Do It Yourself Auto Repair

Harley Davidson motorcycles from 1982 on use a front brake caliper that has two main pieces--the caliper and the pad holder. The brake calipers should always be inspected prior to riding for leaks...

Most modern autos have started using sealed wheel bearings in the hubs to prolong the bearing lifespan and make replacement simpler. The hub contains the wheel bearings and attaches to the axle...

The Dodge Ram 2500 series pickup truck is manufactured with sealed front wheel bearings, which require the removal of the entire front hub to replace. Wheel bearings that are incorporated into the...

Just as changing the oil in your car is a necessary part of car ownership, replacing the hub bearings on your vehicle is something that a responsible car owner must also do on occasion. This task...

Dodge Ram trucks use wheel bearings inside rotor housing to allow the wheels to spin freely. These wheel bearings can fail because of a loss of lubricant or heat damage, and will require complete...

The 2001 Chevy Impala came equipped with a standard 3.1L V-6 engine, in a front-wheel drive configuration. The wheel bearings for this car are a hub and bearing assembly driven by the drive axles...

The caliper slide bolt, or pin bolt, is the lowermost bolt on a brake caliper. The slide bolt holds the caliper to the caliper mounting bracket. When you remove this bolt, the caliper will swing...

At any time the front brake pads on a Chevy Malibu are replaced, the rotors should be machined so that the new pads have a smooth surface to ride on. If the rotor is not turned, the front pads...

When buying brake pads for a Chevrolet Blazer, don't deviate from the original specifications. There are organic, semi-metallic and metallic pads. Each of these pads is designed to work in a...

The front wheel bearings on a 1994 Mercury Topaz are pressed into the steering knuckle. This requires the steering knuckle to be removed and the bearing to be pressed out and the new one brought...

The 1994 Toyota pickup uses a short arm/long arm suspension system made up of one upper and one lower A-frame/control arm, and a spindle attached between the two. Each control arm is attached to...

Wheel bearings used to be a bit complicated to replace, but nowadays things are much easier. On the 1999 through 2006 Chevrolet and GMC trucks, the front bearings are in one assembly. Granted, the...

Changing the front axle on a 1995 Honda Accord is only necessary when the CV joint begins to grind or the shaft itself shears in half. Normally, the joint fails long before the shaft does. Since...

The brake pads on your vehicle typically wear out over time, requiring that they be replaced routinely. Driving on worn or defective brakes can create a dangerous situation. When you start to feel...

Installing front disc brakes on a Ford F-150 pickup is a straightforward process and requires basic tools. It is possible to just replace brake pads, though the correct way is to have the rotors...

Wheel studs are the bolts used to hold tires in place; if one breaks, it must be replaced. This procedure is not challenging and requires basic tools with the exception of an air-powered wrench,...

The wheel bearings in a Ford Taurus are located in the hub/bearing assembly. Replacing the hub/bearing assembly is a straightforward process -- remove the brakes, then the bearing, and reassemble.

Wheel studs or lugs are the bolts that clamp the wheel to the rotor with the clamp pressure from the lug nuts. There may be as few as four on a small utility or boat trailer and as many as twelve...

Ford F150 pickup trucks were manufactured with front disk brakes after 1980, and the pads and rotors can wear down and require replacement after several years of use. The rotor can warp from...

Prior to replacing the brakes on a Ford Granada, drive the vehicle at 50 mph to check for a pulsating brake pedal when the brakes are applied. This would indicate the rotors are warped and should...

Vehicle repairs can be costly, especially now with so many people out of jobs. People don't have the time and the money to pay for costly repairs. On some occasions, it can take longer to find the...

Need Your Brakes Changed? This Do-It-Yourself article provides you with easy step-by-step instructions. You'll learn how to change your front brakes yourself with ease.

The ball joints on a Nissan S13, also known as the Silvia, keep the suspension in check by making sure that the suspension flexes instead of snapping in half. The joints work similar to the ball...

The Caravan has been an enduring minivan in the Chrysler/Dodge family for many years, and has gone through many redesigns. As is the case with most vehicles, regular brake services are going to be...

The rear bearings on a front-drive Dodge Caravan are of the sealed hub type. They require no periodic maintenance. When a failure occurs, the hub bearing needs to be replaced as a unit. It should...

