hey guys my 93 s10 4wd is getting ready to dump a front wheel bearing and I'm trying to gather some info on how hard it is to do this repair, driveway doable with hand tools?

Im planning on doing both sides because parts are so cheap thought it would be better anyway. Also my pitman and idler arms are wore out how hard is it to do those? thanks a ton

-luke

 

the bearing in theory is simple. you just remove your caliper, rotor, the big nut holding your cv axle on then 3-4 bolts holding the baring on. but theres always room for a headache. that cv joint can rot inside the bearing making it a **** to get out of there. also the bearing itself can be seized in the spindle. but you can usually beat the heck out of it to get it out of there.

as long as you have a basic socket set, the big socket for the cv joint nut and the allen head socket (i believe its a 3/8) for the brake caliper pins you should be good.

the idler is just two bolts. those are pretty simple the pitman is another story. gonna need a puller , they are only like 10 bucks to buy. but you have to either remove your gear box out of the vehicle or if you have a impact can just take it off the frame, tip it sideways then zap that big nut off then use the puller to pull the pitman arm off.

take a look under there you will see what im talking about. you cant get at that nut cause of a crossmember in the way. search this site, theres been a few discussions about pitman/idler replacement

 

pitman arm is easyest to remove the gearbox trust me,while you have the gear box out i highly recommend replacing the rag joint with a Dorman HELP! part number 31002 or with the flaming river u joint reference this post for the flaming river u joint, if i was todo it again id do the flaming river mod in a heartbeat but i did the rag joint because i found the flaming river mod after i had done it. the idler arm is a walk in the park todo its easy to get at and mine came apart with a fork in a few whacks....pblaster is the key, its been on there since 93 give it a little LOVE. sine your in it that far might as well do both tierods there cheap and easy to do, me i cheated i bought new arms and both inner and outer ends and just made them the same length as the old one...when your done take it and get it a alignment and be good for 30k and handle like a new vehicle

HOW TO: Flaming River U-Joint Steering MOD - Zr2USA.com