September 14, 2007

• Van Update

  This could be it, kids.

  The spindle on the front driver's side wheel is severely scored. I'd have taken a picture, but my hands were kind of covered with burnt-up axle grease at the time. The outer bearing race (on the rotor) had obviously gotten warmer than spec, and the spindle itself had thick bands of smoothed-off scoring where there should have been mirror-smooth machining.

  I didn't look at the other side, because I already know the math. You replace spindles in pairs. And in order to replace the spindle, you're destroying the lower ball joint, which you then have to replace two of. And while you're doing that, you also need (well, *I* also need) to replace the upper control arm bushings on both sides, a task I've been putting off for a while, complicated by the fact that I don't have machine press or welding equipment.

  So. A pair of used spindles: $200. Lower ball joints: $20 each for $40. Replace all bearings: $80. And if I'm doing all the rest, then it's time to replace the rotors, too, which are $50 each or $100 for the good ones. Let's say $50 x 2 for $100. $40 for bushings.

  $460...

  And then the engine will die the next week.

  Used Honda Element: $15k. Fark. Maybe it's time to call Pimp My Ride.

  • 6:53 pm
  • 7 Comments