Ok, so last week we had a big snowstorm come through here and the roads were slick. So when driving home coming off the exit ramp and making a left turn I skided into a curb and the right front wheel hit the curb pretty hard, in fact caused the tire to go flat. I took off the the flat and took it down to the local tire shop and the wheel was fine, not bent, aired it back up and its still fine. THe problem is: My steering wheel is now off center, and hear loud like scraping sounds in the front end. It still steers straight and brakes fine in a straight line. The shop I took it to says I need a new wheel bearing/hub assembly. I have checked the car myself by jacking up the front end but there is no play at all in the right front wheel that took the hit. So question is there something else that could be wrong since I expected the wheel to have a lot of play in it if the wheel bearing was bad. Its an '01 Z24.
there is a lot that could be wrong. the hub is one of them, the tie rod could have been damaged, the control arm could be bent, the strut could be messed up, etc., etc.
87 Firebird
All stock...........lol.
randizzle wrote:there is a lot that could be wrong. the hub is one of them, the tie rod could have been damaged, the control arm could be bent, the strut could be messed up, etc., etc.
Supposedly all that stuff is ok, according to the shop that looked at the car, just that the wheel bearing is bad. However, I thought that if the bearing was bad there would be some play in the wheel like you could rock it up and down when you put it up on jackstands but it seems solid to me. Just asking here because I can replace the wheel bearing myself for less than $100 instead of the $281 the shop wants.
don't buy a cheap hub assembly unless you plan on doing it more than once.
87 Firebird
All stock...........lol.
I hit a curb with my 89 cavalier bent the rim, Popped the tire. I also had a wheel bearing failed as well, When I was driving i could feel it grinding, I replaced the wheel bearing the grinding noise was gone. That fixed the problem.
Good Luck.
just because there is no play in the wheel bearing doesnt mean it isnt noisy... hitting the curb could have damaged something inside the bearing that made it noisy...
EYEOPNR (sleepercavy) wrote:just because there is no play in the wheel bearing doesnt mean it isnt noisy... hitting the curb could have damaged something inside the bearing that made it noisy...
OK, thats what I was wondering about, if there should be play in it or it can still be bad. Don't know how difficult a job it is to replace it but I'm going to try.
Anyone know, are you supposed to put some grease on the axel splines before you slip on the new bearing/hub assembly? Also, are you supposed to put threadlock on the bolts that hold the assembly to the steer knuckle? The book does not specify. Also, according to autozone you are supposed to replace the axel lock nut but they don't stock it, so wondering if I can get away with re-using the original one.
I greased the axle before I put it back in (cause it was a PAIN to get out).
I also used BLUE Locktite on the bolts (it never hurts to be sure).
I had the exact same thing happen to me as you described. I replaced the wheel bearings and got it aligned and all was well.
You can re-use the axle lock nut (I did) but if it isnt recommended I would replace it (i bought a couple from napa for like $10 each). I dropped my axle when i pulled the motor and screwed up the threads, so I had no choice.Its not necessary, but I would still advocate it.
"A car just isn't a car without a little blood, sweat, and beers." -- Shadowfire
Matt Linke wrote:I greased the axle before I put it back in (cause it was a PAIN to get out).
I also used BLUE Locktite on the bolts (it never hurts to be sure).
I had the exact same thing happen to me as you described. I replaced the wheel bearings and got it aligned and all was well.
You can re-use the axle lock nut (I did) but if it isnt recommended I would replace it (i bought a couple from napa for like $10 each). I dropped my axle when i pulled the motor and screwed up the threads, so I had no choice.Its not necessary, but I would still advocate it.
OK, thanks. Anyone know what the axel nut size is. I was told 30mm so I rented that socket from autozone, but it doesnt seem like the right size. Is it 29mm? Or is it standard size?
porter92 wrote:Matt Linke wrote:I greased the axle before I put it back in (cause it was a PAIN to get out).
I also used BLUE Locktite on the bolts (it never hurts to be sure).
I had the exact same thing happen to me as you described. I replaced the wheel bearings and got it aligned and all was well.
You can re-use the axle lock nut (I did) but if it isnt recommended I would replace it (i bought a couple from napa for like $10 each). I dropped my axle when i pulled the motor and screwed up the threads, so I had no choice.Its not necessary, but I would still advocate it.
OK, thanks. Anyone know what the axel nut size is. I was told 30mm so I rented that socket from autozone, but it doesnt seem like the right size. Is it 29mm? Or is it standard size?
It is a 29mm, I just discovered. I purchased the Timkin hub/bearing assembly from autozone and found the seal is seperate from the assembly, which wasnt what I was expecting. Does anyone know: Should you have the seal pressed into the assembly prior to installing the thing back on the steering knuckle or just put the seal into the knuckle and slide on the assembly and bolt it up ? Also should I fill up the beveled side of the seal with grease (chassis grease I assume) prior to putting it together on the hub/bearing assembly?
make sure to torque the spindle nut to the correct torque spec.
87 Firebird
All stock...........lol.
randizzle wrote:make sure to torque the spindle nut to the correct torque spec.
Thanks but whats the correct torque spec for the axel nut? In the Chilton manual it says 185lbs in the text and 192lbs in the diagram (pg. 8-12)? Also, anybody know about the seal as I posted yesterday?
The seal is a grease/dust seal. you should be able to gently tap it into its place. Shouldn't need any grease as you mentioned.
