Fix It

A ball joint links the console arms of the front and rear suspensions to the wheel hub assemblies of your vehicle. In some vehicles, the ball joints connect all components of the suspension.

Significance

Rear ball joints are sometimes used in vehicles that are front-wheel drive and have independent suspensions. In some newer vehicles, the rear suspension is assembled with ball joints to link all parts of the suspension together.

Function

The ball-and-socket design of the ball joint provides swivel room for the knuckles of the joint as the wheels of the vehicle are steered. It also allows the suspension to handle changes in the road as the vehicle is moving.

Considerations

If there is a problem with the ball joint, you might hear a knocking noise when your vehicle goes over small bumps in the road. Erratic steering and wandering are also indicators of problems with the ball joint.

Struts are designed to maintain a cars balance on the road, especially when driving over rough or uneven surfaces. A car typically has front and rear struts.

Current Prices of Rear Struts

As of 2010, the price of rear struts for most vehicles ranges between $100 to $700. For luxury cars, prices can even exceed $1,000. Price ultimately depends on the make and model of your vehicle.

Extra Costs

In addition to the price of the struts, you will probably pay labor costs for their installation. Those charges vary.

Price Stability

The price of rear struts has remained stable over the last few years.

A rear power window motor mounts inside the rear door and rotates a gear on the window regulator to open or close the window. By pushing the rear window switch, you are closing the power window circuit in the door and energizing the motor. Once this happens, the motor turns the regulator gear. However, if the motor burns out, you can push the button all day long with no results. Those with mechanical aptitude and an hour of free time can replace a rear power window motor without seeking professional help.

Instructions

1

Pluck the window switch and lock switch from the rear door panel with the trim tool. Pull the wiring plugs out of each switch manually before setting the switches aside.

2

Remove the rear door panel retaining screws with either the Phillips screwdriver or socket set, depending on the year, make and model of your vehicle. If the panel will not lift off the rear door at this time, you may need to pry the door panel trim pins out of the door with the trim tool before removing the panel by hand. (This too will depend on the year, make and model of your vehicle.)

3

Raise the rear door window glass by hand and secure it with packing tape in the fully upright position to prevent unintended glass movement. Manually pull the wiring plug out of the rear window motor.

4

Remove the rear window motor retaining bolts with the socket set. Pull the old rear window motor out of the door through the door access hole. Position the new rear window motor in the door and bolt it in place with the socket set.

5

Reinstall the rear door panel on the rear door by reversing the door panel removal steps. Make sure to remove the tape from the window when done before you attempt to open the window.

A vehicles rear springs are part of the suspension system. A cars suspension must be kept in good working order, or the ride will be bumpier and rougher for passengers. The suspension also keeps the undercarriage from coming into contact with the ground; so when a suspension has been compromised there is a greater risk for "bottoming out" and causing damage to the vehicle. Repair or replacement may involve removing and reinstalling the rear springs.

Parts

1978 or 1979 Corvette rear spring replacement parts can be used for the 1979 suspension Multi-leaf composite springs are the most durable and can be found included in a complete spring replacement kit.

Removal

Removing the springs involves jacking the rear end of the car, compressing the spring and attaching a chain to the spring. Then the link bolt, cushions and retainers are removed before lowering the car back onto the jack stands. The spring is then caully removed and replaced.

Installation & Torque Specs

Once the spring has been returned and the center clamp properly positioned, the mounting bolts can be replaced. They must be tightened to between 55 and 75 foot-pounds of torque. The rest of the parts are then replaced in the order in which they were removed. Then the car can be lowered and tested.

Windshield wiper blades are necessary in rainy weather. The process of changing a rear windshield wiper blade takes an average of 30 minutes and should be repeated annually along with replacing the front windshield wiper blades. If they are not replaced, they may fall off during use and scratch the entire windshield or not adequately clear the glass of obstructions.

Instructions

1

Lift the plastic cap off the rear wiper blade. Unscrew the 13 mm screws with the flat-head screwdriver. Lift the wiper arm off the windshield and the plastic cover underneath the arm. Unscrew the 22 mm screws and then take off the wiper off. Go inside the car and into the back seat.

2

Remove the rear windshield wiper panel and unplug the wiper motor. Unscrew the 10 mm screws. Remove the windshield wiper motor unit from the inside and then go outside and loosen the old blade from the wiper unit. Replace the old wiper blade with the new one.

3

Fasten the blade to the wiper on the outside and then go back into the car and fasten the windshield wiper motor unit and screw the unit back in place with the 10 mm screws. Go back outside the car and then screw in the 22 mm screws.

4

Put the wiper arm back into its original position so that the new blade is touching the rear-view window. Screw the 13 mm screws back into place and then put the plastic cap back on the rear windshield wiper. Check the wiper. Turn the car on and then start the rear windshield wiper.

Several components makes up the parts of the rear hatch on a Chevrolet Camaro. These parts work together to allow the rear hatch to raise and lower, as well as to weather-proof the rear hatch. The Camaro does not have a traditional separate trunk, but a storage area behind the seats inside the car that stores the spare tire and jack, with enough room to put suitcases or other cargo.

