How To Replace Front Wheel Bearings - You Can Do That

Recently the right front wheel bearing went bad on my 2002 Mazda 626. Apparently my oldest daughter hit a large pot hole bending the wheel and damaging the wheel bearing. I noticed a slight hum in the front end with a slight shutter as well, I thought that the tires needed to be balances and rotated, so I took it into the shop to be checked out. Well to my surprise I was told the bad news and what was worse was the amount they wanted to charge - over $500 to fix bearing and to replace the wheel. That is when I decided to do it myself.

Below I will help you by listing the tools you will need and steps on how to get it done.

Things you will need:

Large adjustable wrench

Channelocks

Bearing race driver tool

Various size punches

Socket and ratchet set

Assorted wrenches

A rags or two

New wheel bearings

Wheel bearing grease

New cotter pin

New grease seals

Wheel blocks

Safety glasses

A jack and a pair of jack stands

Even if the bearings are not making a noise it is always a good idea to have them inspected every 30,000 miles. I have it done when my breaks are replaced.

Okay let's get started.

Get all of your tools and supplies together before you begin and allow plenty of time to do the job.

Please take note that these are general instructions and consult the appropriate repair manual for your vehicle.

Always think safety first whenever you're working around machinery. Wear safety classes to protect your eyes and beware of hot objects, sharp items and hazardous materials. It is very, very important to never work on a car that is only supported by a jack, always place a sturdy foundation under the vehicle to prevent it from falling on you.

From this point on cleanliness is important. You do not want any dirt, sand or metal chips inside the hub.

1. Remove your disc brake calipers and caliper bridge to remove the rotor.

2. Remove the bearing cap. This is a press fit and to remove it grab it with your channelocks and work it back and forth until it pops off. Be careful not to crush it.

3. Once the cap is off you will see a cotter pin, remove the cotter pin and remove the retainer ring. If your vehicle has a castellated nut, you will not have a retaining ring.

4. Using your channelocks or adjustable wrench, remove the nut from the spindle.

5. Next remove the outer wheel bearing and washer.

6. Slide the rotor or drum off the spindle.

7. Remove the grease seal and take out the inner wheel bearing.

8. Wipe all the old grease from inside the hub.

9. Remove the bearing races from the hub.

10. Take a punch with a flat narrow tip and place it on the back of the race.

11. Tap the race out, alternating from side to side so it comes out evenly and doesn't get cocked in the hub.

12. Once it's out, flip the rotor or drum over and do the same for the other race.

13. Clean the inside of the hub with some rags.

14. Make sure the spindle is clean as well.

That's all there is to it. Like I mentioned earlier take your time and you will not get frustrated, good luck with your project.

Dennis Watson - Just helping others succeed.

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Architectural Plans For Commercial Buildings

When you are ready to create a new commercial building for your business, you want it to be an expression of what your business is about - a part of your brand. Besides being just the place where your business happens to be located, your commercial building can say a lot more about you, and communicate the impression that you want your customers to have about you.

Quality commercial building plans need to include unique design features that will make your building stand out from the competition. With the right appeal, it can actually add to the attractiveness of your business and make people take notice as they drive by. Such an appeal can add to your bottom line and increase the number of your customers and your success rate - even before your doors ever open.

The process of getting the right architectural plans for your commercial building starts out with obtaining a set of complete blueprints for your building. Architectural drawings will need to be made for each aspect of the building.

This will include:

•Foundation plans
•Floor plans
•Exterior views
•Framing plans
•Electrical plans
•HVAC plans
•Plumbing plans
•Sectional Plans
•Roof plans
•Site plans
•And a few more as needed.

Besides needing the basic plans and a great exterior, you will also need commercial design plans for the interior of the building. This should also be given much thought because the building layout is important in making your visitors feel at home - and wanting to come back. The appeal needs to be inside and outside.

Adding into your commercial building plans the needed sizes and features for those with disabilities will further ensure that your customers are happy with your new building design. This may benefit both your visitors and possibly some employees, as well. Having these features will also enable your building to resell faster, too, because little upgrading will be required if that need should ever arise.

Once the architectural plans are complete, you can take a set of presentation drawings to potential lenders. They will need to see what you are planning on doing and these drawings from your architect or designer will be able to sell them on the idea. Most likely, you will want to take an isometric drawing and a floor plan.