The half shaft on your Nissan Pathfinder is a drive axle that connects the transmission to the drive wheels. The half shaft is so named because it is approximately half the length of the main...

The lower ball joint on a car is located between the steering knuckle and the lower control arm. It, along with the upper ball joint, allows the steering knuckle to pivot from left to right,...

Brake pads are part of the brake system in your vehicle. When the brake pad--or brake lining--is worn down, it's time to reline them. This means that you'll need to replace the pads in the brake...

The Jeep Wrangler/CJ is the go-anywhere do-anything vehicle that's been an American icon for over 50 years. The Wrangler version of the Jeep was introduced in 1987 and mixed updated technology...

The primary cause for failure in CV joints on a Ford Taurus stems from a tear in the rubber CV boot. This boot covers the flexible ends of the Taurus's CV axle. The flexible ends are the CV...

Brake pads should be changed any time they become thin to the point that they are 75 to 80 percent worn. A Mercedes-Benz has a low pad warning light on the dash to indicate this. The rotors on a...

Ford trucks with disc braking systems need smooth, strong rotors in order to brake reliably and wear brake pads evenly. When rotors develop cracks and other imperfections, they can quickly ruin...

It is always advisable to replace the brakes on a Ford Explorer with at least the equivalent type brakes as original. The amount of metallic used in the original pads is designed to dissipate heat...

Replacing brake rotors may not be a common do-it-yourself repair job for the casual home mechanic, but that doesn't mean that it's a difficult process. Swapping out rotors is actually a fast and...

With time, the rotors on your Jetta MK5 can become pitted, cracked or riddled with "hot spots" that then cause uneven and rapid wear on your brake pads. When this starts to happen, it's important...

Park the MK5 on level ground and put it in park, but do not apply the parking brake. Place a wheel chock behind each front tire. Slide a floor jack under a solid part of the rear frame and slowly...

The low-break sensors on a Honda Accord are metallic tabs on the sides of the pads that are bent toward the rotor so that when the pad becomes worn, the tab strikes the rotor when the brakes are...

As its name implies, the Toyota 4WD is equipped with four wheel drive. This adds a few extra steps and precautions to the rotor removal process. Even though this job will take a little longer than...

The Ford Excursion uses a pinch type upper ball joint. It still requires a ball joint installation kit to properly insert the ball joint (in most cases). The upper ball joint on most vehicles is...

The front disc brake pads on a Ford Thunderbird have a metallic feeler that is bent to contact the rotor when the pad becomes worn to the point that it needs replacing. The squealing heard when...

The Saturn L200 uses a sealed wheel bearing assembly. This eliminates having to remove the entire knuckle of the vehicle and using a press machine to extract the older bearings, then have new ones...

When replacing brakes on a Mercedes C230, it is advisable to use either OEM parts or their equivalent. The brake pads have a hole in them for the low brake pad monitor, and a specific amount of...

The brake pads on your Honda Passport come equipped with a wear indicator. This could be a plate with metal tabs or rivets on the pad itself. When this indicator begins to scratch the brake rotor...

Axle bearings play a pivotal role in how your vehicle moves. They hold the axle in place, which allows for the free movement of the wheels as you are driving. Over time, these parts will begin to...

When changing brakes on a car, make sure the car is jacked up, remove the bolts on the caliper and remove the brake pads. Replace brake pads in a car with help from an auto mechanic in this free...

When changing brake pads on a car, make sure the car is jacked up, remove the bolts on the caliper and remove the brake pads. Replace brake pads in a car with help from an auto mechanic in this...

Replacing the brake rotor on your Chevy Malibu can be performed in the comfort of your own yard. There are certain factors to consider to perform the job correctly and certain special tools needed...

Replacing the hub bearing on your Chevy Blazer is not the easiest repair to attempt in your front or back yard. Considering the price of the hub bearing replacement, however, if you have the tools...

Before installing the new brake rotors on your Chevy S-10 pickup, remove the protecting coating on the friction surface of the rotor using denatured alcohol and wipe it with a clean shop rag. In...

Replacing a wheel bearing is a difficult task, especially if you do not have much experience working on your Mercedes. Wheel bearings allow the wheel to turn smoothly with less heat and friction....