Front end Job.

[meadus101]

Hey all,
Instead of asking questions and Not doing anything, I'm actually going to do something tomorrow.

I'm going to take off my two front wheels and have a look at how things are going.

Worst Case Scenario: Wheel bearings, Rotors, Brake Pads, Tie Rod Ends, HUB.

Best Case: Wheel Bearings.

I Have no idea what I'm doing, So i'll be taking it off and Taking some pictures, Hopefully with those pictures we'll be able to see what I need to replace.

I have the 3 idiot lights. SVS ABS and Trac Off lit up.

I'll be doing this tomorrow, So what do you guys want me to get pictures of? (accurate locations of each would be great)


And I hope nobody minds helping me on this.


-Thanks in Advance.

[cherrington17]

you'll probably need a good pic of the hub/behind it,a good shot of your rotor and brake pads, a pic of your bearings, and a couple dozen of random, unnamed locations in your engine, just to confuse things. :lol:

[negolien]

LOL :<) Saying "I Have no idea what I'm doing" when dealing with brakes and suspension pieces is not very comforting though to be honest. Arte you hearing any grinding? Are there any groves in your discs? You do have a haynes yes?

[meadus101]

I Kinda know what I'm doing, I lack confidence. I've done brakes before, but my father was behind me, and I can change a Tire and stuff.

I'll just get pictures of whatever I can find.

[cherrington17]

it'd be even better to get a live feed, set up a webcam! :lol:

[meadus101]

I can do it over MSN if someone wants?

Though I'm not sure what I'm doing. I took the wheel off. And here's the driver's Side.


http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4601/pict0039xz0.jpg

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/820/pict0038tg9.jpg

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8015/pict0040qh7.jpg


Looks Like I can't go any further. As I lack the tools to remove the (What I think) is the Hub Nut.

[cherrington17]

how about a few shots of whats behind that. like, from just behind the rotor, facing in toward the tie rods/suspension?

[jayson_waltz]

you're gonna need a big impact to take the center nut off. don't know the exact size tho. just borrow an impact from someone you know and find the right socket. its pretty basic to do things if you take your time.

[Bad99Olds]

i cant tell really well from ur pics but what kind of shape are ur rotars in?

[Pacho]

35mm socket from autozone and i used a 1/2" torque wrench to take mine off, not too hard

[meadus101]

Well, the Rotors don't look too bad. And i've heard that if the Wheel bearing is gone, I can Jack it up and Shake the wheel. Anyone want to put some fact on that one?

All I can find myself is the Pads are Low on Driver's side, and Down to the metal on the Passenger side, Which I think is where i'm hearing my sound, And the Rotor may be Warped because I hear a "Chhh Chhh Chhh" as I Drive, It really does't sound like a Wheel bearing.

I'm going to have it Read at Like.. Napa or something. I have the 3 idiot lights up. So I don't think the Brakes will make that happen.

I was told about a month after i got the car that one of the sensors was bad, So I had a Mechanic rip down the front end, and all he could find was a Tie Rod End.

As it stands now, I'll have the Rotors and Pads replaced. If I'm replacing a Rotor, Should I just replace two of them or can I stick with 1. Suggestions?

[cherrington17]

wheel bearing would be a really loud hum, while your driving.

and if your doing the pads, do yourself a favor and do the rotors too. get something thats decent quality and you won't have to do them again for the life of the car. (assuming, like everyone else, the car falls apart ~70k miles from now)

[JOEY GLADSTONE]

heres a few pics, i was gonna write up a how to, but since they banned me i havent really felt much like doing it.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q67/alero88/suspension/DSC00110.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q67/alero88/suspension/DSC00112.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q67/alero88/suspension/DSC00116.jpg

[whiterider00]

if u have the 3 lights on but dont notice really any noise or vibration etc., check the wire going to the abs sensor (i think). it has a yellow sleeve around it, at least mine did. and this kinda came loose from the clip that held it down, and got all chewed up, and caused all 3 of my lights to come on, when there were no other problems. figured u might want to take a look at it just to see. you will have to replace the hub tho, at least thats what they told me because the wire by itself is not replacable, or long enough to splice in another one. good luck tho, hopefully nothing too bad.

[meadus101]

So new Rotors, Pads, and get some High heat paint and do the Calipers ? haha.

[cherrington17]

if your painting the calipers, get a wirebrush attachment for a drill, or (if you want a work out) get a hand version. but you need to scrub them down to fresh clean metal.

brake cleaner then wirebrush, then soapy water, then wirebrush, lather rinse repeat, until they look brand new.

it takes maybe an hour per caliper to get them really clean. but you can be brushing one while painting the other.

a couple coats of paint, and MANY clearcoats and your done.

[[ion] C2]

if your painting the calipers, get a wirebrush attachment for a drill, or (if you want a work out) get a hand version. but you need to scrub them down to fresh clean metal.
Not really. Get the Brake Caliper Kit from someplace like Murray's or AutoZone and it comes with a degreaser, you just spray it on, then paint. Mine have lasted a long time and look great, real bright red. I didn't scrub them at all, or clear coat them. Just brushed on the paint in the can after spraying that degreaser stuff.

[cherrington17]

really? i scrubbed the HELL outta mine. i put a few too many coats of paint on it through, and all the paint is cracked. i'll scrub it off and redo it eventually, but i'm lazy. it still looks decent though.

[meadus101]

Hey guys, Just got off the phone with the cheapest shop around,


He quoted me 430 for the work. Pads, Rotors, Calipers and Labour.


He's the thing,


He told me he has only put up 1 N body car that didn't need new calipers. Is this a common problem or is he trying to rip me off?

I need honest opinions please.

[NickAlero2000]

my whole setup was 400, and all 4 rotors, calipers and pads were replaced.
does his price include buying you parts, if not, do it yourself....hell...do it yourself anyway, it good to know how to work on your car when the price of a good mech is so high

edit: I installed everything myself

[cherrington17]

i've never seen a bad caliper (but a few members have had bad ones) and brakes definitely are an easy thing to fix. do it yourself and save the money. its a very valuable skill for the future.

[billytheman1188]

C2;358195']Not really. Get the Brake Caliper Kit from someplace like Murray's or AutoZone and it comes with a degreaser, you just spray it on, then paint. Mine have lasted a long time and look great, real bright red. I didn't scrub them at all, or clear coat them. Just brushed on the paint in the can after spraying that degreaser stuff.

heh, i cleaned mine with the degreaser pretty good and then painted the calipers black..... now the paint is chipping off.......

cant you just get some 80 grit sand paper and just sand the caliper a little bit (until the dirt and shit comes off), then clean it, then paint? that would be easier than using the wire brush method;):rolleyes2:

[meadus101]

I can Do it, I just lack the equipment and time.

I don't live at home anymore, otherwise it would be much better.

Hell, I don't even have a Tire Iron, I had to borrow that from someone else.

430 included Parts and Labour. so The Pads (40 bucks) the Calipers (95 bucks) and the Rotors and Labour as well, He's the cheapest shop around, but I think the caliper thing is BS.

[meadus101]

$411.13 today. Pads, Calipers, Rotors. Plus labour. (Which was only 45 bucks)


I'm poor.


but it runs fairly well. I had him whack a Whole lot of grease to the front end too. about $3.00 worth.