Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
While the name stretches back all the way to the 1930s as a trim package on the standard Chevrolet pickup, the Silverado as a model of its own didn't debut until GM introduced the next-generation GMT800 platform. Since then, the heavy-duty GMT800 Silverado's made a name for itself in terms of ruggedness, versatility and luxury (for a truck). The Silverado's rear axle, though, remained standard for the line, using many of the same mounting and production methods that its ancestors did seven decades before.
"Built Ford tough." This iconic slogan may have debuted in 1979, but it's been a philosophy at the Blue Oval since Henry rolled those first mass-produced cars off the line. And it was a business model held true for decades, included, but not ending with, the 1983 model year. But, if you're driving your old 4WD the way you should be, then oddds are good that you're going to break something sooner or later. And when that happens, it's time to tear out the old and install something stronger.
It has been said that the true measure of a machine's greatness is not how long it lasts, but how easy and cheap it is to fix. Let's look at two polar opposites: the Ford Super Duty and the Chevrolet Aveo. The wheel bearings on an Aveo are pressed into the steering hub, and they're impossible to replace without a half-dozen special tools and removal of the entire steering knuckle. Why? Because, secretly, GM -- or, more accurately, Daewoo -- engineers don't expect you to keep the car long enough to wear out its wheel bearings. On the other end…
The Chevy S10 minitruck made its chops as a smaller alternative to full-sized trucks, which means a few things insofar as design is concerned. The "mini" aspect meant that the S10 had to have moderately sized engines, good fuel economy and good handling for a truck. But the "truck" part meant that it still had to be tough enough for work and agricultural duty. The old S10's wheel bearings do rate as truck-tough, but using the S10 like it was meant to be used means that you'll have to replace them sooner or later.
Let's all give GM a round of applause for the Aveo; not so much for building a popular, inexpensive, efficient little car with partner Daewoo, but for building a car that's almost impossible to service without a shop-full of GM specialty tools. Take a hub bearing replacement, for example: replacing the hub bearing requires no less than six different specialty tools, any two or three of which would cost more than an entirely new steering hub-and-knuckle assembly. So, the smart route here is to replace the entire knuckle -- any other approach would end up costing twice as much. Well…
The Ford nine-inch rear-end is, in many ways, the big-block Chevy of third members. It's been the go-to axle for racers of all types since its introduction decades ago. But all nine-inches aren't created equal. Ford built two versions -- a 28-spline unit with smaller axle shafts designed for passenger car use, and a 31-spline unit designed for trucks. The 31-spline retrofit has been popular since there have been 31-spline axles. But don't kid yourself: this one isn't going to come cheap, and there are other options out there for about the same money.
Depending on who you ask, the 2001 to 2009 might have been the last "real" Jaguar ever produced. At least, the last Jaguar that didn't look like an Aston Martin. Based largely on the popular Ford Mondeo sedan, the Jag's underpinnings might not have been exotic -- but they were certainly more reliable than many Jags of the past. This includes the suspension and drive, which in turn includes the wheel bearings. But, wheel bearings are wear items after all, and they will go bad sooner or later.
Hidden under the truck, silently spinning away and delivering the engine's power to the ground, the axle and its differential may prove the weak link in your drivetrain if you're running larger tires or a bigger engine. Which, let's face it, you should be. Old S10s are just rolling frames begging for V-8 power, and the Borg-Warner axle isn't going to take that kind of torque. And the "Corporate" Chevrolet axle uses C-Clip retainers, which are accidents waiting to happen. Fortunately, removal and replacement with a stronger junkyard unit is pretty straightforward -- less than an hour-long project at the…
The Honda Civic was a car built around an engine -- or, at least, named after one. The original Civic got its name from Honda employees and engineers, who often referred to the car only by the name of the groundbreaking engine it was slated to use: the Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion, or CVCC, four cylinder. While early bugs kept the CVCC out of the Civic for the first two years of production, the engine and its sturdy front-drive drivetrain did eventually make its way to market. And 25 years later, the Civic still played host to both a revolutionary…
The 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse base model came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual front wheel drive transmission. Because your Eclipse is front wheel drive special axle shafts that have inner and outer constant velocity or CV joints that permit power to be transmitted from the transmission to the front wheels without interruption when the wheels turn or travel with the suspension. Replacing either CV shaft is an in depth repair, but is well within the realm of the home mechanic.
