I apologize for the lack of my knowledge, but all I have done on my 1995 Astro van besides change the oil is change broken exterior door handles. I have little to no automotive knowledge or mechanical skills. That said, my daughter hydroplaned across three lanes and a median last night on a wet road and it crushed the rear wheel rim inward into the brakes. It was immobile so I changed the tire and drove it home about 1 mile away. I could hear an uneven noise with each wheel rotation and this morning I took pictures of what I saw. I believe this circular thing is like a rear brake cover and it is bent outward from where it should be.
Does one hammer it back into place, or is a new part available for replacement? What would that part be called?
I also notice, not form the hydroplaning, but from age and wear the separating of what I think are suspension leaf springs? Is that correct?
I'd just like to prepare myself with the proper terminology before visiting my gas station mechanic for help.
I think you might want to look at some new or used leaf spring and some new brakes. I cant tell you the names of what you need but if it was me I wouldnt be driving it
I believe thats called the backing plate or hub for the brakes. It looks bent inward to me.
Then you definatly need new leaf springs. If you think it was from age then you might as well do both of them. I would hit the junkyard for some steel leaf springs found on '95 and newer Vans and the backing plate. But, obviously not all '95 Vans have steel springs as that was the year they just starting introducing them. If you go with the steel springs you will need to grab the mouting hardware for the springs as its different. Should be fairly cheap at the junkyards for both sides. Steel springs will last way longer then another set of used monoleaf/fiberglass springs! :doh:
I'm definitely not driving it. Well, I am driving it at 20 miles an hour for 3 miles to the garage shop. I will go for metal leaf springs. One of my fiberglass ones did split from the impact.
You really can't hammer the backing plate back into shape, it controls where your brake shoes sit, how the springs pull on the shoes etc. replace it.
Also check for axle damage. Once you get it put back together and a straight rim on it, jack it up and spin the wheel and check that it doesn't wobble. Don't watch the tire, but the rim.
I'd just up grade the fiberglass mono springs to steel, both sides. Can't recall off the top of my head, but some out there makes a kit. I'm sure someone else will chime in on the spring swap.
But, the junkyard will be cheapest. Just grab all the hardware and hangers for the springs and you should be set.
Cut the mounting bolt off on the driver's side front mount and cut the fiberglass spring in half if you have to for easier removal. If you don't cut the mouting bolt on the driver's side then you have to drop the gas tank to get the bolt out.
If your not planning on keeping the Van long then just find a fiberglass spring and whatever other parts you need for the side thats messed up. :shrug:
Thanks for all the great advice. I did spin the wheel and drove the van for about 100 feet and the axle is definitely bent as the tirerim wobbled badly during its rotation and made a terrible rubbing noise with each rotation. So, I paid $55 for a 3 mile tow down to my garage mechanic so he can finish the damage assessment. It looks like you guys nailed it here so far with everything he pointed out. The only additional thing he said is that on Monday he'll get in there to make sure that no damage was done to my rear differential, but the rear axle definitely needs to be replaced from its damage and the back break part you guys pointed out as well as the leaf springs. I'll keep you updated.
Oh, by the way. I love my 1995 Astro. It was the first and only car I have ever bought new from the dealer. I bought it in the summer of 1994 when the new 1995 models came out. I now have 206,000 miles on it with the original engine and transmission. I have changed out the alternator, starter, water pump, and cooling lines. Also a cat converter. But everything has done well for me. No engine leaks that hit the pavement as of yet. I have used this van as my hunting ride and have taken it all over dirt and rock roads that are almost 4WD roads. I love it because I can putt out the two rear bench seats and set up a cot to sleep in the van and even keep my ice chests and hunting gear in there with me! I don't want to give up on my Astro and hope it can go another 100,000 miles or so.
I do want to repaint it where some of the paint has worn off. Anybody know where I can get some "Quasar Blue" paint as that is what I recall the name listed on my little factory touch up bottle that came with the van when I bought it.
Is your Van AWD that you take it hunting? Sounds like you need a lift kit and some 30" tires.
If you mechanic has to rebuild the rearend(worst case senerio) I would pick up a GM posi carrier to put back there if you don't already have one and want to spend a little more coin.... :lol:
Sadly, my van is RWD. But the main reason that convinced me to buy it was the fact that I read it was built on a "truck chasis". That gave me the confidence to treat it like a truck off road. I put a class III trailer hitch on it and bought it with the optional rear dutch doors. That made it great for loading/unloading things from the rear. I always got the strangest looks from guys that I would pass going the opposite direction on remote mountain roads in their 4x4 Jeeps and land cruisers. They thought I was nuts coming around a narrow switchback in a quasr blue Astro van! But it was all great time with the Astro. Took it for 12 years each summer from Phoenix to Yellowstone Park and into SD and MN each summer, as well as 30-50 trips over the years to the Mexican beach of Rocky Point for fishing trips. I don't want the Astro to die yet. Can I expect to get much more mileage out of my original tranny and engine? I'm near 206,000 miles right now I believe.
