Symptoms
Gear oil weeping from the knuckle balls, loose or wandering steering, play when you rock the top of the tire, and grease or oil inside the brake parts.
The fix, step by step
- Lock out the hubs, lift the front and remove the wheel, caliper, rotor and Aisin hub.
- Remove the knuckle seal and the upper and lower kingpin caps, separate the knuckle and pull the axle shaft.
- Replace the inner axle seal, kingpin bearings, wheel bearings, knuckle seal and gaskets, then set kingpin preload as the service manual specifies.
- Refill the front differential and the knuckles to the levels in the manual.
Tools & part numbers
- Socket set
- seal driver
- bearing packer
- torque wrench
- spring scale for kingpin preload
- service manual
Where to buy the parts
Suzuki Samurai front knuckle rebuild kit (Koyo bearings, seals, gaskets)Trail Tough ↗Amazon ↗
OEM front inner axle seal, 1986–95 SamuraiTrail Tough ↗Amazon ↗
Koyo front wheel bearingTrail Tough ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Suzuki SJ / Samurai parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.