Hi all, just discovering this wonderful resource and hope to be a good contributor, but starting with a question (ok, plea for help).

I am replacing a bad bearing on my 2000 Elantra. Learning as I go, buying tools as needed (including bearing press) -- with lots of kids and lots of older cars, I expect more bearing work in the future.

Pressed old bearing out, pressed new bearing in, snap ring on, pressed hub into bearing... thought the hard part was behind me.



Struggled to get the lower control arm pin/bolt back into the hole in the bottom of the knuckle. Finally got it in, but the bolt now moves/swivels at the base -- not sure if that is normal or if I might have broken something. Reason I fear the latter is because when I try to put the nut back on (the one in that VERY confined space), it spins the whole bolt.

Anyone experience this before, or have suggestions?

 

I believe the "Bolt" you are referring to is part of the lower ball joint..
If the threads on that ball joint stud have been damaged by something you inadvertently did,, this can get a little involved.

There are some things you may be able to do.
Sometimes a small file will allow the burrs to be removed in order to get the nut back on.
If the nut gets damaged while trying to assemble it, now the nut MUST be replaced.
If the only problem is the ball joint stud keeps moving when attempting to tighten the nut, jack up the joint from the bottom and that should jam the stud ,which is tapered , and jam it into the tapered hole where it goes and that will usually allow it to be secured properly.. If that cannot be done, the ball joint will need to be replaced, and am not sure if they are capable of being replaced separately or if the joint is a permanent part of the lower control arm in which case the entire arm will need to be replaced.
Talk about opening a can of worms.

 

Thank you, you hit the nail (bolt?) on the head... jacking up the lower control arm just under the ball joint allowed me to get the nut on without the stud spinning with it.
The nut only went down so far before stopping, but apparently that is normal for ball joints? I probably should read up on exactly how ball joints work (for example, did not know about the tapered stud).
Thanks again for the help. Got up and running but now it sounds like the other bearing will be due for replacement soon. At least I have a little experience under my belt now!