2001 DODGE TOWN AND COUNTRY steering

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - HUB AND
BEARING (FRONT)
The condition of the front hub and bearing assem-
bly is diagnosed using the inspection and testing pro-
cedure detailed below.
The bearing contained in the Unit III front hub/
bearing assembly will produce noise and vibration
when worn or damaged. The noise will generally
change when the bearings are loaded. A road test of
the vehicle is normally required to determine the
location of a worn or damaged bearing.
Find a smooth level road surface and bring the
vehicle up to a constant speed. When vehicle is at a
constant speed, swerve the vehicle back and forth
from the left and to the right. This will load and
unload the bearings and change the noise level.
Where axle bearing damage is slight, the noise is
usually not noticeable at speeds above 48 km/h (30
mph).
REMOVAL - HUB AND BEARING
NOTE: Replacement of the Unit III front hub/bearing
assembly can be normally done without having to
remove the steering knuckle from the vehicle. In the
event that the hub/bearing is frozen in the steering
knuckle and cannot be removed by hand, it will
have to be pressed out of the steering knuckle. The
steering knuckle will require removal from the vehi-
cle to allow the hub/bearing assembly to be
pressed out of the steering knuckle. (Refer to 2 -
SUSPENSION/FRONT/KNUCKLE - REMOVAL)
(1) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in Lubrication
and Maintenance.
(2) Remove wheel lug nuts, and front tire and
wheel assembly.
(3) Remove the cotter pin, nut lock and spring
washer from the stub axle (Fig. 4).
(4) With aid of a helper applying the brakes to
keep the front hub from turning, remove the hub nut
(Fig. 4).
(5) Remove disc brake caliper and adapter as an
assembly from knuckle as shown (Fig. 5). Hang
assembly out of the way using a bungee cord or wire.
Do not allow caliper hang by brake hose.
(6) Remove brake rotor from hub and bearing (Fig.
5).
(7) Push in on end of driveshaft stub shaft, push-
ing its splines out of the hub splines.(8) Remove the four hub and bearing mounting
bolts from the rear of steering knuckle (Fig. 6).Use
care not to come in contact with and damage
the ABS tone wheel on the driveshaft stub shaft
upon bolt removal.
(9) Remove the hub and bearing assembly from
the steering knuckle.
Fig. 4 Hub Nut
1 - HUB NUT
2 - NUT LOCK
3 - COTTER PIN
4 - WAVE WASHER
Fig. 5 Front Brake Mounting
1 - BRAKE ROTOR
2 - HUB AND BEARING
3 - STEERING KNUCKLE
4 - ADAPTER MOUNTING BOLTS
5 - BRAKE CALIPER
6 - ADAPTER
7 - CLIP
RSFRONT2-5
HUB / BEARING (Continued)
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INSTALLATION - HUB AND BEARING
CAUTION: Hub and bearing assembly mounting
surfaces on the steering knuckle and stub axle (Fig.
7) must be smooth and completely free of foreign
material or nicks prior to installing hub and bearing
assembly.
CAUTION: When installing hub and bearing into
steering knuckle, be careful not to damage the
bearing seal (Fig. 7) on the outer C/V joint.(1) Install hub and bearing onto stub axle and into
steering knuckle until squarely seated on the face of
the steering knuckle.
(2) Install the 4 hub and bearing mounting bolts
from the rear of the knuckle. Equally tighten all 4
mounting bolts in a criss-cross pattern until hub/
bearing assembly is squarely seated against front of
steering knuckle. Tighten mounting bolts to a torque
of 65 N´m (45 ft. lbs.)
(3) Install the brake rotor on the hub and bearing
(Fig. 5).
(4) Install brake caliper and adapter assembly
back over brake rotor and align with mounting holes
on steering knuckle (Fig. 5). Install the mounting
bolts and tighten to 169 N´m (125 ft. lbs.) torque.
(5) Install the hub nut on the end of the stub axle
(Fig. 4). With aid of a helper applying the brakes to
keep the front hub from turning, tighten the hub nut
to Install the mounting bolts and tighten to 244 N´m
(180 ft. lbs.) torque.
