Chevrolet 1977 light duty truck, Service Manual

Page: 299 / 861

7. Install lire and wheel assembly and lower
vehicle to floor.
S T E E R IN G KNU CKLE
It is re co m m en d ed th at vehicle be raised an d
supported as on a twin-post hoist so that the front coil
spring rem ain s compressed, yet the wheel and steering
knuckle assembly re m a in accessible. If a fram e hoist is
used, support lower control a rm with an adjustable
ja c k sta n d to safely retain spring in its curb height
position.
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on hoist and support lower control
arm as noted above.
2. R em ove wheel and tire assembly.
3. Remove caliper as outlined und er “ Front Wheel
Hub - R e m o v a l” .
4. Remove disc splash shield bolts securing the
shield to the steering knuckle. Rem ove Shield.
5. R efer to Section 3B-Steering for service removal
operations.
6. R em ove u p p e r and lower ball stud cotter pins
and loosen ball stud nuts. Free steering knuckle from
ball studs by installing Special Tool J-23742. Remove
ball stud nuts and w ithdraw steering knuckle.
Installation
CAUTION: See C A U T IO N on page 1 o f this
section regarding the fa sten ers referred to in
steps 2, 3, 4 a n d 5.
1. Place steering knuckle in position and insert
upp er and lower ball studs into knuckle bosses.
CAUTION: Steering knuckle hole, ball stu d a n d
n u t should be fr e e o f dirt a n d grease before
tightening nut.
2. Install ball stud nuts and tighten nut
specifications. (See Specification Section.)
CAUTION: I f necessary, tighten one more
notch to insert cotter pins. Do not loosen nut to
insert cotter pin. R efer to Ball Joint text f o r
proper nut installation sequence.
3. Reverse rem a in in g removal procedure, and
tighten splash shield m ounting bolt. Tighten two caliper
assembly m ounting bolts to 35 ft. lb. torque.
4. Adjust wheel bearings as outlined u n d e r Front
W heel Bearing Adjustment.
5. Tighten wheel nuts to 75 ft. lb.
C R O SSM EM B ER A N D S U S PE N S IO N U N IT
C o m p o n en t p arts o f the fro n t suspension may be
serviced separately as outlined in the preceding service
operations. However, if extensive service is to be
p e rfo rm e d to crossmember, fram e, etc., the unit can be
removed and installed as follows:
Removal (Fig. 3C-32)
1. Place vehicle on hoist and remove the shock
a bsorber from the lower control arm.
2. Remove idler arm and pitm an arm.
3. Support engine and remove front engine m ount
center bolts.
4. Separate m a in brake feeder line from cross­
m em b er tee.
5. Remove bolts retaining crossm em ber hangers to
fram e side rails.
6. If equipped with brake support struts remove
bolts retaining struts to crossm em ber an d fra m e and
remove.
to