The 2005 Subaru Impreza STI came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manaul transmission. Designed and equipped as a base line rally car your Impreza has constant velocity or CV axles that transfer power from the front drive shaft to the front wheels to create an all wheel drive drive train. Replacing either front axle will involve dismantling some of the other chassis components but is well within the realm of the home mechanic.
The 2000 Chevy Impala base model came with a 3.4-liter six-cylinder and a four-speed automatic transmission. The axle seals on your transmission allow the axles to be connected to the output shaft inside the transmission without any fluid leakage from around the axle shaft. Commonly the axle shaft seal only needs to be replaced in the even of extreme wear or accidental damage during an axle shaft replacement. To replace the axle seal you will have to remove the axle shaft from the transmission and wheel hub assembly.
The 1994 Dodge Intrepid came with a 3.3-liter six-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. Your Intrepid came with a front-wheel drive transmission, which means the axle shafts have to be able to bend to the left and right, as well as up and down. The constant velocity joints at each end of the axle allow the axle to deliver uninterrupted power from the transmission even while you turn or go over bumps. The axle shaft is serviced as a whole unit, so when a CV joint begins to fail on either side of the vehicle, you have to replace…
The 1998 Dodge Caravan base model came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a three-speed automatic transmission. The constant velocity or CV axles that transfer power from your transmission to the front wheels act as bolts that secure the wheel hub to the steering knuckle. The inner portion of each axle is secured to the transmission by a circlip that rests inside a groove that is machined into the differential side gears. Removing either axle is an in depth job, but is well within the ability of the everyday home mechanic. Once either axle shaft has been replaced, you will…
The 2010 Toyota Corolla base model came with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Your front wheel drive corolla uses constant velocity or CV axle shafts to transmission power from the transmission differential to the front wheels. The CV joints on the axle shafts are subject to wear and over time will begin to fail; the most common sign being a clicking noise while cornering. The CV shaft is serviced as an entire assembly you have to replace the entire shaft anytime either joint begins to fail.
The 1991 Honda civic base model hatchback or sedan came with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. Your Civic came with a front wheel drive configuration which means a constant velocity or CV shaft is used to transfer power from the transmission differential to the front wheels. The inboard and outboard CV joints allow the axle shaft to flex and move with the front suspension and wheels while steering without interrupting power flow between the transmission and the front wheels. Any time you remove the axle shaft the circlip and axle nut must be replaced.
The 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse base model hatchback came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. Your base model Eclipse came with a front wheel drive configuration that uses a constant velocity or CV axle shaft to transfer power from the transmission to the wheel hub. The constant velocity joint at each end of the axle shaft allows the axle to change its orientation as the suspension reacts to road conditions, which over time will cause the joint's of the shaft to wear and need replacing. Replacing the axle shaft is an in-depth procedure, but is well within…
In most cases, the front wheel bearings on your 2002 Jaguar X-type do not need to be serviced until you change the brake pads. However, mechanically sound and correctly adjusted front wheel bearings are a critical part of vehicle safety; experiencing a seized wheel bearing while driving could wrench the steering wheel out of your hands and cause a nasty accident. Whenever the front of the vehicle is raised, spin the wheels to ensure that they run freely, then check for play by rocking the wheels from top-to-bottom and from side-to-side.
