maintenance on the wife's rio Options

[Bobzilla]

So the drivers CV axle started making noises the other day. Ordered one from Advance, with a new seal and fluid. Tore it down tonight only to find the wheel bearing was really bad. Started tearing THAT down and found someone has been in there before and fubar'd the hub itself.

Well crap. So I moved back up to the spark plugs. I was certain this car used platinum plugs, and that at 97k miles it was time to change them. Imagine my surprise to find they were the same NGK V-power plugs I used in the old SOHC Alpha in the accent. And imagine my disbelief in the fact that they were also original.... Yep. almost 100k miles on copper V-powers. The gap on cylinders one and 4 were at .085". Number 2 was at .095 and number three was over .100!

This furthers my belief that Alphas truly have the will to run no matter what. A little oil? OK. Some coolant? Good. Spark plugs? Meh.... overrated. We'll find a way, just turn the key.

[Bobzilla]

and the fun continues...... Been sick the last few days. Finally got the new knuckle and between potty breaks (yeah, THAT kind of sick) got the new bearing pressed in, the hub pressed into the bearing. started slapping it together and had one of the ball joint bolts snap off IN the knuckle.

A M12 bolt.... snapped off. Son of a ...... fine. broke an easy out, so I just said screw it and drilled it the rest of the way out. Now I have to locate a M12x1.5 tap to rethread the hole. I'll be glad when this job is done.

To be honest, the entire center of the bolt was broken a long time. Not sure if it was stressed before, or just a bad cast or what, bit only about half of the bolt was a fresh break. Makes me feel a little bit better.