Depending on where you live, your architectural plans for your new commercial building will need to be examined by the local planning commission. This group, as well as the building inspectors, will look over your plans and make sure that everything fits either into the local plans for the future, and for any potential problems with the design.

Selecting a contractor is the final major step in the procedure. You will want to find one that is familiar with commercial building construction and also has a solid reputation. It is also very important that you have the contractor agree to follow the architectural blueprints as given.

Being a business owner who has decided to build a building for their business can be facing a very daunting task. Why not hire a design professional to help you with your new building? Tim Davis is a fully trained Architectural Designer with over twenty years experience who would be more than happy to help you with your plans. His website is at http://buildingdrawings.8m.com.

Medline Transport Wheelchair With Brakes Review

At only 23.5 pounds, the Medline Transport Wheelchair With Brakes makes for easy transportation for both the chair and the person using it. Its frame is made of a lightweight aluminum to provide a sturdy and durable means of getting around. It's also powder color coated in either red or blue and the seat is made from a lightweight, equally durable nylon upholstery material that provides both security and comfort of use. It also has standard padded armrests and a seatbelt built into its structure for additional safety.

The Medline Transport Wheelchair With Brakes takes advantage of the benefits that its lightweight frame provides. Aside from its design that makes using the wheelchair smooth and hassle-free, it also simplifies travel by making it easier to get around on the steepest of ramps while providing assistance with the manual hand brake if you need it. Aesthetically, a lightweight wheelchair like this one also makes for a cooler, sleeker, more stylish accessory than its old-fashioned, heavyweight predecessors.

The rear handles of the Medline Transport Wheelchair With Brakes can easily be folded down to provide for easy transport. The composite wheels at the back have dual-sealed precision bearings that improve the chairs mobility. These wheels also require almost no maintenance at all.

What Are Customers Saying?

The reviews for the Medline Transport Wheelchair With Brakes are mostly positive with the majority of the reviewers saying that they would recommend this chair to their friends and family. Its capacity of up to 300 pounds of weight opens it to a wider range of wheelchair users who have found it to be an efficient, comfortable, and convenient addition to their everyday lives. Its tires are just the right size to allow easy entrance through small areas that usually cause trouble for old-fashioned wheelchairs with bigger tires. The braking mechanism works well and provides assistance in controlling the chair's speed even on downhill slopes. It also requires very little assembly of its parts.

Since the Medline Transport Wheelchair With Brakes is lightweight and has supporting foot pegs on the back of it, one user claims having no trouble at all popping wheelies over gaps, curbs, and doorstops. One downside of this wheelchair is the size of its back pocket, which could be bigger to accommodate bigger items. The price, however, is more reasonable than renting out a chair for a few months. One user found the handlebars convenient for hanging purses without hitting the wheels in contrast to older models with bigger tires. The color of the frames also provide for a fresh and stylish look in contrast to the dull ones you see in the hospital.

The Medline Transport Wheelchair With Brakes provides reliable help for people having problems with getting around while giving them enough leeway for control in the comfort and safety of a sturdy, durable, and stylish wheelchair. It is highly recommended for people who want to provide their loved ones with a little help without completely taking away their control.

We absolutely recommend that you read more about Lightweight Wheelchairs before deciding which one is best for you. Another wheelchair that we are a big fan of is the Nova Wheelchair.

Home Modification Tips for Wheelchair Accessibility

At any point in your life you or someone in your family may need the assistance of a wheelchair to get around. You probably don't have a home that is wheelchair accessible, but if the need arises you will need to make the changes. There are lots of tips that will help you make your home wheelchair accessible.

One idea is to add stair lifts. This is simply a mechanism that allows you to lift a person up the stairs. It's similar to an elevator in the fact that it is powered by electricity, but it simply goes up and down the stairwell you already have. That means there are not as many design changes you need to make in your home and those incapacitated can get up and down the stairs with little assistance.

Another option is wheelchair lifts. If someone in your home is in a wheelchair then a wheelchair lift is very likely a necessity. It will allow for the individual to get around on their own somewhat as well as be able to get up and down stairs in their wheelchair. A wheelchair lift really makes the home an easier place to be and increases the disabled individual's mobility significantly.

