princesswelsh

Wheel bearing was going out. I took everything off that I need to take off to get to the hub, and spindle off. This is on the drivers side. I bought new hub and bearing. I took old and new parts to a shop and had them pressed off and new on. When putting it back together, I put the spindle with the lower ball on first. I am 4 to 6 inches away from the upper part of spindle in getting it in the upper control arm and won't let me get any close. I have many of times, turn the cv shaft to make sure I get the cv joints in place, but still won't let me any closer. Boy I am lost and can't figure what is keeping the spindle from moving so I can get top spindle hooked up

holmesnmanny

I'm wondering if you let the cv joint come too far and pop out of it's inner joint.

princesswelsh

Ok if that's what happen. All I have to do is turn the cv shaft, until the inner joints line up and they should go back in right?

holmesnmanny

To be sure, take the axle out of the hub and see if you can line the suspension up.

Usually you can pop the joint back together.

princesswelsh

Yes I have done that a bunch of times. I have turned the cv axle until I feel the inner joints pop in place. I am wonder if they gave me wrong hub and bearing.. It's like the shaft is sticking out about an inch to much

holmesnmanny

completely remove the axle to rule it out as the cause

princesswelsh

The axle is the cause, I know it will go back together with out the axle. It is like the axle has grown an inch longer. It's the axle that is holding the spindle back from pushing the top of spindle arm back up to the upper control arm ball joint

holmesnmanny

You can either buy a new boot kit and cut off the boot and redo the joint or just get another axle. It isn't uncommon for this to happen, that's why it's always smart to be careful when pulling on the axle. If the axle has never been replaced it would be wise to just get another axle. The parts stores tend to use really bad boots that tend to crack and leak after a small amount of miles. I have been using Cardone from Rockauto with no issues for years now. Their boots are real strong.

MAD_MIKE

The shorter arc of trying to assemble with the LBJ attached can cause binding, and other issues such as dislocating the inner tripod.
It's always easier to have the UBJ attached to the arm, the longer arc will allow for much easier to alignment of all the components, then just sit everything on the LBJ and torque to 40lbs.

If you are trying to do this with the sway bar, caliper hose, and caliper still attached to the knuckle you will never get it assembled.