Well I lifted the front end of my car to check out my front end....
From the looks of things, my CV boots are perfect. (Outer boots)
However, it looks like my drivers side front wheel bearing is shot, and is now throwing off my alignment.
These problems are also causing my car to shimmy slightly when I shift, or on turns.
Can I replece the bearing myself, or does it have to be pressed in?
And, if I can't do it myself, can anyone recommend local shops that do good work, won't screw me over, know WTF they're doing, and won't cost an arm and a leg?
Also, will replacing the bearing fix my alignment, or will I have to have that done as well?
I know it's JUST a Cavalier, and I'm sorry if I hurt your ego.
yeah it has to be pressed in it will probably fix the alignment
Little Surprise on the way! HaHaHaHa
based on the advice of a guy i work with......
he would pull the lower ball joint if he needed the seal replaced...
instead of all that other crap...
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"forcast for tomorrow... a few sprinkles of genius and a chance of doom"
Aren't the bearings inside the rotor????
At least the other cas I've worked on, they were....
My father has actually "pressed" his own bearings using a 2x4 and a hammer..... Ghetto/Redneck... I know. But it worked.
I was actually considering replacing both bearings and rotors at the same time.
And if I can do it myself, It'd probably save a ton of cash.
As far as pulling ball joints, that's way out of my league. The method I've know was to remove the rim, unbolt the caliper, take out the cotter pin, unscrew the nut on the spindle/axle, then take the rotor off.
But IIRC, the vehicles I've done this on were all RWD.
I don't think I've done a FWD yet.....
I know it's JUST a Cavalier, and I'm sorry if I hurt your ego.
weird, nustyle did his own wheel bearing without having it pressed
LE61T PTE6262 Powered 
QBE (The Boosted One) wrote:weird, nustyle did his own wheel bearing without having it pressed
Same here.... I've done them on other cars...
I also read an article online that some guy did his own, but machined a little bit of metal off the rotor to make them fit easier....
I know it's JUST a Cavalier, and I'm sorry if I hurt your ego.
Christ Joe, I just looked at that link....
I might do this myself man.....
You think I can do it with a few simple hand tools sockets, etc.... ?
I know it's JUST a Cavalier, and I'm sorry if I hurt your ego.
Sorry for the triple post........ I have no clue how to edit posts and add stuff...
Anyone wanna give me a hand with this?
I plan on doing it thursday or friday, and would appreciate if someone would be available to give me advice or tips etc.. if I end up getting stuck.
You don't have to be there, just kinda on stand-by with a phone nearby or something....
Let me know....
Thanks again.
I know it's JUST a Cavalier, and I'm sorry if I hurt your ego.
:lol
i'm pretty sure you could do this with out a problem...
ive never done one before...
so i would be of no help.
if you undo the ball joint, you would probably save a lot of work...
unless you have to replace the ball joint...
(wich you probably do
)
replacing it kinda sucks...
i replaced both of mine when i swapped the engine.
i think the hardest part will be breaking the nuts free
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"forcast for tomorrow... a few sprinkles of genius and a chance of doom"
You serious that I'd have to replace the ball joint???
And why?
I know it's JUST a Cavalier, and I'm sorry if I hurt your ego.
might have to change it...
inspect it at the very least
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"forcast for tomorrow... a few sprinkles of genius and a chance of doom"
Ahhhhh ok I will do that, and what should I look for?
Well I picked up the new bearing assy.. very nice, but it requires 180lb ft of torque to properly preload the bearings....
I have no torque wrench!
Well I have an old POS torque wrench which I don't know if it works right or not.....
Any clue how to deal with this, aside from buying one? I'm out of cash!
I know it's JUST a Cavalier, and I'm sorry if I hurt your ego.
rent a torque wrench from autozone for free, wheel bearings are pretty simple to replace w/ a little common sense, its a little different than say changing one on an S10 but the same idea
~SEVENONESIX~CAR CLUB OF WNY EST. 1996
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sevenonesixcavy wrote:rent a torque wrench from autozone for free, wheel bearings are pretty simple to replace w/ a little common sense, its a little different than say changing one on an S10 but the same idea
Ahhh good idea, thanks bro.
Yea.. I originally thought they had to be pressed into the rotor.. but I picked the bearing assy up today, and checked the link Joe posted, it looks pretty straight forward.
Hopefully this summer I can lower it too... And I'd like to do it myself.
I need struts anyways
I know it's JUST a Cavalier, and I'm sorry if I hurt your ego.
Wheel bearing is done....
The hardest parts were knocking the old bearing free from the spindle (rust), and cracking a few nuts and bolts.
I used a cold chisel to knock the old bearing assy off after about 30 minutes of getting nowhere.
Joe, thanks for that post.. that helped A LOT man. I probably couldn't have done it without that help bro.
Mark, good advice on Auto Zone's Torque Wrench..... That helped alot too, Thanks man. But 180lb ft didn't take as much strength to reach as I thought it would....
I know it's JUST a Cavalier, and I'm sorry if I hurt your ego.
ny j-bodies has one of the best libraries around...
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"forcast for tomorrow... a few sprinkles of genius and a chance of doom"
Definitely...
I heard I'm supposed to do the other side within 1500 miles? Any truth to this?
I had already planned on doing it... but it being optional or required is the question.
I'd kinda like to put someone in their place if possible
Also, following that how-to guide, can I replace my struts and coilovers as well?
Mainly, when that stuff is taken apart.... is all the tension off of the coil springs and struts?
I know it's JUST a Cavalier, and I'm sorry if I hurt your ego.
springs and struts are easy...
except for breaking the nut free (the one on the strut shaft...
i had to do mine before i lifted my car since i have no air tools.
similar problem when tightening it...
i used vice grips and a piece of leather on the shaft to keep it from turning....
oh, and only do one side of the back at a time
suspension was the 2nd thing i did to my car...
STOCK SUCKS
should be easier than the wheel bearing.
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"forcast for tomorrow... a few sprinkles of genius and a chance of doom"