Vertical lifts are another option and they are very similar to the other two. Vertical lifts simply lift vertical. So, it is pretty obvious what a vertical lift does. What you need in your home will depend significantly upon whether or not the situation will change or it is permanent as well as how much room you have in your home to make the changes. For example you may choose a wheelchair lift over a vertical lift if it provides a better service to the individual in the wheelchair. Simply evaluate your home, space, and budget as well as the needs of the disabled individual to determine what will work best. The good news is that you can design your home and make modifications for an individual in a wheelchair.

Keep in mind as well that a ramp outside your home is important and will help anyone in a wheelchair enter and exit the home easily and without assistance. There are a lot of things to keep in mind like widening the passageways so a wheelchair can fit and easily turn and keeping things at a lower height so an individual in a wheelchair can reach them. However, once you make the changes in your home you will become accustomed to them and the disabled individual will learn to live a new lifestyle.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. There are lots of tips that will help you make your home wheelchair accessible. One idea is to add stair lifts. This is simply a mechanism that allows you to lift a person up the stairs. Vertical lifts are another option and they are very similar to the other two. Vertical lifts simply lift vertical. So, it is pretty obvious what a vertical lift does.

Wheelchair Lifts for Vans - How to Choose One For Your Van

Just because you are wheelchair-bound doesn't mean you have to stay home all the time. Wheelchair accessible vans allow handicapped individuals to go from place to place. However, loading and unloading a wheelchair can be difficult as well as uncomfortable. That's why wheelchair lifts for vans are often used to transport wheelchairs easily.

If you use a wheelchair but want to drive yourself around, you can drive a van equipped with a wheelchair lift. Vans can be fitted out with different kinds of wheelchair lifts.

Platform Wheelchair Lifts

A platform lift has a large, flat surface the same size as a wheelchair. The platform, with the wheelchair on it, is raised to the floor level of the van. Platform lifts can be solid or folding. They can also be automatic or semi-automatic. A fully automatic lift will fold, unfold, lower and raise the platform by operating a switch. A semi-automatic platform lift has to be manually folded and unfolded.

Rotary Wheelchair Lifts

The rotary wheelchair lift is sometimes called a "swing-out" lift. It has a platform that folds or telescopes. This type of lift does not raise flat to the level of the van's floor. Instead, the platform with the wheelchair on it rotates into the van. The wheelchair is transported by moving it up and down, and swinging it inside or outside. This is often used in minivans and vans.

Lifts can also be semiautomatic or automatic. Semiautomatic lifts are partly operated by hand while automatic lifts use power to perform all its functions.

Choosing a Wheelchair Lift for Your Van

Selecting a lift for your van depends on a number of factors. One important consideration is the lift features. The features to look for will depend on who will use the lift and how often. Some basic features to consider are the platform dimensions, safety feature to prevent the platform from rising if the wheelchair is not positioned properly, handheld controls, warnings and alerts when conditions are not safe, etc. Not all these features may be available, so you should decide which ones are most useful and important to you.

Operating the lift is another important thing to consider. Lifts can be controlled electrically, hydraulically or manually. They may use handheld controls, on-lift controls, or remote control. Manual controls are good as back up. In general, lifts with less features and functionalities are simpler to operate.

Choose a wheelchair lift for your van that is easy to install. You must know exactly how the lift is to be installed, the possible locations to install it, and the amount of space it will take up. The services of a qualified technician may be needed.

Learn more about buying a wheel chair van and check out top wheel chair ramps by visiting our website today!

How to Build a Wheelchair Ramp - Designs and Plans

As the world population ages, or suffers long-term effects of accidents and debilitating illnesses, the need for modifications to individual homes and businesses also increases. One of the primary changes is the addition of a wheelchair ramp to ensure safe accessibility. However, before grabbing a hammer, or hiring help, learn how to build a wheelchair ramp, with proper designs and plans.

In a pinch, many people will invent bizarre methods of getting a wheelchair into an inaccessible home or business. Maybe a couple of strong gentlemen will risk a hernia and pick up the chair. Others may grab a couple of boards and, after strategically placing the planks, roll the wheelchair over the steps. Neither practice is safe. Both methods are a temporary fix, at best. So, learn how to build a wheelchair ramp with proper designs and plans.

First, decide what type of materials needed for the ramp. Wheelchair access can be made with a pre-made metal ramp to be assembled. If building the ramp from scratch, is the ramp going to be concrete or wood? For people building a new home, a concrete ramp can be constructed when the sidewalks are poured. However, for most people, wood is an affordable and quick solution to access difficulties.

