OEM 2009 Ford Focus Steering Knuckle

2009 Ford Focus Steering Knuckle Parts Q&A

• Q: How to service and repair the steering knuckle on 2009 Ford Focus?

  A: A proper steering knuckle service or repair process starts with turning the strut upper nuts five turns while rotating the wheel and tire off. Start by tossing out the wheel hub nut followed by removal of the brake hose retainer so you can avoid damage to the brake caliper as it does not need to hang from the brake hose. Secure the caliper assembly by hooking it on mechanic's wire after removing both guide pin bolts. The service procedure begins with brake disc removal followed by detachment of the wheel speed sensor bolt when the vehicle includes ABS. Set this sensor aside during the operation. The vehicle owner should keep the tie-rod end nut in position while loosening its connection before detaching the tie-rod end from the wheel knuckle using a Tie-Rod End Remover tool. Toss out the tie-rod end nut after isolation. Insert a pry bar into the lower arm body opening to disconnect the ball joint from the wheel knuckle after you discard the ball joint nut and bolt. A prying device between these components should be avoided since it causes damage. The halfshaft incidence of damage can be avoided by keeping both joints within bend limits of 18 degrees for the inner joint and 45 degrees for the outer joint. The Front Wheel Hub Remover will extract the halfshaft from the wheel hub before you support the halfshaft in position. The wheel knuckle-to-strut bolt requires removal before extracting the wheel knuckle from service. When installing the wheel knuckle position it properly then attach a new wheel knuckle-to-strut bolt together while tightening it to 150 Nm (111 lb-ft). Install the halfshaft within the wheel hub while keeping the ball joint heat shield on the ball joint stud before insertion into the wheel knuckle with a new bolt and nut which needs tightening to 46 lb-ft (63 Nm). When installing the tie-rod end to wheel knuckle use a new nut fastened to a torque of 35 Nm (26 lb-ft), while vehicles with ABS require positioning the wheel speed sensor and bolting to a torque value of 9 Nm (80 lb-in). Place the brake disc onto the wheel hub while positioning the caliper assembly before tightening the two brake caliper guide pin bolts to 27 Nm (20 lb-ft). Reinstall the brake hose retainer before fastening the three strut upper nuts to 35 Nm (26 lb-ft). The Halfshaft Installer tool helps with halfshaft installation into the wheel hub but users need to avoid wheel bearing damage by not securing the wheel hub nut when the vehicle stays grounded. Forcefully tighten the new wheel hub nut to 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) by performing continuous wheel rotation afterward reinstall the wheel with its tire.