Changed CV axles, hub bearings, ball joints, TREs

[Boston]

I'm glad that's over with! The work wasn't that hard, but somewhat time consuming. Especially once I got it all bolted back together and took it for a test drive. My disc brake dust shields are in rough shape and were bent slightly from wrenching near them, so they took some prying as not to rub on the rotors. All good now though!

The trouble spots were:

1) Prying the axles out. I just wasn't prying hard enough. Got them eventually.

2) I don't have a press, so I had to drive an hour each way on Sunday to a buddy's where there is a 30-ton press. The bearings and ball joints took us about 2 hours. The ball joints just didn't want to come out.

3)Advance sold me the wrong ball joints.

4)Autozone sold me the right ball joints and tie rod ends, but one of the tie rod ends was the wrong part number in a box with the right part number.

I got the shafts from Advance and they were the right ones.

I'm going to go for an alignment and have my tires balances tomorrow. I'm probably due for an alignment, and although I marked the tie rods and adjusted the tie rod ends to the original position, I think it's a good idea to have the alignment checked.

For some background, I was getting pulsing in the brake pedal that I originally though was a warped rotor. I had installed new brakes all around in September, so I bought one rotor and tried it on, but I still had pulsing. That's when I checked the hub and it was "wobbling" ever so slightly. That's when I knew it was time to replace the bearings.

I am pleased to report that there is no more pulsing in the brakes. I love the feeling of a smooth brake pedal!

I didn't take any pictures, sorry. Better luck next time

[ne3ek]

how much $ are we talking in parts?

[charles]

Good work.

[Boston]

Thanks Chuck!

Let's see,

axles: $70 + $45 core x 2 = $140 + $90
ball joints: $32 x 2 = $64 (Autozone p/n FA1767
TREs: $36 x 2 = $72 (Autozone p/n ES3251)
wheel bearings: $48 x 2 = $96 (Mazda p/n ???? I have to check)
wheel bearing inner seals: $???? I have to check

That totals $462 - $90 plus 5% MA sales tax = $390.60

I didn't get any quotes from any shops so I don't know how that compares. The first time always takes the longest because it's a learning experience. I could definitely do the job in one night now if I had all of the correct parts and tools ready to go.

All of this work put me just over the $1,000 mark in terms of new parts/repairs since I got the car in September.

I'm getting ready to order ZX2 struts that I'm going to run with stock springs. That will set me back another $250 or so.

[JProtege]

awesome job, but why the v-8 sticker?

[Boston]

To make you ask about it.

[JProtege]

well done!

[JordyB]

I pretty much did the same thing but had all the parts and tools in house so it only took a few hours and was able to do it for a little less shopping around but you did good.

[Boston]

Thanks fine sirs.

Actually a few weeks ago, I dropped my girlfriend off at the movie theater to run in and get tickets ahead of time. I waited in the Pro out front. This kid, maybe about 16 or 17, came over and signaled me to roll down the passenger window. He looked excited and confused at the same time.

He asked, “What’s your car?”

“Mazda Protégé,” I responded.

“What year?” he asked, still with a dumbfounded look on his face.

“1991”

“And it has a V8?!?!”

I chuckled. “No, that’s just a decal I put on there,” I said, still with a smirk on my face

He took a couple of quick steps to the rear of the car and took a quick look at the trunk lid and came right back. “But it says V8!!”

“Yeah, I know. I put that on there.”

“Oooh, heh,” he smiled. “Ok, cool.”