Steering Knuckle: Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 1990 GMC Safari and 1990 Chevrolet Astro. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Raise and support vehicle with jack stands, at front lift points. Remove wheel and tire assembly. Remove brake caliper and move out of the way.
NOTE: DO NOT place jack stands under lower control arm. Spring tension is needed to break loose ball joint stud.
Remove hub and rotor assembly. Remove splash shield. Separate tie rod end stud from steering knuckle using Tie Rod Remover (J-6627 ).
If replacing steering knuckle, carefully remove steering knuckle grease seal. Position jack under lower control arm, near spring seat. Raise jack until lower control arm is just supported.
Remove cotter pins and nuts from ball joints. Using Ball Joint Separator (J-23742 ), separate ball joint studs from steering knuckle. See Fig 1 .
CAUTION: Lower control arm must be supported with floor jack during removal and installation of steering knuckle.

Fig 1: Separating Ball Joint Stud & Steering Knuckle
Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Raise upper control arm to disengage ball joint stud from steering knuckle. Remove steering knuckle.