So, my girl has a cracked passenger side brake dust shield cover. To get to it, I have to remove the hub. How hard is it? I plan on just replacing it anyway to get new bearings at the same time. And if I do one side, I may as well do the other side as well. More than one way to skin a cat here though. What do you think?

Paul

 

Not horribly difficult, but understand that the hub and bearing will need to be pressed out of the knuckle. They are not simple bolt-ons for the SC430.

1. Look out for the speed sensor. Detach that before freeing the knuckle.
2. Hardest bolts will be the two attaching universal joint to bottom of knuckle. Those are high torque bolts.
3. UCA and outer tie rods are readily detached without damaging them if you use screw type ball joint separators. Don't use a pickle fork nor hammer the ball joints to free them.

 

Thats about what I thought. Doesn't sound like a parking lot job. I normally do my own brakes and she is due soon so I was going to just do it all at the same time. Probably have to have my trusted suspension shop take this on. Labor cost hurt but I doubt I even have all of the tools necessary. Not having a garage is also an issue. But I may have an option that can save me some considerable cash. Thanks.

Paul

 

I agree. It is not a parking lot job.

 

So, I guess my other question is, should I even worry about the wheel bearings? Even with 128K miles on my 02, I do not remember any instances of people asking about wheel bearing failures on the site. There is a big difference in labor cost obviously. Sometimes I go overboard just so it will be a non-issue for me for another 100K miles.

Paul

 

Hardly a scientific sampling, but I have put 227,000 miles on my SC430's original bearings.

 

Yea. I had 285K on my Camry and never had to change one. Maybe I'll just go with brakes and a new dust shield. Why spend money if you don't have to right? Thanks.

paul

 

What does your current dust shield look like? AKA how bad is the crack?

 

I'd have to get out there and crawl under. But my guess from the rattling sound, it probably goes from a bolt to the edge.

Paul

 

Wheel bearing, don't fix if it ain't broke.