Rear Suspension Help

NvMySi · #1 (**permalink**) 10-04-09, 11:06 PM

Alright guys i bought this cadillac catera its a 1998, off someone online he hit a curb pretty hard, visually i seen that long bar bent in the rear beside the driveaxle, and the driveaxle was no good as well as it wouldnt move when put in gear, so i went to the wreckers and got those 2 parts, changed the driveaxle (CV) and the bar that is used for allignment, i put my tire on dropt he car and the wheel is still clanted, (rear of the tire is slightly in and the front of it is out, shifted basically, and i lifted it back up again, and shook the wheel and it moves with all bolts tightened, so now its the wheel bearing im assuming right? would the whole hub assembly be bent too? or the lower control arm? i checked and its not visible, just some suggestions would help so i can get this wheel straight cuz its not driveable, dont know what else could be bent under there, the original alloy rim was toast, umm anyways hope you guys can help me out, thanks.

CateraMV6 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-04-09, 11:10 PM

Can you take a picture... because a pic is worth 1000 words and it can help us figure out what we are looking at.

The rear bar you were talking about is used for tow adjustment but if the top of the wheel is out and the bottom is in then the CA is bent...

NvMySi · #3 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 01:26 PM

yes your right,but the top of the tire is in and the front of it is out, and the bottom front is in and the rear is out. hope that make sence check out the pics.

maybe because the wheel bearing is loose and i can move the tire in and out freely about half an inch .

NvMySi · #4 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 01:35 PM

pictures

NvMySi · #5 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 03:00 PM

sorry i dont tihnk i made any sense in the last post what i meant was the half of the front tire sticks out and the half of the rear tire is in. another question is how do you take of the rear rotor and how tdo you hchange the wheel ebaring is it pressed in or bolt on?

and hope you can let me know if i need to cjsut change my hub and bearing, or both along with the lower control arm.

CateraMV6 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 06:25 PM

There is a special tool for rear bearing removal and you can look at some of the dealerships they rent out some of theirs...

Otherwise that bent link you removed was preset to some OEM TOE level and I believe that the car needs to be taken to alignment shop so that the link can be adjusted.
Thats what the mechanic at the local shop did to mine to adjust the toe on my car... so I think its just a minor adjustment.

Otherwise if the wheel has some play when unloaded then you have a bad rear wheel bearing... have you compared the driver side to see if similar play is experienced there as well... ?

NvMySi · #7 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 06:40 PM

hey yah i compared it to the drivers side and the drivers side is solid, im thinking that when the previous owner hit the curb this hard the wheel bearing just gave out, the question is you think my control arm is fine? and just needs an adjustment as well as the wheel bearing done and thats it? cuz it would need to be adjusted at least an inch or 2. seems a bit too much? is it easier to just replace the whole hub for a used hub rather then changing the wheel bearing? and if so i dont see any bolts that would remove it. umm what are the steps to getting to that rear wheel bearing cuz i took off the caliper and i cant seem to take off the rotor or the back shield. or anything to get to the wheel bearing.
hope you can help otu thanks .

you got msn messenger? would be much easier if not its all good.

Matera97 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 10:14 PM

To remove rotor, remove caliper, and that remove rotor bolt, remove rotor. Also if you have your parking brake on, you won't be able to remove rotor. Your rear rotors have shoes inside of them ie your E Brake. If your springs are bad on your shoes, you may need to use a screwdriver to pry the away from inside of the rotor.

NvMySi · #9 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matera97

To remove rotor, remove caliper, and that remove rotor bolt, remove rotor. Also if you have your parking brake on, you won't be able to remove rotor. Your rear rotors have shoes inside of them ie your E Brake. If your springs are bad on your shoes, you may need to use a screwdriver to pry the away from inside of the rotor.

oh i see, so there is caliper with brake pads and then inside the rotor there is another set of brake shoes? 2 sets of brakes? so just remove caliper, remove the hex screw on the rotor and pry the rotor off? and how do i remove the wheel bearing and change it?

CateraMV6 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 10:43 PM

I have one of those tools but its nowhere near me at the moment and I cant see the instructions on how to remove it.

Your catera has Drum Brakes controlled by a mechanical cable and hydraulic disc brakes for normal braking...

I think the rotor is held on with a bolt so that it does not fall off during assembly of the vehicle. Also when the drum brakes rub against the surface they groove it and so you may have an edge which will prevent it from coming off...

I think on the back side there is a window where you can reach and undo the tightening nut which should loosen the shoes and thus release the rotor.

After that i have no idea how the bearing comes out but I know there is a special tool for its removal so it may be pressed in there somehow...

Otherwise if you spin the wheel and you put your ear near the center can you hear grinding noises... ?

Sorry no MSN i have google mail and there is a messenger in there... !

CateraMV6 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 10:57 PM

NvMySi · #12 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 11:04 PM

thanks for the pics

now i gotta get a bearing puller, hmm any universal bearing puller will work? cuz i would just go to canadian tire and loan a tool or partsource. if they have. thanks guys for the help. i'll see what i can do this weekend. will keep you posted

CateraMV6 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NvMySi

thanks for the pics

now i gotta get a bearing puller, hmm any universal bearing puller will work? cuz i would just go to canadian tire and loan a tool or partsource. if they have. thanks guys for the help. i'll see what i can do this weekend. will keep you posted

Good luck man if you need more info out of this manual let me know.

I got it from a buddy in the UK but you can find them on Amazon... look for vauxhall omega repair manual.

NvMySi · #14 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 05:35 PM

1 more question, would it be easier to just change the control arm with hub and bearing already in ? (a used one obviously but a good one froma wrecker) or is it easier to just change the bearing?

CateraMV6 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 10:40 PM

Yes I think so... the CA is attached by 2 bushings, you will have to pull out those 2 bolts and remove it as a unit... then reinstall the new one with the spring and reattach the shock... and of course new caliper lines etc... should be easier then doing the bearing I think and may even be cheaper.

New bearing is around 80$ I think but check on that too.

If you get a cheap one from the wrecker you may be in luck.

Also if you spot some GTO springs (~20$) on ebay you can swap out the 2 rear ones as they are stiffer and you will get less squad during acceleration.