(6) Install wheel and tire assembly on vehicle.
Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper
sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specifica-
tion. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full
specified torque of 135 N´m (100 ft. lbs.).
(7) Lower vehicle to the ground.
(8) Check the front wheel alignment toe setting
and reset if not within specifications.
KNUCKLE
DESCRIPTION
The steering knuckle is a singlealuminumcast-
ing with legs machined for attachment of the strut
assembly, steering linkage, disc brake caliper
adapter, lower control arm ball joint and steering
linkage (Fig. 1). The hub and bearing assembly is
mounted in the center of the steering knuckle using
4 bolts. The driveshaft's constant velocity (C/V) stub
axle is splined through the center of the hub and
bearing and is held in place using a nut, nut lock and
cotter pin.
Service replacement of the front hub and bearing
assembly can be done with the steering knuckle
remaining on the vehicle.
OPERATION
The steering knuckle pivots with the strut assem-
bly between the lower ball joint and the pivot bearing
in the strut assembly. The steering gear outer tie rod
end connects to the trailing end of each knuckle,
allowing the vehicle to be steered.
The center of the knuckle supports the hub and
bearing and axle shaft.
Fig. 6 Hub And Bearing Mounting Bolts
1 - HUB
2 - STEERING KNUCKLE
3 - MOUNTING BOLTS (4)
4 - DRIVESHAFT
Fig. 7 Mounting Surfaces (Typical)
1 - BEARING SEAL
2 - STUB AXLE
3 - THESE SURFACES MUST BE CLEAN AND FREE OF NICKS
BEFORE INSTALLING BEARING ASSEMBLY
4 - STEERING KNUCKLE
2 - 6 FRONTRS
HUB / BEARING (Continued)
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REMOVAL - STEERING KNUCKLE
(1) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. Refer to Hoisting in Lubri-
cation And Maintenance.
(2) Remove the wheel and tire assembly from the
vehicle.
(3) Remove the cotter pin, nut lock and spring
washer from the end of the stub axle and hub nut
(Fig. 8).
(4) Have a helper apply the vehicle's brakes to
keep hub from turning,loosen and removethe hub
nut (Fig. 8).
(5) Remove disc brake caliper and adapter as an
assembly from knuckle as shown (Fig. 9). Hang
assembly out of the way using a bungee cord or wire
(Fig. 10).Do not allow caliper to hang by brake
hose.
(6) Remove nut attaching outer tie rod end to
steering knuckle by holding the tie rod end stud
while loosening and removing nut with a wrench
(Fig. 11).
(7) Remove tie rod end from steering knuckle
using Remover, Special Tool C-3894±A (Fig. 12).
(8) If equipped with antilock brakes, remove the
front wheel speed sensor from the steering knuckle
(Fig. 13).
(9) Remove the two steering knuckle-to-strut clevis
bracket attaching bolts.
(10) Tip the knuckle outward and remove the
driveshaft stub axle from the hub and bearing. Sus-
pend driveshaft straight outward using a bungee
cord or wire (Fig. 10).Do not allow driveshaft to
hang by inner joint.
Fig. 8 Hub Nut
1 - HUB NUT
2 - NUT LOCK
3 - COTTER PIN
4 - WAVE WASHER
Fig. 9 Front Brake Mounting
1 - BRAKE ROTOR
2 - HUB AND BEARING
3 - STEERING KNUCKLE
4 - ADAPTER MOUNTING BOLTS
5 - BRAKE CALIPER
6 - ADAPTER
7 - CLIP
Fig. 10 CALIPER AND DRIVESHAFT SUSPENDED
1 - HANGER SUSPENDING CALIPER
2 - HANGER SUSPENDING DRIVESHAFT
3 - DRIVESHAFT
4 - BRAKE CALIPER
RSFRONT2-7
KNUCKLE (Continued)
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(11) Remove ball joint nut by holding ball joint
stud with hex wrench while loosening and removing
nut with a wrench (Fig. 14).
CAUTION: Do not remove ball joint stud from steer-
ing knuckle using a hammer. Damage to the Alumi-
num knuckle, ball joint or control arm will result.
