Wheel bearing? Prob'ly, but...

[jdbubb at verizon.net (Dan Bubb)]

The tie rod end stud is tapered, it's going to pull down into a consistent centered position relative to the hub carrier.
The lower ball joint is inserted into a hole in the hub carrier that is then clamped on the ball joint shaft. Not much room for variation in it's position. Might vary some as far as the insertion depth, +/- .03" which isn't going to make any difference in camber or toe since small changes in insertion aren't going to change the lateral position of the ball joint relative to the body.
The upper strut bearing studs for sure will have some clearance in the strut tower holes, but even +/- .03" (which is a pretty sloppy hole) will only yield 0.1 degree change in camber.
All in all, Jim's method probably has better repeatability than getting the car realigned.
my .02
Dan

From: "Karl Krupke" <kkrup62@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:34 AM
Subject: RE: Wheel bearing? Prob'ly, but...


>I have to disagree. Sounds nice in principle, but "disconnect the tie rods 
> from the hub carriers, disconnect the balljoints... remove the upper strut 
> bearing nuts" means you've changed three locations, any of which can affect 
> alignment, which is specified in minutes of angle (1 minute ["] = 1/60 of a 
> degree).
>    It doesn't take much to throw off alignment, and I doubt you can be 100% 
> sure that components are reinstalled exactly to their original locations. An 
> alignment check at a good shop is cheap insurance.
> 
> Karl
> 
>>From: "Jim Ruffi" <sciroccos@earthlink.net>
>>To: "Karl Krupke" 
>><kkrup62@hotmail.com>,<julie@menloparkrandd.com>,<amalventano1@tds.net>,<scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
>>Subject: RE: Wheel bearing? Prob'ly, but...
>>Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 22:08:39 -0400
>>
>>You don't have to realign after replacing wheel bearings.  Remove the axle
>>nuts, disconnect the tie rods from the hub carriers, disconnect the ball
>>joints, pull the calipers and wire them up, remove the upper strut bearing
>>nuts and pull the whole assembly.  A bit more difficult to work with on the
>>press, but nice to do without worrying about alignment.  A good bit easier
>>if you remove the springs, as well.
>>
>>Jim
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: Karl Krupke [mailto:kkrup62@hotmail.com]
>> >Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 9:01 PM
>> >To: julie@menloparkrandd.com; amalventano1@tds.net;
>> >scirocco-l@scirocco.org
>> >Subject: Re: Wheel bearing? Prob'ly, but...
>> >
>> >>    It'd suck to do bearings and still have noise (though I agree, do 
>>both
>> >at the same time. Not that much more trouble, and you only have to 
>>realign
>> >one time).
>> >
>> >Karl
>> >
>>
> 
> 
> 
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