Figure 15

A.

Mark the position where each tie rod end is installed in
the tie rod. The length of the tie rod and the position of the
tie rod ends determines wheel toe-in.

B.

Remove the bolts and nuts from the clamp on the tie rod.

C.

Remove the tie rod ends from the tie rod.

2.

Use the following procedure to remove the upper and lower
draw keys from the knuckle.
A.

Loosen the draw key nut. Use a brass drift and a hammer
to hit the end of the draw key. Figure 16.

B.

Remove the nut from the draw key. Figure 17. Remove
the draw key from the knuckle.

Figure 14

Figure 16

TIE ROD

TUBE SLOT

TIE ROD END

LOCKNUT AND
DRAW KEY

MARKS
4003895a

Figure 14

4003898a
Figure 16

(16579)
Printed in USA

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2016

TP-15123
Issued 01-16
Page 11

Figure 17

Figure 19

KNUCKLE

SHIMS

NUT

DRAW
KEY

THRUST
BEARING
AND SEAL
ASSEMBLY

1000032b

Figure 17

3.

4003899a

Use the following procedure to prevent damage to the bushings
during king pin removal.
A.

Use a hammer and brass drift to remove the king pins
from the knuckle. Figure 18.

B.

Remove any flaring on the drift that touches the bushings.

C.

Wrap tape to a thickness of 1/16-inch (1.5 mm) onto the
end of the drift.

Figure 18

Figure 19

6.

Remove the shims and thrust bearing. Keep these parts for
reuse.

7.

Verify the length of the stop bolt. Remove the stop bolt from the
knuckle. The stop bolt will be reused on the replacement
knuckle.

8.

Remove and discard the torque plate. Keep the fasteners for
reuse.

BRASS
DRIFT
TOOL

KING
PIN

1000033b

Figure 18

4.

Remove the king pin. Keep the part. If the king pin is hard to
remove, use a hydraulic king pin remover. To obtain this tool,
contact Meritor’s Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket at
888-725-9355.

5.

Remove the knuckle/spindle from the axle center. Discard the
knuckle/spindle. Figure 19.

TP-15123
Issued 01-16
Page 12

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2016

(16579)
Printed in USA

Assembly and Installation Procedures

5.

In this section, the conventional bearing components will be
assembled. This will include replacement knuckles/spindles, torque
plates, hubs and rotors, bearings, spindle nut packs and hub covers.

Place the seal in the top of the bottom knuckle bore. Verify that
the lip of the seal is away from the bore.

6.

Repeat Step 3 of this procedure.

Install the Inner Knuckle Bushing Seal

1.

Clean the knuckle bores and axle center.

1.

Place the knuckle in a vise with brass jaws so that the jaws
hold the top of the knuckle. The bottom of the knuckle must be
toward you.

2.

Place the knuckle onto the axle center.

3.

Thoroughly pack the thrust bearing rollers with grease.

Place the seal into the bottom of the top knuckle bore. Verify
that the open V-lip of the seal is away from the bushing to
allow grease to purge. Figure 20.

4.

Prior to installation, locate the top of the thrust bearing
assembly. The thrust bearing assembly must be installed with
the correct orientation as follows. Figure 21.

2.

Install the Knuckle

NOTE: The thrust bearings have the seal integrated with the
bearing assembly.

Figure 20

앫 The surface with the inner diameter seal must be on top.
앫 The surface with the outer diameter lip seal must be on the
bottom.

BRONZE DRIFT

Figure 21

TOP

INNER
DIAMETER
SEAL

TOP

MACHINED SURFACE
KNUCKLE BORE

BUSHING

4003913a

INTEGRATED
GREASE SEAL,
RUBBER LIP

Figure 20

4003914a

Figure 21

WARNING
Use a brass or synthetic mallet for assembly and disassembly
procedures. Do not hit steel parts with a steel hammer. Pieces
of a part can break off. Serious personal injury and damage to
components can result.
3.

Use a brass drift, hammer and correct size driver or socket to
install the seal. Install the seal until the top of the seal is even
with the machined surface of the knuckle. Figure 20.

4.

Turn the knuckle over into the vise. The jaws of the vise must
hold the bottom of the knuckle. The top of the knuckle must be
toward you.

(16579)
Printed in USA

BOTTOM

5.

Slide the seal and thrust bearing assembly between the bottom
of the axle center and knuckle. Verify that the seal is toward the
axle center and over the thrust bearing. Figure 22.

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2016

TP-15123
Issued 01-16
Page 13

Figure 22

7.

D.

Verify that the bores of the knuckle, axle center, shims,
seals and thrust bearing are aligned. If these parts are not
aligned, parts will be damaged when the king pin is
installed.

E.

Remove the pry bar.

Install the king pin. Figure 24.

Figure 24

“TOP”

KING PIN
4003916a
Figure 22

WARNING
Wear gloves when holding shims. Shims have sharp edges and
can cause serious personal injury.
6.

Install the shims.
A.

Inspect the shims. Replace any damaged shims.

B.

If a new shim pack must be determined, select the
amount of shims that will give the least end play:
0.001-inch minimum to 0.010-inch maximum.
(0.025-0.254 mm).

4003918a

C.