Rear Hatch Hinge

The rear hatch component on the Camaro that allows the hatch to open and close while still remaining attached to the structure of the automobile is the rear hatch hinge. Two rear hatch hinges are located at the top of the hatch, and connect to both the roof of the Camaro and the hatch. The hinges act the same way as hinges on the door of a house, but are made of a different type of metal. Two bolts on each hinge hold it to the frame of the Camaro, and two hinge bolts on the other side of the hinge hold it to the hatch of the Camaro. The bolts that hold the hinges to the frame are not the same type of bolts that hold the hinges to the hatch.

Rear Hatch Hinge Bolts

The two hinge bolts that hold the hinges onto the Camaro frame are standard half-inch bolts that screw into the hinge, but the two bolts used to attach the hinges to the rear hatch are different. These two bolts slide through the hatch hinge and into a nut assembly located on the rear hatch, and are made to be tightened and loosened by hand with a handle located at the ends of the bolts. This provides easy removal of the rear hatch when necessary.

Rear Hatch Assembly

The rear hatch assembly is the main structure, or frame, of the rear hatch. Its the main component that all other rear hatch components screw, lock or attach to. The hatch assembly is the same color as the body of the Camaro and holds the rear window. Several aftermarket rear hatch assemblies are available, including a notchback hatch.

Rear Hatch Strut

The rear hatch struts on either side of the rear hatch of the Camaro extends out as the rear hatch is opened, and are used to hold the hatch open. The struts can have an optional rear defrost mechanism installed.

Rear Hatch Lock Assembly

The lock assembly locks and unlocks the rear hatch. It comes with a tumbler-type key locking assembly and key.

The rear shocks on your Dodge Ram can be replaced with KYB shocks. KYB offers shocks that are more durable than the stock units. Shocks should be replaced every 75,000 miles. However, the extra weight while towing in the rear will decrease the life expectancy of the rear shocks. KYB shocks may be purchased online or at any auto parts store. Because there are only two mounting bolts at each shock, installation can be done yourself.

Instructions

1

Locate the spare tire lowering tool under the seat of your vehicle.

2

Insert the end into the rotating socket found between the tailgate and the rear bumper. Rotate the tool until the spare tire is lowered to the ground. Remove the spare tire.

3

Locate the mounting bolts on the shock absorbers. Spray penetrating fluid on the bolt and the nut and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

4

Loosen and remove the bolts with a ratchet and 13/16-inch socket. There is no need to hold the nut on the opposite side with a wrench as it is designed to hold itself by utilizing a tab on the nut. Keep the bolts and nuts for re-installation of the new shocks.

5

Pull the shock from the mounting brackets.

6

Place the KYB shock into the brackets. Install the bolts and thread the nuts on the opposite sides.

7

Tighten the bolts with a 13/16-inch socket and a ratchet.

8

Repeat these steps to the opposite side of the vehicle.

9

Replace the spare tire and rotate the tool to lift it back under the vehicle. Place the tool back under the seat.

If you have ever wondered what you would have to do to remove the rear seat from your 2001 Grand Am, then the answer is, "not very much." The rear seats in a 2001 Grand Am are held in by clips and nuts that you can easily access. Whether you are modifying your car, or if you would like to do some thorough cleaning, you will be more successful if you know exactly how to remove your seats before you start your project.

Instructions

1

Remove the bottom section. Lift up the bottom cushion at the two front corners. Two clips that hold the cushion on are now accessible and can be detached. Slide the cushion forward and out.

2

Remove the top section. Remove the two nuts that are located at the bottom corners of the top portion of the seat. Pull the seat so that the tabs where the nuts were can be clear of the studs. Pull the seat up and toward the front of the car so that the upper clips will become disconnected. The top portion of the seat can now be removed.

3

Clean up any mess. There will likely be a lot of built-up dirt and messes underneath the seat cushions. Keep some cleaning supplies handy for this.

Rust can appear on all areas of a car or truck. The 1957 Chevrolet truck is a classic car that can be very prone to rust because of its age. The rear of a truck is exposed to many dents, bumps and scratches. This leads to the rust-proof coating on the truck to wear off more easily, leaving the rear more susceptible to rusting. Rust is an electrochemical process in which the molecules of water and metal combine to create rust. Fixing rust on the rear of a Chevy truck prevents the rust from spreading and causing more serious damage like rust-holes, which can interfere with the operation of the truck.

Instructions

1

Scrub off the rust on the rear of the car with a scrubbing pad or wire brush. This gets rid of any surface rust.

2

Put on rubber gloves to protect hands when using rust removers. Rust removers use very strong acids to dissolve rust. These acids include oxalic acid and phosphoric acid.

3

Pour rust remover onto a scrubbing pad. Scrub the remover into the rust and let stand for about 5 minutes or for the length of time suggested on the label.

4

Wipe away the rust remover with a rag or cloth.

5

Apply a rust-proof primer with a paintbrush. This stops any further rusting on the rear of the truck.

6

Apply touch-up paint to necessary areas of the rear of the truck.