85berlinetta2.8

i myself replaced recently the struts, shocks, swaybar endlinks, calipers, caliper bolts because they were due at 80,000 miles (130,000 kilometers)

well i had my car make a BANG noise from the front suspension and felt it was unsafe to drive.

so i had it towed, to the shop, gave my mechanic new springs, new brake hoses, and balljoints.

got the car back and he reccomended i do my bearings as they were original and he could tell. and he said my balljoint on driver side just fell out when he took the spindle off.

so a few days later i had my car make a CRUNCH noise and the front hopped.

took off the driver side brake disc, and the inner bearing litererally blew all over my driveway. i couldnt tell that my bearing ring was fused to my steering knuckle and after a few trips to the part store to verify part numbers, and getting a ride to work, having neighbours complain about me parked on the sidewalk because i couldnt move the car without a bearing that fit.

i take off the other side and notice a TOTAL difference between the two knuckles.
the bearing was fused to my wheel stud.

i got out the dremel hammer and centerpunch and me and my roomate were able to get the old one off, with some damage to the stud.

heres a pic. you can see the old rollers from the exploded wheel bearing on the cement.


















i bought new inner and outers for both sides. did the passenger side first.

well wouldnt you know it the new bearing still wouldnt fit over this side.

on the driver side.... i mean i tried the new one, everything but hammering it on. but the new bearing still wouldnt fit. . i had to take the old inner bearing left over from the other side and for some reason it fit on the driver side. i put the 2 bearings together to see if there was any difference, but i couldnt feel it.

has anyone had a problem like this before? or to you think some material from the fused old wheel bearing is stuck to the stud, and the new bearing was too tight, and the old one had stretched just enough to fit?

AlkyIROC

From the looks of that spindle, I'd say you better buy a new spindle.

It looks a little dry. Were the bearings packed when they had the hub off?

85berlinetta2.8

yeah the bearings were packed, i cleaned it off to get the rest of the bearing off.

91blkta

I have to agree stephen 87 iroc you need a new spindle that one is not very safe anymore. might get you buy for a short time if you can clean it up and get a bearing to fit. But I wouldn't drive on that too long.

85berlinetta2.8

i could get one from the wreckers.

are all the spindles the same?

and when the car is sitting on the ground, i gotta take the strut off, the tierod off, and the balljoint should just unbolt right?

Apeiron

There are minor differences in the castings but they're all interchangeable. You'll need to pop the tapered shafts of the ball joint and tie rod end.