1997 850 out of alignment after CV Axle replacement

[scot850]

I agree with the nut being replaced, but I have seen bolts that are corroded at the pinch point of the ball joint. For the cost in relation to the the damage/impact of it failing, for me it is a no contest in swapping the bolt and nut.

Neil.

[moses3]

I disagree with this. Experience has shown several owners have had the bolt shear after re-use. Go ahead and re-use, that is your call.

Neil.

Neil, inexpensive enough and easy enough to replace for peace of mind. I have the 2 arm control arms. Do you happen to know the part numbers I need to replace the bolt & nut? Thank you.

[scot850]

Part numbers below:

Bolt part # 988185

Nut part # 987891

Neil.

[moses3]

Let me update you guys, some good news and more bad....
1. Alignment is fixed, I took everything apart, and put it back together, but this time I only jacked up the driver's side and ensured the steering wheel was straight before tighting the control arm bolts. Before I had both sides jacked up, which I believe allowed the mis-alignment.

Regardless, it's now aligned.

The grinding noise is still there. ABS light comes on intermittently, and the braking is crazy, sometimes stiff, sometimes loose, often ABS pumping. The car veers right while braking, which has me thinking the left braking is not engaging. Visually everything looks fine. I even removed the caliper, and it looks fine. Thoughts on what to do next?

I'm thinking, check the ABS tone ring, clean the ABS sensor, and check the ABS wire connection? Retorque the CV axle? And check the control arm ball join.

[abscate]

The best way to diagnose those tone rings (ABS sensor wheels) is to use a wheel speed readout on a decent scanner. Often they fail with a noisy signal that fools the ABS module into thinking there is wheel slip

[scot850]

For the grinding, check the simplest things, like the brake dust shield being bent onto the rotor.

Neil.

[moses3]

For the grinding, check the simplest things, like the brake dust shield being bent onto the rotor.

Neil.

Neil, you're right, the dust sheild is touching on the left side, but not the right wheel.

But why? Did I over torque the CV nut?

[scot850]

Simple answer is no. It is easily bent back away from the rotor. Finger pressure is enough. You only need 5mm/ 1/4" of a gap or so. The dust shield is very thin so it doesn't take much to bend it out of position. No need to remove it or anything else. Just bending on that lower edge is all that is needed.

You are getting there! It is amazing how that simple touching of the rotor and backing plate makes it sound like the car is about it disintegrate!

Neil.

[moses3]

Simple answer is no. It is easily bent back away from the rotor. Finger pressure is enough. You only need 5mm/ 1/4" of a gap or so. The dust shield is very thin so it doesn't take much to bend it out of position. No need to remove it or anything else. Just bending on that lower edge is all that is needed.

You are getting there! It is amazing how that simple touching of the rotor and backing plate makes it sound like the car is about it disintegrate!

Neil.

Neil, I bent it back, I also cleaned the ABS sensor as it was very dirty. Possibly from the sheild /rotor dust.

[scot850]

Certainly cleaning the ABS sensor is always a good idea when you can as it is amazing how dirty they can get.

Hopefully the grinding noise is now gone!?

Neil.