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EA82 broken wheel hub (maybe)

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So on my way home from work about an hour or so and when I got on the brakes suddenly there was tons of banging coming from my left front. Thankfully I was only like a block away so I just put my hazards on and crept home. I put it up and took the wheel off and the whole hub and brake could be rotated forward (handbrake was on) Unfortunately it was too dark to see or do anything so I had to put it back together for the night. I'll take another look in the morning but I just wanted to get some thoughts and opinions since I dont know if it is the hub or maybe the brake assembly or something else. Its a 85 gl wagon, 5sp dual range if it helps/matters, and thanks in advance for any help

Maybe the bolts that hold the caliper on came out or broke?

The hub stripping out would cause it not to move. The wheel bolts to the hub, the rotor is bolted to the hub as well. Only banging I can think of is either loose bolts like Dave said, or you may have lost one of the bolts on your caliper bracket causing it to flap around when you hit the brakes.

 

If you can't see things in the dark you may want to buy a .... flashlight!

Edited by 987687

  • Author

Maybe the bolts that hold the caliper on came out or broke?

Spot on, the lower most bolt is missing, any idea on the size of that bolt? Its a long walk to my closest auto parts store

 

 

The hub stripping out would cause it not to move. The wheel bolts to the hub, the rotor is bolted to the hub as well. Only banging I can think of is either loose bolts like Dave said, or you may have lost one of the bolts on your caliper bracket causing it to flap around when you hit the brakes.

 

If you can't see things in the dark you may want to buy a .... flashlight!

pretty sure a kid stole the one I had :( thankfully none of my tools were missing though

  • Author

Spot on, the lower most bolt is missing, any idea on the size of that bolt? Its a long walk to my closest auto parts store

Nevermind I found it, 1.25 thread pitch 12mm diameter 

  • Author

So turns out both of the bolts were missing, I got a couple of bolts from Napa so I can get to work tonight but neither of the holes are lining up. The difference is only a couple of mm up and down.

That's odd. The caliper should move around on the disc enough to get one to line up, then get the second. Maybe at ran in a weird position for a while with 1 bolt?

  • Author

That's odd. The caliper should move around on the disc enough to get one to line up, then get the second. Maybe at ran in a weird position for a while with 1 bolt?

I'm wondering if it did some damage, either when the second bolt came off or when running with just one like you said, because I replaced the cv on that wheel a couple of months ago and if I remember correctly I put both back in but now looking at it the top hole doesnt line up at all. The top hole is off by a few centimeters. I would take it apart further but I cant get the caliper off either.

  • Author

Any ideas on how to line up, at least, the bottom hole?

The caliper won't move on the disc? That's a problem.

 

Try removing the 1 smaller bolt that lets it pivot out for pad replacement without having to unmount the frame by removing the 2 bolts that are out now....

  • Author

The caliper won't move on the disc? That's a problem.

 

Try removing the 1 smaller bolt that lets it pivot out for pad replacement without having to unmount the frame by removing the 2 bolts that are out now....

that did it, and having the parking brake off seemed to help (maybe that was my imagination) but I could still only get the bottom one in. The bolts I got are stupid long as well so I cant tighten them down at all, but it will get me to work tonight and the junkyard tomorrow to grab some of a GL

The parking brake would definitely lock the caliper to the disk, as that's how it works.

 

Long bolts could go through and hit the rotor.

  • Author

The parking brake would definitely lock the caliper to the disk, as that's how it works.

 

Long bolts could go through and hit the rotor.

Well dont I feel dumb, oh well we all start somewhere I suppose

 

the bottom one would (still cant get the top one in) hit the rotor but I only threaded it to where it start to show through the other side. I can still thread it in or out by hand but the junkyard is only 3 miles away (and 3 back if I dont just fix it in the jy parking lot)

Edited by Letters909

  • Author

thats what I was going to do but I dont have a dremel or anything that would cut through it

A good bi-metal hacksaw blade should cut those bolts.  Like a Lennox or Starrett.  I get them from MSC and/or McMaster Carr.

Cheap hardware store ones might not.

 

Other temp fix idea - if you have some lockwashers, [or flat washers, if they would fit] stack them under the head.

The bolts are supposed to have 1 split lock washer on each.

  • Author

A good bi-metal hacksaw blade should cut those bolts.  Like a Lennox or Starrett.  I get them from MSC and/or McMaster Carr.

Cheap hardware store ones might not.

 

Other temp fix idea - if you have some lockwashers, [or flat washers, if they would fit] stack them under the head.

The bolts are supposed to have 1 split lock washer on each.

There were never any of these on those bolts, good to know.

 

I'll probably get some washers if my local junkyard doesnt have any ea81-2s

missing lock washers might explain them falling out...

If the bolts are m12x1,25 you can probably use bolts off an EJ car, because that's the size they use. Just measure the length of one you have and make sure EJ ones are the correct length.

  • Author

If the bolts are m12x1,25 you can probably use bolts off an EJ car, because that's the size they use. Just measure the length of one you have and make sure EJ ones are the correct length.

Good to know thanks, I'm sure they'll have some at the junkyard.

  • Author

7 washers and a lock washer later and my brake works again! Thanks for all the help guys even though I probably didn't need to make a thread for something so simple.

It's better to make a new thread than tag onto one from years ago.

  • 1 year later...

pretty sure those bolts are M10, not M12

 

And as for the caliper not lining up.

 

How long have you had the car?  Who did the brakes last?  Who would have been the last to touch the caliper?  

 

Is it Possible that it's got an EA81 caliper on it?  

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