(12) Release ball joint stud from steering knuckle
using Remover, Special Tool C-4150A, as shown (Fig.
15).
Fig. 11 Removing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut
1 - TIE ROD END
2 - STEERING KNUCKLE
3 - WRENCH
4 - SOCKET
5 - TIE ROD END STUD
Fig. 12 TIE ROD REMOVAL WITH TOOL C-3894-A
1 - OUTER TIE ROD
2 - SPECIAL TOOL C-3894-A
3 - STEERING KNUCKLE
Fig. 13 Front Wheel Speed Sensor
1 - MOUNTING BOLT
2 - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
3 - STEERING KNUCKLE
Fig. 14 BALL JOINT NUT REMOVAL/INSTALLATION
1 - KNUCKLE
2 - BALL JOINT STUD
3 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
2 - 8 FRONTRS
KNUCKLE (Continued)
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(13) Remove the steering knuckle from the vehicle.
(14) If the hub and bearing needs to be trans-
ferred, remove the four bolts attaching the hub and
bearing to the knuckle, then remove the hub and
bearing.
INSPECTION - STEERING KNUCKLE
Inspect the knuckle for the following:
²Cracks or breaks
²Dents or damage
²Stress marks indicating a bend
The front suspension knuckle is not a repairable
component of the vehicles front suspension. If bent,
broken or damaged in any way, do not attempt to
straighten or repair the steering knuckle. It must be
replaced.
If inspection leads to the hub and bearing, (Refer
to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/HUB / BEARING -
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)
INSTALLATION - STEERING KNUCKLE
(1) If the hub and bearing needs to be installed in
the knuckle, place the hub and bearing squarely into
the center hole of the steering knuckle aligning the
threaded mounting holes of the hub and bearing with
the mounting holes in the steering knuckle. Installthe four mounting bolts and tighten them to a torque
of 65 N´m (45 ft. lbs.).
CAUTION: Before installing the knuckle on the ball
joint stud, wipe the ball joint stud and knuckle con-
tact area free of any grease or debris, otherwise
damage to the knuckle can occur. Use a clean shop
cloth with MoparTBrake Parts Cleaner applied to it
for proper cleaning.
(2) Place the knuckle on the ball joint stud.
(3) Install a NEW steering knuckle to ball joint
stud nut. Tighten the nut by holding ball joint stud
with hex wrench while turning nut with a wrench
(Fig. 14). Using a crowsfoot wrench on a torque
wrench, tighten the nut to a torque of 108 N´m (80 ft.
lbs.).
(4) Slide driveshaft stub axle into hub and bearing
assembly.
CAUTION: The steering knuckle to strut assembly
attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned
during installation. Install nuts while holding bolts
stationary in the steering knuckle.
CAUTION: If the vehicle being serviced is equipped
with eccentric strut assembly attaching bolts, the
eccentric bolt must be installed in the bottom (slot-
ted) hole on the strut clevis bracket (Fig. 16).
NOTE: The strut clevis-to-steering knuckle bolts are
installed differently on each side. Left hand side
bolts are to be installed from vehicle rear to front.
Right side bolts are to be installed from vehicle
front to rear.
Fig. 15 BALL JOINT RELEASED USING C-4150A
1 - ALUMINUM KNUCKLE
2 - SPECIAL TOOL C-4150A
3 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
Fig. 16 Correctly Installed Eccentric Attaching Bolt
1 - STEERING KNUCKLE
2 - FLANGED BOLT IN TOP HOLE
3 - CAM BOLT IN BOTTOM HOLE
4 - STRUT CLEVIS BRACKET
RSFRONT2-9
KNUCKLE (Continued)
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(5) Install steering knuckle in clevis bracket of
strut damper assembly. Install the strut clevis-to-
steering knuckle attaching bolts. Tighten both bolts
to a torque of 81 N´m (60 ft. lbs.) plus an additional
1/4 (90É) turn.
(6) Install tie rod end into knuckle steering arm.
Start nut onto stud of tie rod end. While holding stud
of tie rod end stationary using a socket (Fig. 11),
tighten tie rod end to steering knuckle attaching nut.