The 2007 Volkswagen Jetta base model came with a gas powered 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. Your Jetta has special axle shafts that connect the transmission to the front wheel hub. The triple roller joints at the each end of each axle allow power to be transferred from the transmission to the wheels without interruption from turning or driving over bumps. In general your axle shafts are serviced as a unit and must be replaced as an assembly if either joint begins to fail. This process will involve separating different parts of the chassis, but is well…
The 1992 Honda civic base model came with a 1.5-liter in-line four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. Whether you have the sedan or hatchback body style, your Civic is front wheel drive, which means power is transferred from the transmission to the front wheels by constant velocity axle shafts. Your CV shafts have two CV joints that allow the axles to deliver uninterrupted power to the front wheels when turning and going over bumps. The most common sign of an imminent failure is a distinctive clicking noise when cornering, often associated with the outermost CV joint. The entire shaft…
The 1994 Dodge Intrepid base model came with a 3.3-liter six-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. Your vehicle has a front wheel drive configuration, so in order to transfer power from the transmission to the wheels, a special drive shaft with two constant velocity joints is used. This special type of drive shaft allows power to be transferred to the wheels without interruption while the wheels are turn or the suspension is flexed due to bumps or road irregularities. Failure to replace the CV shaft prior to complete failure will result in the vehicle being stranded where it sits.
The 2006 Chevy Cobalt base model came with a 2.2-liter in-line four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. The constant velocity axle, also known as a CV axle or wheel drive axle, transfers rotation from the transmission differential to the front wheels. Each of the front axles have two CV joints that allow the axle to rotate over bumps, and changing terrain without binding or damaging the transmission. The most common sign of an imminent CV joint failure is a distinctive clicking noise when cornering often followed by a wobbly drive shaft, prior to complete failure. In order to repair…
The 1994 Ford Probe base model came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. The front axle shaft, also known as a constant velocity -- CV --shaft, transfers rotation from the transmission differential to the front wheels. Failure of the axle shaft at first will generate noise, most notably when cornering , which is a tale tale sign it is time to replace it. When replacing either axle shaft you must also replace the axle shaft nut.
Ford's Linclon Division introduced the Town Car as a seperate model in 1981. The Town Car shares a platform with the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Mercury Marauder, thus many mechanical components are the same. The Town Car uses a solid rear end with semi-floating C-clip type axles. Unlike the earlier Ford 8- and 9-inch rear ends that had the bearings pressed onto the axle shafts, the bearings in the Town Car's are housed behind oil seals in the axle tubes.
The 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 base model came with a 4.3-liter v-6 and a two-wheel drive, five-speed manual transmission. The front wheel hub assembly contains the wheel bearing and wheel speed sensor. Because the bearing and wheel speed sensor are sealed within the assembly, the entire hub assembly has to be replaced anytime either component fails. Replacing the front hub assembly is a straightforward task, but will require the removal of the brakes.
The constant velocity joints used on the inner and outer ends of a car's axle shafts are both complex in execution and oddly simple in principle. Normally, the CV joint's components mesh and roll together very smoothly, with almost no clearance between parts and nothing to throw the assembly out of balance. But any kind of damage can throw off the CV's careful balance, resulting in vibration at speed and under load.
Automotive differentials can be responsible for a variety of unsettling sounds. Components in the final drive can produce everything from a muffled rumble to a ear-piercing whine. Some lack in maintenance, or a full-blown failure might be suspected, but deciphering the din can help pinpoint the problem. Due to the tubular construction of the differential housing, sounds travel across sides as well as reverberating up the driveshaft. Noise nullifying repairs may range from common-place and inexpensive procedures, to intensive and taxing overhauls.
Grease on the inside of a front tire, or on the transaxle case is a sign that you could have a torn CV boot on your 2005 Nissan Altima. You will need to pack the joint with grease and replace the boot. It's important to get a new boot on as soon as possible, so the CV joint doesn't get dirt and debris in it or become overheated from lack of lubrication. However, if you are hearing a clicking noise when you turn a corner, it's too late. The CV joint is damaged and needs to be replaced.
The front wheel hub assembly on a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue contains both the bearing, hub, and wheel studs. This wheel hub assembly is non-repairable and must be replaced as an entire unit. Symptoms of a faulty hub assembly include a noticeable vibration that increases with vehicle speed, grinding or buzzing when turning, and howling or whining at speeds above 45 miles per hour. The hub assembly is secured to the steering knuckle with three steel bolts. These bolts must be replaced when installing the new hub assembly.
