jmol50 Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 Hi guys, just picked up a 1997 Pathfinder with 166k miles. Rust and dent free with 4wd and a m/t were my requirements. I'll be using this to go fishing around Boulder County and camping with our growing family - we have a 4 year old chocolate lab and we've got a baby boy due in a month or so. Pre-buy inspection revealed torn cv boots in the front and the brake pads need replacing. While I'm replacing the cv axles and pads/rotors, would I be saving much time by installing locking hubs at the same time? I'm estimating it will take me 5 hours to do the whole job. All of my DIY experience has been in the last year on an old Ford Ranger - I did all four shocks and replaced all the fluids (rear diff, m/t, transfer case, p/s fluid, coolant, etc). Do you guys think 5 hours for my skill level seems reasonable? What if I wait until the spring to do the hubs - 4 hours total? One other question, how do I know what trim level I have? I know it's not an LE (no leather, no auto trans) but not sure between XE and SE. Does it even matter? I ask because the auto parts stores always want to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 Hello and welcome to NPORA! While I'm replacing the cv axles and pads/rotors, would I be saving much time by installing locking hubs at the same time? I'm estimating it will take me 5 hours to do the whole job. All of my DIY experience has been in the last year on an old Ford Ranger - I did all four shocks and replaced all the fluids (rear diff, m/t, transfer case, p/s fluid, coolant, etc). Do you guys think 5 hours for my skill level seems reasonable? What if I wait until the spring to do the hubs - 4 hours total? One other question, how do I know what trim level I have? I know it's not an LE (no leather, no auto trans) but not sure between XE and SE. Does it even matter? I ask because the auto parts stores always want to know. Considering it is already jacked up, wheel off and you are right there with your tools, it is pretty easy to do and I recommend it as well as inspecting/packing/replacing and preloading the wheel bearings. Hard to estimate the time because of your relative inexperience, if you have all the tools and a good place to work, rust, how fast you work, etc. I haven't pulled a CV yet, but I know I could install brakes, rotors and wheel bearings in an afternoon if I had everything I needed. FYI, installing manual hubs on our 1999.0 R50 netted about 1-2+ mpg (keeps the front CVs from turning all the time) so it is a good upgrade. A few tips... Go to the Garage section and the pinned topic on Factory Service Manuals and download your year. Now, study so you know exactly what it entails before you do it. Clean and lube the slide pins on the calipers. Check out the Garage/How To section for write ups When using the search function, use the advanced option (the sunburst to the right of the search function) I believe yours is an XE or simply a base model, based on the interior, tire size and type of rim. I want to say 1996-1997 XEs came with the tire carrier option... You can show your VIN to Alkorahil (Rob Lacy) who runs an online parts department at a dealership in Texas, he can tell you, and also happens to be the best and cheapest supplier of dealer parts. Oh, he is smart, handome and likes long walks on the beach. But I digress... B Oh, if they insist on knowing trim, I would say XE, but it generally shouldn't matter for the parts they carry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmol50 Posted December 3, 2013 Author Share Posted December 3, 2013 Alkorahil (Rob Lacy) sounds like a real catch hahaha Thanks for the heads up on wheel bearings (my parts list is growing each day) and the FSM. I've also read and re-read individual threads on cv axles, brakes, and warn hubs. Before I did my first repair on the Ranger I must have read the how-to and watched the YouTube clip a few dozen times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teixeira Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkorahil Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 You can show your VIN to Alkorahil (Rob Lacy) who runs an online parts department at a dealership in Texas, he can tell you, and also happens to be the best and cheapest supplier of dealer parts. Oh, he is smart, handome and likes long walks on the beach. But I digress... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle94 Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 I'd say XE, XE wheels, XE interior/door panels, and no sunroof. But it does have flares! Which is nice I've yet to see and SE or LE r50 without a sunroof, but i'm sure they exist! Welcome! And good looking rig, i like that green. Hope you stay around. We've had lots of newbies post and then dissappear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmol50 Posted December 5, 2013 Author Share Posted December 5, 2013 I'm still here, haven't disappeared yet Plan is to tackle this assignment over the weekend but sub-zero temps in Colorado may push it into the next weekend. I don't need it to get to work next week so this won't be an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmol50 Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 Well, the job got done today with the help of a friend (same level of "experience"). 9am to 3pm with a lunch break. No pics. Too cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 I'm glad you got it done so quickly, that means there weren't any major problems. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmol50 Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 (edited) Yeah it went pretty smoothly. If I didn't have a helping hand with the how-to open, it probably would have taken me another hour or two. OK one more question… what can I do with my old rotors, cv axles, and auto hubs? Would a junk yard buy them? Edited December 8, 2013 by jmol50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inyourface1650 Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 You are far more of a trooper then I! its under 50F, I'm not touching the truck. and it was what...-11F on Wednesday? LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karmann Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Clean ride, welcome aboard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Yeah it went pretty smoothly. If I didn't have a helping hand with the how-to open, it probably would have taken me another hour or two. OK one more question… what can I do with my old rotors, cv axles, and auto hubs? Would a junk yard buy them? All useful help matters. There might be people who want the parts, but not many, for resale at least. Scrap value at best at a wrecking yard, but you can always try posting here in the Classifieds section under For Sale or Free. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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