You would be surprised how long some of these Astro/Safari Vans last. Its all up to you and how you have treated her. If all is good now I don't see why not. My '92 has almost 170K on her and she run and drives great. My 200K mile Safari was neglected though...still runs good, but little things were never fixed....so she has her quirks.
I'm confused about the "rebuilding" of the rearend. If the axle is bent, odds are so is the housing. I would just replace the entire rearend. You can get a rearend from the local pick and pull for $100.
The garage has given me a $1200 repair estimate for replacing the rear axle, the rear driver's side break housing unit, and the leaf springs on both sides with the fiberglass type. They quoted me used parts from junkyards or recycle shops. It ended up being about $600 parts and $600 labor.
As a 1995 with a tad over 200K miles on it, I have decided to not fix it and will likely sell it cheaply to get rid of it if I can find a buyer. My insurance deductable is $1,500 so it would have no effect on the repair costs and really is more than the vehicle is worth. I hate to see her go, but I think I will have to at this point.
Should I try to sell her outright for 400-500 hundred bucks if she is worth that or part out various pieces?
The garage has given me a $1200 repair estimate for replacing the rear axle, the rear driver's side break housing unit, and the leaf springs on both sides with the fiberglass type. They quoted me used parts from junkyards or recycle shops. It ended up being about $600 parts and $600 labor.
As a 1995 with a tad over 200K miles on it, I have decided to not fix it and will likely sell it cheaply to get rid of it if I can find a buyer. My insurance deductable is $1,500 so it would have no effect on the repair costs and really is more than the vehicle is worth. I hate to see her go, but I think I will have to at this point.
Should I try to sell her outright for 400-500 hundred bucks if she is worth that or part out various pieces?
Where do you live (area)? Got pix? Let's see a one owner with 200k, for $500.00, Ya you could do that easy. Especially here. Good luck, Keep us posted, and list it for sale. Jim
FYI, everything your van needs a shade tree mechanic should be able to do. Ask real nice someone in your area would most likely come over and help you.
Heck if you are less than 4 hours from Chicago, fuel my van, feed me, give me a warm place to sleep and I'll load up my tools and wrench for the weekend.
A local ad on Craigslist in Phoenix is parting out a rear axle and metal leaf springs for $250 from a RWD 1997 Astro van. Would that be compatable with my RWD 1995 Astro van? And is the price decent, or what price should I try to get it for? Thanks, Keith
put an ad on craigslist asking if someone will do the job for a couple hundred bucks, you provide that axle from CL, a spot to do it, and you could have this nightmare ended for under $500.
if you want a shop to do it, get a second opinon from the work stated on the estimate, now that you know you can get that axle from craigslist, it might even have all the brake parts and everything included, which would be ideal in your case. who knows, maybe it's a limited slip which if you don't already have, would help your traction efforts dramatically offroad.
Thanks for all of your input so far. You guys have convinced me to keep my Astro and go for the fix up. One last set of questions before I acquire the parts and a weekend mechanic. Does the rear axle on my 95 Astro van come in two pieces? I ask this naive question as I just now re-read the garage quote for my van's repairs and it states, "replace rear leaf springs, driver side left rear axle, and driver side brake drum as the backing plate is bent real bad."
So does this mean I would not actually ask to buy an axle, but only the driver's side of a rear axle? Does the rear axle come in a left and right piece? Please advise me on this one. And would I expect the driver side brake drum and backing plate to come with the axle or not?
Thanks for any further insights, as I said in my previous post a guy would sell me his rear axle and metal leaf springs with mounting brackets/hardware for $250. But if all I need is half an axle, or the driver's side axle, should I ask to pay $50 less in price?
Thanks for all of your input so far. You guys have convinced me to keep my Astro and go for the fix up. One last set of questions before I acquire the parts and a weekend mechanic. Does the rear axle on my 95 Astro van come in two pieces? I ask this naive question as I just now re-read the garage quote for my van's repairs and it states, "replace rear leaf springs, driver side left rear axle, and driver side brake drum as the backing plate is bent real bad."
So does this mean I would not actually ask to buy an axle, but only the driver's side of a rear axle? Does the rear axle come in a left and right piece? Please advise me on this one. And would I expect the driver side brake drum and backing plate to come with the axle or not?
Thanks for any further insights, as I said in my previous post a guy would sell me his rear axle and metal leaf springs with mounting brackets/hardware for $250. But if all I need is half an axle, or the driver's side axle, should I ask to pay $50 less in price?
Don't try to get a discount based on that. The shop estimate that you have was listing an internal part. Your axle housing is more than likely bent. Better to replace it in its entirety. What you need is to get a mechanic friend to help you with the eyes on to make sure you get what you need. Where in the world of Astro are you? Jim
Definatly just buy the whole rear-end and be done with it.
Here is a good thread with great pics on swapping out the rearend. Definatly a one day job for someone with some mechanic knowledge. Check it out: viewtopic.php?f=108&t=4862&hilit=rearend+swap
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