Then using a crowfoot on a torque wrench (Fig. 17),
tighten the tie rod end nut to a torque of 75 N´m (55
ft. lbs.).
(7) If equipped with antilock brakes, install wheel
speed sensor and mounting bolt on steering knuckle
(Fig. 13). Tighten the speed sensor bolt to a torque of
7 N´m (60 in. lbs.).
(8) Install brake rotor on hub and bearing (Fig. 9).
(9) Install disc brake caliper and adapter assembly
on steering knuckle. Install adapter amounting bolts
and tighten to 169 N´m (125 ft. lbs.).
(10) Clean any debris from the threads of the
outer C/V joint stub axle.
(11) Install the washer and hub nut on stub axle.
(12) Have a helper apply the vehicle's brakes to
keep hub from turning, then tighten hub nut to a
torque of 244 N´m (180 ft. lbs.).
(13) Install the spring wave washer on the end of
the stub axle.
(14) Install the hub nut lock, and anewcotter pin
(Fig. 8). Wrap cotter pin prongs tightly around the
hub nut lock.(15) Install wheel and tire assembly. Install and
tighten the wheel mounting nuts in proper sequence
until all nuts are torqued to half the required speci-
fication. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the
full specified torque of 135 N´m (100 ft. lbs.).
(16) Lower vehicle.
(17) Set front wheel alignment camber and toe as
necessary. (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/WHEEL
ALIGNMENT - STANDARD PROCEDURE)
LOWER BALL JOINT
DESCRIPTION
The ball joint is an integral part of the lower con-
trol arm (Fig. 1). The ball joint has a tapered stud
that is pressed into the aluminum knuckle. The ball
joint stud is threaded on the end for a retainer nut.
The ball joint has a non-vented seal boot. The seal
boot has an integrated heat shield (Fig. 18).
The ball joint used in the lower control arm of this
vehicle is a sealed-for-life ball joint and requires no
maintenance lubrication. The ball joint has been
lubricated-for-life during the manufacturing process.
A special fitting cap is installed on the fill port. This
cap must not be removed and replaced with a com-
mon zirc fitting. The special cap is there to eliminate
the possibility of lubrication latter during the ball
joints life, thus damaging the non-vented seal boot.
NOTE: The ball joint does not require any type of
additional lubrication for the life of the vehicle. No
attempt should be made to ever add any lubrication
to the lower ball joint.
Fig. 17 Torquing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut
(Typical)
1 - STEERING KNUCKLE
2 - TIE ROD END
3 - CROWFOOT
4 - SOCKET
5 - TORQUE WRENCH
Fig. 18 Ball Joint Seal Boot (Typical)
1 - BALL JOINT SEAL BOOT
2 - BALL JOINT STUD
3 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
4 - SHIELD
2 - 10 FRONTRS
KNUCKLE (Continued)
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OPERATION
The ball joint is a pivotal joint on the lower control
arm that allows the knuckle to move up and down,
and turn with ease.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - LOWER BALL
JOINT
With the weight of the vehicle resting on the road
wheels, grasp the special fitting cap on the bottom of
the ball joint and with no mechanical assistance or
added force, attempt to rotate the grease fitting.
If the ball joint is worn, the grease fitting will
rotate easily. If movement is noted, replacement of
the ball joint is recommended.
LOWER BALL JOINT SEAL
BOOT
REMOVAL - BALL JOINT SEAL BOOT
(1) Remove steering knuckle from vehicle. (Refer
to 2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/KNUCKLE -
REMOVAL)
(2) Using a screw driver or other suitable tool, pry
the seal boot off of the ball joint (Fig. 19)
INSTALLATION - BALL JOINT SEAL BOOT
(1) Place a liberal dab of MopartWheel Bearing
Grease around the base of the ball joint stem at the
socket.
(2) Install aNEWseal boot by hand as far as pos-
sible on the ball joint. Installation of the seal boot is
to be with the shield positioned as shown (Fig. 20).CAUTION: Do not use an arbor press to install the
sealing boot on the ball joint. Damage to the seal-
ing boot will occur if excessive pressure is applied
to the sealing boot when it is being installed.
