Several weeks ago I went over to Buskirks to have my front bearings replaced
and to check out the rest of the front end. This was to be a hands on
learning experience as I had never seen how the hubs, knuckles and
Control Arms
are taken apart. I also planned on changing the break pads at the same time.
The drivers side was the first to come apart, with the Hub and Knuckle
removed as an assembly to be service at the work bench. The Knuckle was
a newer style with a grease zerk to grease the bearings in place and had
been replaced sometime in the past. The bearings appeared to be in good
condition, but having no record when the last time that they had been
serviced I wanted to start with new bearing as a baseline. The
clearances on the knuckle and Hub were like new and new bearing and
seals were installed as everything was reassembled. It was now time to
inspect the upper and lower A arms, ball joints and bushings. The lower
ball joint had been replaced in 1986 at about 56K miles according to the
PO records. The upper A arm, ball joint and bushings were in good shape
with no problems found. The lower A arm was cracked from the back side
bolt across to the top nut of the Ball joint to the front side bolt of
the ball joint. Basically fell apart when the hub and knuckle were
removed for service. This is the failure that everyone talks about with
a coach with 100K+ miles and replacement ball joints. Ours had just
turned 101K. This was good to find and we installed a new lower A arm
assembly and spot welded the ball joint bolts to insure tightness.
During assembly I also installed the Performance Friction Carbon-metalic
brake pads #0524 and everything was reassembled and tightened to spec's.
The passenger side was done next with the clearance check out like new
with no excess play in the bushings and ball joints and new bearings.
After finding the problems with the A arm on the drivers side we
inspected the lower A arm and found a small hairline crack on the rear
side bolt of the lower ball joint. We remove the ball joint and then
using a dye grinder notched the crack and then heliarced the small crack
and reinforce the ball joint area. Reinstalled the Ball joint, spot
welded the bolts and completed the rest of the assembly. Should be
stronger than new.
This service was done to give me the information on what shape the front
end was and to service it, repair any problems and to give me peace of
mind on what I was really driving.
- --
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLakers
77 Eleganza II
Michigan
and to check out the rest of the front end. This was to be a hands on
learning experience as I had never seen how the hubs, knuckles and
Control Arms
are taken apart. I also planned on changing the break pads at the same time.
The drivers side was the first to come apart, with the Hub and Knuckle
removed as an assembly to be service at the work bench. The Knuckle was
a newer style with a grease zerk to grease the bearings in place and had
been replaced sometime in the past. The bearings appeared to be in good
condition, but having no record when the last time that they had been
serviced I wanted to start with new bearing as a baseline. The
clearances on the knuckle and Hub were like new and new bearing and
seals were installed as everything was reassembled. It was now time to
inspect the upper and lower A arms, ball joints and bushings. The lower
ball joint had been replaced in 1986 at about 56K miles according to the
PO records. The upper A arm, ball joint and bushings were in good shape
with no problems found. The lower A arm was cracked from the back side
bolt across to the top nut of the Ball joint to the front side bolt of
the ball joint. Basically fell apart when the hub and knuckle were
removed for service. This is the failure that everyone talks about with
a coach with 100K+ miles and replacement ball joints. Ours had just
turned 101K. This was good to find and we installed a new lower A arm
assembly and spot welded the ball joint bolts to insure tightness.
During assembly I also installed the Performance Friction Carbon-metalic
brake pads #0524 and everything was reassembled and tightened to spec's.
The passenger side was done next with the clearance check out like new
with no excess play in the bushings and ball joints and new bearings.
After finding the problems with the A arm on the drivers side we
inspected the lower A arm and found a small hairline crack on the rear
side bolt of the lower ball joint. We remove the ball joint and then
using a dye grinder notched the crack and then heliarced the small crack
and reinforce the ball joint area. Reinstalled the Ball joint, spot
welded the bolts and completed the rest of the assembly. Should be
stronger than new.
This service was done to give me the information on what shape the front
end was and to service it, repair any problems and to give me peace of
mind on what I was really driving.
- --
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLakers
77 Eleganza II
Michigan