The 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD was produced in five different trim levels; LS, LS Extended Cab, LS Extended Cab 4WD, LT Extended Cab 4WD and a base Extended Cab 4WD. The base 2003 Silverado 2500 HD was the LS, which was equipped with a 6.0-liter 300 horsepower V-8 engine, and two-wheel drive drivetrain. The wheel bearings on the 2003 Silverado LS 2500HD are an integrated part of the wheel hub system. Removal of the front brakes is required to access and replace the front wheel bearings on the 2003 Silverado LS 2500HD.
Removing a soldered plumbing joint may be difficult but it certainly isn't impossible to do on your own. Remove a soldered plumbing joint with help from a plumbing contractor with more than sixteen years of experience in this free video clip.
Poulan is a well-known chainsaw manufacturer that has been around since 1946. One of its models was even featured in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" film from 1974. Chainsaws typically operate in similar fashion as far as design, but the quality of parts and assembly varies, depending on brand and model. Get the most out of your Poulan chainsaw by performing occasional maintenance on it. If the crankcase seal begins to leak, replace it as soon as possible to keep your saw working properly.
Constant velocity joints allow a rotating driveshaft to transmit power from the transmission to the wheels through variable angles caused by steering and suspension motion. Front-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive and some rear-wheel-drive vehicles use CV joints. The basic CV joint consists of five parts that work in conjunction with the input and output sides of the driveshaft.
Signs of a damaged transmission are very apparent. This doesn’t mean that owners can pinpoint the exact cause of a damaged transmission. However, once damage occurs, the transmission fails to respond properly when the driver shifts gears. Some signs are the engine over revving while in the “drive” gear, loud noises or difficulty in changing gears. By recognizing such symptoms early, the driver can stop operating the car to prevent further damage.
Replacing a rear wheel bearing in a 1995 GMC Jimmy is a challenging process. The axle bearings are pressed into the outer axle housing. The differential carrier must be partially disassembled to free the axles from the carrier in order to access them. A special tool is necessary to extract the bearings from inside the axle tube. If the wheel bearing has damaged the bearing contact surface on the axle, an axle saver bearing can be purchased that moves the bearing outward so it rides on a different position on the axle.
The transfer case speed sensors on a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado monitor the speed of the transfer case propeller shaft and send that information to the powertrain control module, or PCM. The PCM uses this information to make decisions about how to manage the powertrain and to perform continuous checks to ensure all powertrain systems are operating at maximum efficiency. 2003 Chevrolet Silverados come equipped with four transfer case options, some of which have multiple speed sensors. Regardless of the specific location of the transfer case speed sensors, the replacement procedure is the same once a specific sensor is selected for…
The 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac front end bore the design of a traditional Explorer, but it had a 50-by-41.2-inch cargo bed in the rear. Just like the Explorer, the 2003 Sport Trac came standard with a 210-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-6 and two-wheel drive. The front hub bearings on the base level Explorer Sport Trac are a two-piece variety, meaning there is one inner and one outer bearing inside each brake rotor. Replacing the front hub bearings on the 2003 Explorer Sport Trac requires a specific torque sequence.
The "Sierra" nomenclature in GMC’s lineup of pickups began in 1975, but the maker used different variations of “Sierra” to indicate the trim level of its existing C- and K-series pickups. The trim levels, in order from entry level to top level, were Sierra, Sierra Grande, High Sierra and Sierra Classic. In 1999, GMC used the name Sierra to identify its brand-new lineup of pickups. The 1999 GMC Sierra’s base format was the 1500, with a 4.3-liter V-6 engine and two-wheel drive. The front wheel bearings on the base-level 1999 Sierra were a part of the hub assembly, which means…
Your 1996 Chevy Silverado came with either a Dana/Spicer full floating axle or a Rockwell full floating axle, depending on options included with the truck. Your axle shafts are housed inside the axle housing and provide rotational power from the differential to the rear wheels. Because of the differences between the two different axles the process for either one is different and will require different tools. You can tell which type of axle you have by inspecting how the axle is mounted to the wheel hub. If your axle shafts are bolted to the wheel hub assembly you have a…
The 1995 model year brought about a shuffling of Chevrolet’s SUV lineup. Chevy eliminated the “S-10” tag from the mid-size Blazer and replaced the full-size Blazer with the all-new Tahoe, which was essentially a slightly redesigned full-size Blazer. The base level 2003 Tahoe’s front wheel system includes and hub bearing assembly on each front wheel. When either part of this component – hub or bearing – fails, you must replace the entire assembly. Replacing the 2003 Tahoe’s hub-and-bearing assembly is a straightforward task that most home mechanics can complete with success.
