knuckle.

3. Remove the clamp bolt securing the front lower control arm ball joint to the steering knuckle.

4. Using a lever, move the lower control arm of the front suspension downward and remove the ball joint from the steering knuckle. If the ball joint journal is tight in the steering knuckle, use a screwdriver or thin chisel as a wedge and widen the clamp that holds the ball joint journal.

5. Remove the caliper without disconnecting the brake hose. Using a soft wire, hang the caliper on the front strut.

6. Unscrew the bolt and remove the wheel speed sensor.

7. Remove the hub nut cap, remove the pin and unscrew the nut securing the drive shaft to the hub.

8. Remove the drive shaft to the hub, moving the steering knuckle away from the vehicle.



9. Mark the position of the front suspension strut on the steering knuckle.

Text copied from a web portal (www.opelbook.ru)



10. Unscrew the two bolts securing the front suspension strut to the steering knuckle. At the same time, completely remove the drive shaft from the steering knuckle.



11. Remove the steering knuckle.

12. Remove the screw and remove the front brake disc from the hub flange.



13. Unscrew the screws (arrows) and remove the mudguard from the steering knuckle.

Installation

1. Install the mudguard onto the steering knuckle and secure with screws.

2. Install the brake disc.

3. Check that the splines on the outer end of the drive shaft and the slots in the hub are clean. Slide the hub onto the slots in the drive shaft.

4. Slide the steering knuckle onto the drive shaft. Position the top of the steering knuckle on the strut and secure with bolts.

5. Screw the drive shaft mounting nut onto the hub and tighten it to the specified torque.

6. Install the brake caliper.

7. Install the front lower arm ball joint pin into the steering knuckle and secure with the clamp bolt.

8. Install the steering rod.

9. Install the wheel and lower the vehicle.

10. Tighten the drive shaft mounting nut to the hub in several stages and secure it with a pin.

11. Install the drive shaft to hub nut cap.

12. Check and, if necessary, adjust the wheel alignment angles.