Place a pry bar between the steering arm boss and the
axle beam. Lift the knuckle and slide the shim pack
between the top of the axle center and the knuckle.
Figure 23.

Figure 24

A.

Apply a specified lubricant to the bottom half of the king
pin.

B.

Install the king pin in the top of the knuckle. Verify that the
word “TOP” that is stamped on the king pin is toward you.

C.

Rotate the king pin so that the draw key slots in the pin
are aligned with the holes in the axle center.

Figure 23

CAUTION

PRY BAR

Do not force the pin through the top bushing. The shims will be
damaged.
D.

Push the king pin through the top bushing, bushing seal
and shim pack. If the king pin is difficult to install, verify
that all the parts are aligned.

E.

After the king pin is through the shim pack, push the king
pin into the bottom bushing. If necessary, use a brass
hammer to drive the king pin into the bushing. Verify that
the axle center, spindle and thrust bearing and bushing
seal are aligned.

F.

Verify that the draw key slots in the pin are aligned with
the holes in the axle center.

SHIM
4003917a
Figure 23

NOTE: Do not drive the draw keys into the knuckle until after
the end play is checked and adjusted.
TP-15123
Issued 01-16
Page 14

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2016

(16579)
Printed in USA

8.

Install the upper draw key with the nut to the front of the axle.
Install the lower draw key with the nut to the rear of the axle.
Verify that the key is aligned with the slot in the pin. Seat both
draw keys with a hammer. Figure 25.

Figure 26

Figure 25

MAGNETIC BASE
LOCATED AT
EITHER PLACE
4003920a
Figure 26

WARNING
If a hydraulic jack is used to measure end play, use safety
stands to support the axle. If safety stands are not used, the
axle can fall and cause serious personal injury.
4003919a

4.
Figure 25

9.

Use one of the following procedures to measure end play.
앫 Place the pry bar between the knuckle and the top of the
axle center. Pull the knuckle upward and measure the end
play. Figure 27.

Rotate the knuckle in both directions to ensure it moves freely.

10. Use an impact gun to tighten the draw key nuts to 30-55 lb-ft
(41-75 N폷m). @

앫 Place a block of wood and hydraulic jack under the bottom
of the knuckle. Raise the knuckle until the pointer on the
dial indicator stops. Figure 28.

11. Check the knuckle end play. Refer to the procedure in this
section.
Figure 27

Check the Knuckle End Play
Wheel Removed from the Spindle
1.

Hit the top boss of the knuckle with a rubber mallet to move all
parts into position.

2.

Turn the knuckle to the straight or forward position.

3.

Attach a dial indicator. Place the base of the indicator onto the
knuckle assembly. Place the tip of the indicator onto the center
of the king pin. Place the dial indicator on the ZERO position.
Figure 26.
4003921a
Figure 27

(16579)
Printed in USA

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2016

TP-15123
Issued 01-16
Page 15

Figure 28

2.

Use a lever to lift the knuckle to measure the end play.

3.

End play should measure 0.001-0.010-inch
(0.025-0.254 mm) maximum on both knuckles.
앫 If the knuckle is binding or ZERO end play is measured:
Remove shims from the shim pack.
앫 If more than 0.010-inch (0.254 mm) end play is
measured: Add shims to the shim pack.

Install the Draw Key Locknuts and King Pin Caps

WOOD BLOCK

CAUTION
Verify that the draw key is installed completely and the locknut
is tightened to the specified torque. If the draw key is not
installed correctly, the king pin and the axle center will be
damaged.

4003922a
Figure 28

1.
5.

Repeat Steps 3-4 with the axle in the full right turn and full left
turn positions.

6.

End play must measure 0.001-0.025-inch (0.025-0.635 mm)
in all axle positions.

Install the locknut on the threaded draw keys and tighten to
30-55 lb-ft (41-75 N폷m). Figure 30. @

Figure 30

앫 If the knuckle binds or ZERO end play is measured:
Remove shims from the shim pack.

30-55 LB-FT
(41-75 N•m)

앫 If more than 0.025-inch (0.635 mm) end play is
measured: Add shims to the shim pack.
Wheel Installed on the Spindle
1.

Install a dial indicator. Verify that the base of indicator is on the
axle center. Verify that the tip of the indicator is on the center of
the knuckle cap. The tip of the indicator can also be placed
onto the knuckle. Figure 29.

Figure 29

4003924b
Figure 30

2.

For FH 941 and FH 946 axles, apply sealant 360 degrees
around the first thread of the king pin cap and install the top
and bottom threaded king pin caps. Tighten to 100-120 lb-ft
(135-160 N폷m). Figure 31. @

4003923a
Figure 29

TP-15123
Issued 01-16
Page 16

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2016

(16579)
Printed in USA

Figure 31

Figure 32

TIE ROD

FH 941 AND
FH 946 AXLES

TIE ROD END

CAP
GASKET
THREADED
KING PIN
CAP
TUBE SLOT

MARKS
4003895a

Figure 32

2.

4003925b
Figure 31

앫 For a 5/8"-11 clamp bolt on a tie rod tube up to
1.75-inches in diameter: 40-60 lb-ft (55-81 N폷m). @

Install the Tie Rod Arms and Steering Arms
1.