Decided to part with the Malibu. We need something with air that my wife can get in and out of easy.
So did a safety check. The only non-greaseable ball joint that I put on the car 5 years ago, when I rebuilt the front end, Was going bad. Everything else I had changed was ok.
Belt on edge of one front tire was thru. Other side wear was even but thin.
Changed out a lower A arm with ball joint, on the Malibu.
Then spent half the the day chasing the elusive 215/60/r15 tires for the front. Finally found 2 used ones that match.
While dealing with those issues I caught a few other things.
Brake hose had sucked shut on the front, causing the caliper to stick, caught that while working on the A arm. Wore the shoes and warped the rotor just a bit.
Also anti lock wire on the other side, had been caught by something and ripped . So fixed that.
!!!Anti lock brake light is off for the first time in 6 months!!!
Had saved Old rubber brake hoses (they were good but got new ones in the front brake kit), and the old shoes.
Put the set of old shoes from the last brake job, 5 years ago, that best matched the wear of the other side, and the rubber hose I had saved. Still has a slightly warped rotor from the hose issue. Gravity blead just that one wheel. Got lucky, so did not have to get the wifamatic out, to pump the brakes. LOL
So, still a slight brake pulse but they are good and firm, Rotor is plenty thick, and the antilock is working fine.
!!!Anti lock brake light is off for the first time in 6 months!!!!!
So I just put like a days work and $175 in a car that I will probably end up selling for $800 to a kid who would not have a clue about it being bad if I had not bothered. But being a front end, safety issue my conscience could not let me sell it that way.
Of course since it has not been aligned in 5 years and I just did replace the lower ball joint. Guy down the road has an old Uni Liner. May have him just do a quick check for me, make sure she is in good enough so the tires I just put on will last a guy a while. He owes me one so should be a freebee, unless he has to adjust, and runs into some major issue.