How to Install a 1996 Stratus Front Hub

The 1996 Dodge Stratus base model came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. The front wheel hub on the 1996 Stratus is bolted directly to the steering knuckle and contains the wheel bearing. Any time the wheel bearing needs to be serviced for any reason, the entire wheel hub has to be replaced. To replace the wheel hub, you will have to remove the steering knuckle from the vehicle.

Instructions

Removal

1

Park the vehicle on a level surface and set the parking brake. Remove the hubcap for the wheel to be serviced, if equipped. Instruct a helper to sit in the vehicle and apply the brakes. Remove the hub nut cotter pin with the pliers. Loosen the hub nut with the 3/4-inch breaker bar and 33 mm socket. Remove the hub nut and spring washer. Discard the cotter pin, spring washer and hub nut.

2

Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel to be serviced with the lug wrench. Lift the front of the vehicle with the floor jack and place jack stands under the front subframe rails. Lower the floor jack until the vehicle rests securely on the jack stands. Remove the floor jack. Remove the wheel and tire from the vehicle.

3

Remove the caliper mounting bolts with the socket and ratchet. Rotate the caliper away from the steering knuckle and slide the opposite end of the caliper out of the machined groove in the steering knuckle. Hang the brake caliper from the suspension with the mechanics wire. Remove the brake rotor from the wheel hub.

4

Remove the bolts for the lower ball joint heat shield and remove the heat shield from the control arm, if equipped. Remove the cotter pin from the tie rod end stud with the pliers. Remove the tie rod end castle nut with the socket and ratchet. Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle with the tie rod end separator.

5

Remove the bolt securing the speed sensor cable bracket to the steering knuckle with the socket and ratchet. Remove the lower ball joint cotter pin with the pliers. Remove the lower ball joint castle nut with the socket and ratchet. Rotate the steering knuckle so that it faces the far outboard side of the wheel well. Tap the lower ball joint stud with the rubber mallet to separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle.

6

Support the CV shaft from the suspension with the mechanics wire, so that it will not hang down when removed from the wheel hub. Firmly grasp the outer base of the CV shaft and remove it from the wheel hub by pulling outward on the steering knuckle.

7

Remove the cotter pin from the upper ball joint stud with the pliers. Remove the upper ball joint castle nut with the socket and ratchet. Remove the upper ball joint stud from the steering knuckle with the ball joint separator. Remove the steering knuckle and hub assembly from the vehicle.

8

Place the steering knuckle into the vise on the workbench. Remove the wheel hub to knuckle mounting bolts with the socket and ratchet. Remove the wheel hub from the steering knuckle. Tap the hub with the rubber mallet if it does not easily pull out of the knuckle.

Installation

9

Clean the wheel hub mating surface on the steering knuckle with the wire brush. Align the bolt holes of the wheel hub with the holes in the steering knuckle and slide the hub into the steering knuckle. Install the new hub mounting bolts and tighten to 80 foot-pounds with the torque wrench.

10

Guide the steering knuckle onto the upper ball joint stud. Install the upper ball joint castle nut and tighten to 70 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Tighten the castle nut slightly to line up the nut valley with the hole in the ball joint stud, if necessary. Place the cotter pin through the ball joint stud and bend the legs of the cotter pin around the castle nut in opposite directions.

11

Guide the CV shaft into the hub bearing. Install the lower ball joint stud to the steering knuckle and install the castle nut. Tighten the lower ball joint castle nut to 70 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Tighten the castle nut slightly to line up the nut valley with the hole in the ball joint stud, if necessary. Place the cotter pin through the ball joint stud and bend the legs of the cotter pin around the castle nut in opposite directions.

12

Set the speed sensor cable bracket into position on the steering knuckle and install the mounting bolt. Tighten the bracket mounting bolt with the socket and ratchet. Set the tie rod end stud into position in the steering knuckle. Install the tie rod end castle nut and tighten to 45 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Place the cotter pin through the tie rod end stud and bend the legs around the castle nut in opposite directions. Install the lower ball joint heat shield, if equipped.

13

Place the brake rotor onto the wheel hub; be careful not to drag the rotor over the wheel studs. Slide the brake caliper into the machined edge on the steering knuckle and rotate the caliper into position. Install the caliper mounting bolts and tighten to 14 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Remove the mechanics wire from the CV axle.

14

Install the spring washer and lock nut onto the axle threads and hand-tighten. Install the wheel and tire onto the vehicle and install the lug nuts hand-tight. Lift the vehicle off the jack stands with the floor jack and remove the jack stands from under the vehicle. Lower the vehicle to the ground.

15

Tighten the lug nuts to 80 to 110 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Instruct your helper to sit in the vehicle and apply the brake. Tighten the axle nut to 180 foot-pounds with the torque wrench and 32 mm socket.