Now, with designs and plans, learn how to build a wheelchair ramp. First, the incline should not be too steep, or the wheelchair may tip over backwards, potentially causing great harm. Specifications state a one-inch incline per foot of ramp. For example, the steps into a home are 24 inches in height. Therefore, the ramp needs to be at least 24 feet long, with a rise of only one inch per foot.

In addition to length, the width of the ramp should be three feet. Naturally the ramp needs to accommodate the width of the chair. For now, maybe a child is using a smaller youth chair. The ramp still needs to be three feet wide, because he/she will eventually require an adult chair.

The length and width are correct-now what? Wheel guards are an excellent safety feature, when learning how to build a wheelchair ramp. A one-two inch high wheel guard will prevent a wheel from falling off the edge during use. At best, a handicapped individual can be stuck until help arises to get the wheel back on the ramp; at worst, slipping off the ramp can cause dangerous spills. So, the side guards are essential. In addition, rails are helpful for similar reasons. In addition, rails enable the handicapped person to pull him or herself up the ramp. Finally, a good ramp needs a little texture. In rainy or icy conditions, a wheelchair can quickly become a runaway on slick surfaces. Therefore, to provide added safety, a rough mixture of pebbles can be added to the surface concrete. When using a wooded ramp, indoor-outdoor carpet, or adding sand or texture to the varnish will provide a little more traction.

So, learn how to build a wheelchair ramp with safety in mind. Make sure the grade is not to steep, wheel guards and rails are in place, and texture has been added to the surface for added traction and safety. Use specific designs and plans, and stay safe.

Moses Wright is the owner of Wheelchair. He provides more useful information on Wheelchair Accessories And Aids and Wheelchair Holidays on his website. Webmasters are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

Rear Entry Wheelchair Vans

Before the mid 1980's there were limited options for the transportation of those destined to live their lives in wheel chairs. Greater attention to this issue is now being brought forward into the eye of the public. There are now higher priorities placed on access to public buildings, malls, department stores, and health care facilities. The emergence of the baby boomer generation and the acknowledgment of society that disabled people do exist spurred the creation of new technology. For many years people with disabilities were forced into a life of seclusion.

It may not be known by many but the invention of the minivan completely changed the life of people confined to wheelchairs. Wheelchair vehicles were only available in the large full size vans. The full size vans were user unfriendly. In many cases the use of these vans were limited to commercial use such a nursing facilities, and ambulatory care. The use of large vans is difficult in high traffic areas and created parking issues. With raised roof configuration entering lower ceiling room facilities such parking garages, drive up windows, and residential garages almost impossible.

Enter the minivan. The minivan was manufactured with the entire family in mind. Most wheelchair van converters now lower the floor ten to twelve inches instead of raising the roof. With the combination of lowered floor and automated ramp systems have simplified the transportation issue to the point of almost normal everyday life. The converted wheelchair van now has a similar appearance to the factory build minivan. The exterior of the van is not altered other than in the rear if the ramp is in the rear. In fact most rear entry wheelchair vans have enough room for two wheelchairs.

The rear entry handicap van maintains the same ground clearance as you would receive from the original manufacturer. This is especially important in hilly or mountainous areas. Speed bumps are no longer an issue and parking anywhere is always an advantage. The largest advantage of the rear entry wheelchair van is that you never get someone parked to close for loading and unloading. Weather conditions also have to be taken into consideration. Mobility vehicles the load and unload from the side have a lower ground clearance and make snow and ice a consideration before leaving on that trip to the mall or the food center.

There are many seating options available with the rear entry van. Most manufacturers take into consideration that the entire family will be traveling together on many occasions. Mid row seating for the wheelchair occupant assures that the family atmosphere is maintained. This type of seating also allows a caregiver to be seated nest to the disabled person for assistance if required. Suction machines and other live giving equipment can be used due to optional electrical upgrades.

Modern innovations have made it possible for the family with a disabled love one to experience the world together. Take your time when investigating the world of wheelchair vans. There are many different options out there. In a perfect world the need for these types of vehicles would not be required. This is not a perfect world so please take advantage of all the innovative technology available. Your family and or disabled love one is depending on you.

Warren Milliman
http://www.fminow.com