The 2000 Honda Accord uses a hub assembly with a sealed bearing. The hub assembly is mounted on a spindle and secured with a spindle nut. If the bearing fails for any reason, the hub containing the bearing must be replaced as an assembly. A failing rear wheel bearing will emit a whining or grinding sound at all speeds. It’s imperative to replace a failed wheel bearing as soon as possible, lest it seize and destroy the spindle.
The 2005 Chevy Uplander came with the 3.5-liter V-6 and an automatic transmission. The front wheel bearings are sealed within the hub assembly, so any time the front wheel bearings require service you have to replace the entire hub. This process is the same for all models and variations of the 2005 Uplander. This is a straightforward task that is mostly completed with common hand tools, but you will need one special tool to complete the job.
The 2001 model year was the first year since the Silverado’s debut in 1999 that Chevy offered the Silverado 2500 with an HD package. In the base level 2500HD, which includes a 6.0-liter V-8 engine and two-wheel drive, the truck can tow up to 15,900 pounds. When compared to the base level Silverado 2500’s 10,800-pound towing capacity you can see what benefits the HD package has. The front wheel hub on the 2001 Silverado 2500HD is integrated with the wheel bearing and changing it on the base-level model is a straightforward process.
The 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an automatic or manual transmission. With an engine that produces 217 foot-pounds of torque and 227 horsepower, the wheel bearings are bound to fail eventually and will need to be replaced. The front wheel bearings on your WRX are part of the hub assembly, and cannot be serviced separately. Anytime the wheel bearing needs to be replaced, you have to replace the entire hub assembly.
The Legend was a member of Honda’s top-tier Acura line and available as a two-door coupe or four-door sedan. The 1991 Legend was a second-generation model, produced from 1991 to 1995. Powered by a 3.2-liter V-6 engine, the Legend has four-wheel independent MacPherson strut suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. The wheel bearings, integrated into the hub both front and rear are replaced as a unit.
The Ford Econoline compact van was introduced in 1961. The Econoline became a full-size van in 1968 and shares many parts with the F-Series trucks. The Econoline is now known as the E-Series and is available in 1/2-, 3/4-, and 1-ton models in a variety of configurations, including cargo, passenger and RV chassis. The 1994 E-350 1-ton van was equipped with the Dana 60 or Dana 70 rear axle, depending on whether it had single or dual rear wheels.
The 2000 Chevy blazer came in a variety of options, all of which included a 4.3-liter V-6 that produced 190 horsepower and 250 foot-pounds of torque. Regardless of the difference between the manual and automatic transmission, the process servicing the rear axle shaft’s or rear axle housing is the same. The axle shafts connect the rear wheel bearings to the rear differential. To remove either axle shaft, you have to remove the differential cover and replace the differential fluid. The differential requires the use of GL-5 grade 80-W90 weight differential fluid.
The 2001 Chevy Tracker base model came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. Your Tracker has two axle seals, one at each axle, that prevent differential fluid from entering the drum brake system. You have to drain the differential and remove the common axle shaft to replace the faulty axle seal. Differential fluid greatly reduces the effectiveness of the brake lining material so inspect the brake shoes for contamination and replace as necessary.
The 2003 Chevy Tahoe rear axle bearings are pressed into the outer end of the axle tubes directly behind the axle hubs. The 2003 Tahoe’s rear axles are secured in the differential by C-clips. Should the axle bearing surface be scored severely due to a seized bearing, rather than buy a new axle, you could purchase an axle saver bearing. It moves the bearing outward to a fresh area on the axle.
Snowblowers can help clear even a deep snow drift quickly. But if your blower has a broken axle or axle gear assembly, it can't move and won't be of much use. The main challenge in removing the gear assembly from the snowblower's axle is removing the chain, but a special tool called a chain splitter can be purchased or rented to make this process easier.
