Play in the front wheels?

[Viva]

Hi guys, ive got a 96 TZG Caldina..

When i brought it it had 2 split CV boots, i replaced these myself with a friend with no problems.

Upon getting a WOF today it was failed on "to much play in the front wheels"
is this usually the wheel bearing? although i have no noise coming from there, or is it likely i need to tighten up the large nut under the dust cap?

the mechanic seemed to think it just needed tightened up?

any comments are greatly apreiciated.

[sergei]

Unless it is loose (finger tight), because the bearing is straight and mechanic does not know jackshit about FWD, tightning already tight axle nut will not achieve anything.
On a side note those nuts supposed to be tighted with huge force (~160Nm)

[iOnic]

Wheel bearing would have to be quite bad for it to have noticeable play.....it's more than likely a ball joint or tie rod end etc

[Viva]

Unless it is loose (finger tight), because the bearing is straight and mechanic does not know jackshit about FWD, tightning already tight axle nut will not achieve anything.
On a side note those nuts supposed to be tighted with huge force (~160Nm)

We did them up tight, using a socket and a huge rod with fat man leverage

untill i can take the wheel off and have a closer inspection i wont know if its the man nut, anyone know how much to get ball joints done or tie rod ends?

[Bling]

If you can't work out whats wrong probably best to get someone to work it out for ya as no point wasting money on parts that won't fix it.

[Lloyd]

As above, work out what the issue is before throwing parts at it. If its up/down as well as side to side play then its more than likely the nut is loose. If its just side to side then probably rack end, but possibly tie rod end.

Check first

[cat007]

Shouldn't the wof guy be able to know what part is at fault? It's not like its a space ship. A car's a car and most mechanical parts are similar....

[iOnic]

As has already been made clear above.....it could be any number of things causing the play. All anyone can do is speculate until the area is disassembled and the actual fault is identified and that's well out of the scope of a WOF man's job. You can take it back to him and tell him to fix it and re-do the WOF but the repair will be another job (and therefore more $$$)

[cat007]

As has already been made clear above.....it could be any number of things causing the play. All anyone can do is speculate until the area is disassembled and the actual fault is identified and that's well out of the scope of a WOF man's job. You can take it back to him and tell him to fix it and re-do the WOF but the repair will be another job (and therefore more $$$)

Maybe ask him 'how' it is wobbly

wheel bearings gone means the wheel moves a different way to upper/lower ball joints and then different again to tie rods

Ask him to show you how he moved the wheel

[tsoob]

Wheel bearing would have to be quite bad for it to have noticeable play.....it's more than likely a ball joint or tie rod end etc

I had this exact problem once, its was the ball joint check these are tight first.

[Mr Revhead]

yeah wof guy fail in this case
he should be able to tell you:
wheel bearing
rack end
ball joint
etc

not just "wheel moves"

so you will have to check it yourself

if you do not know how to check for the above mentioned faults, get someone who does to show you

[iOnic]

Jack the car up and push and pull on the wheel (as if you were trying to remove it from the hub) and that will tell you if it's just the axle nut that's loose.

Lift the wheel and check for play in the up/down direction (ball joint)

Try moving the wheel on the horizontal plane (left/right) and check for play there (rack ends/tie rods)

Spin the wheel and listen for excessive noise/vibration. A good trick is to put your hand on the strut/shock while the wheel is spun and you'll feel the vibration through your hand - wheel bearing.

Once you figure out what it is you can look for loose nuts/bolts that could cause movement in that area. If you have a mate with access to a hoist that'll make it very easy.

[Viva]

Thanks iOnic that was a helpful post, he stated that it was just the nut loose and he would tighten it up but the workshop was loaded up with cars and he said he was too bust just now, i never tighten it up with a torqe wrench so might be why it came loose, gona jack the car up on days off and have a squiz.

thanks team.

[Akane]

oh yeah BTW I had the same problem, gone in for a WOF and the WOF guy said it has a worn wheel bearing, I was like WTF my car only has 65,000kms.

Turns out the axle nut worked it's way out loose ("bobby pins? who needs those?"), took the wheel off gave it a good hammering with the rattle gun fixed the problem straight away.

[iOnic]

Thanks iOnic that was a helpful post, he stated that it was just the nut loose and he would tighten it up but the workshop was loaded up with cars and he said he was too bust just now, i never tighten it up with a torqe wrench so might be why it came loose, gona jack the car up on days off and have a squiz.

thanks team.

If you can find a rattle gun that's your best bet - The average torque wrench won't be able to get it tight enough...unless you're chuck norris.

[Viva]

Took the wheels off and there was indeed half a turn left on the axel nut, tightened it mega this time, no play at all now took it back for a re test and got a warrent.

[cat007]

good stuff!

[Truenotch]

Did you put the keyed washers back under the nut/s? They can come loose without them.

[Viva]

Dont think there was any washer/s, what do they look like? do you mean the axle nut?

is this guy right team?

[fivebob]

There are no keyed washers under the wheel nut on a Caldina, but there is a cap that goes over the nut to lock it in place.