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| Here I have the spindle removed,axle out. |
Wheel bearing inspection,removal of axle and CV joint boot replacement. The front assembly can either be a bolted on hub assembly or pressed in wheel bearings on your front wheel drive cars and if you have the hub bearing you just unbolt the four bolts, axle nun, braking system and replace. Not so bad ! But if you have to just purchase the bearings by themselves you will either have to have a press or I believe you can pick up a tool for the job fairly cheep at Harbor Freight Tools that can install the front bearings.If you want you can take the front assembly up to a shop with a press or a buddy and save a lot just getting it pressed in and do the rest yourself.
Well when you get your car up in the air wiggle your wheel back and forth and see if there is play in the bearings. Usually you will hear a steady rumbling from a worn out bearings. If you are hearing a lot of cracking and grinding while turning , it's your CV joint going bad. Inspect your rubber CV boots to see if they are split open and all the grease has splattered all over. You can pick up rebuilt axles for as little as $59.99 at Advance Auto Parts
I would start a little penetrating oil on the axle nut ahead of time if you can. Need a good breaker bar and pipe to break the axle nuts sometimes. Just leave your caliper on and stick a large screwdriver in the rotor vents to keep the axle from turning or have a buddy stand on the brake. Then take the axle nut off. On the 3000gt I undid the anti lock sensor,brake caliper,caliper bracket and rotor. Tie the caliper up with some wire so they don't hang by the brake line hoses.
Now split your tie rod end off with a pickle fork or puller.Undue your two bolts to the strut then undue your ball joint and separate your spindle or hub from the axle, ball joint and strut. Use penetrating oil on the axle if you have to then tap it out of the hub and bearing. Do not screw up the threads. Put the nut back on even with the end and tap it out with a hammer carefully. If the bearings are bad take the spindle up and have the bearings pressed in and new inner seal at this time. Shouldn't cost to much.
Check for play in your ball joint and tie rod end. Replace as necessary.It's not hard to change a boot. Really need a vice though to hold your axle while you pick the snap rings off so you can get the CV joints off to replace the boots. You will need a special pair of CV joint boot clamp pliers
to tighten up the bands on the boots and a good pair of snap ring pliers also. You will have to tap the outer CV joint pretty good with a block of wood with the axle mounted tightly on the vice to separate the inside snap ring . Inner will slide right off after removing the snap ring. It's kinda of a greasy job as you have to lube up the CV joints real good and if your not used to rebuilding these axles you might want to order a replacement at one of the car parts stores.Not to hard to get these back in . Some times you have to tap the axles back in with a block of wood to get the c clip to seat in the tranny. Sometimes takes a good pry bar to get the darn things out ! Well set your spindle back on the ball joint and start the nut. Get axle back up in place. make sure you have a little break in grease on your inner seal and oil up the axle end to slid easily into the bearing hub. Now start your strut bolts and the axle nut.
So tighten all that up to specs and pin what needs pinning. Now set your rotor on and then mount your brake bracket and tighten up good. Mount your brakes and caliper and tighten up that wheel and you should be good to go. Just remember to Recheck that everything is tight on that front end and torque your wheel on good..