(3) Place Installer, Special Tool 6758, over seal
boot and squarely align it with bottom edge of seal
boot (Fig. 21). Apply hand pressure to Special Tool
6758 until seal boot is pressed squarely against top
surface of lower control arm.
(4) Wipe any grease off the ball joint stem.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to install a normal grease
zirc in the ball joint an lubricate the joint through
the zirc fitting.
(5) Reinstall steering knuckle on vehicle. (Refer to
2 - SUSPENSION/FRONT/KNUCKLE - INSTALLA-
TION)
LOWER CONTROL ARM
DESCRIPTION
The lower control arm is mounted to the front sus-
pension crossmember using a pivot bolt through the
center of the front pivot bushing, and the front sus-
pension cradle crossmember reinforcement traps the
rear bushing in the crossmember (Fig. 1).
Fig. 19 Ball Joint Seal Boot Removal (Typical)
1 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
2 - BALL JOINT STUD
3 - SEAL BOOT
4 - SCREW DRIVER
5 - BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY
Fig. 20 Ball Joint Seal Boot Installed Position
(Typical)
1 - BALL JOINT SEAL BOOT
2 - BALL JOINT STUD
3 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
4 - SHIELD
RSFRONT2-11
LOWER BALL JOINT (Continued)
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The lower control arm is an iron casting with two
rubber bushings and a ball joint. The lower control
arm front bushing is the spool type and is pressed
into the lower control arm. The standard lower con-
trol arm rear bushing is a push-on bushing that is
pushed over a stem on the rear of the lower control
arm. The optional lower control arm rear bushing is
a hydro-bushing that is pressed on. It has liquid
filled voids that provide more effective dampening
than the standard bushing. Vehicles with rear hydro-
bushings utilize a different lower control arm than
vehicles with standard bushings. They have a
straight slightly tapered round stem where the
hydro-bushing is mounted whereas the standard arm
has a straight stem with a squared knob on the end
to retain the bushing.
The lower control arm ball joint is pressed into the
outer end of the arm. The ball joint has a tapered
stud and retainer nut for fastening it to the steering
knuckle.
OPERATION
The lower control arm supports the lower end of
the steering knuckle and allows for the up and down
movement of the suspension during the jounce and
rebound travel. The lower control arm ball joint con-
nects the arm to the steering knuckle.
REMOVAL - LOWER CONTROL ARM
(1) Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a
frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in Lubrication
and Maintenance.
(2) Remove wheel and tire assembly.(3) Remove the steering knuckle. (Refer to 2 -
SUSPENSION/FRONT/KNUCKLE - REMOVAL)
(4) Remove the bolts fastening the power steering
cooler to the front suspension cradle crossmember
reinforcement (Fig. 22).
(5) Remove the lower control arm rear bushing
retainer bolts located on each side of each lower con-
trol arm rear bushing.
NOTE: The bolts fastening the cradle crossmember
reinforcement are of two different thread sizes. Note
the location of the various sizes.
(6) Remove the bolts attaching the cradle cross-
member reinforcement to the front suspension cradle
crossmember (Fig. 23). Remove the 2 bolts fastening
the reinforcement and rear of cradle crossmember to
the body of the vehicle. Remove the reinforcement.
(7) Remove the pivot bolt attaching the front bush-
ing of the lower control arm to the front suspension
cradle crossmember.
(8) Remove the lower control arm.
DISASSEMBLY - LOWER CONTROL ARM
(REAR BUSHING - STANDARD)
(1) Remove the lower control arm from the front
suspension cradle. (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/
FRONT/LOWER CONTROL ARM - REMOVAL)
(2) Mount the lower control arm in a visewithout
using excessive clamping force.
Fig. 21 Installing Ball Joint Seal Boot
1 - SHIELD
2 - SPECIAL TOOL 6758
3 - LOWER CONTROL ARM
4 - BALL JOINT SEAL BOOT
Fig. 22 POWER STEERING COOLER
1 - CRADLE CROSSMEMBER REINFORCEMENT
2 - POWER STEERING COOLER
2 - 12 FRONTRS
LOWER CONTROL ARM (Continued)
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