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Old Aug 27, 2006 | 05:12 PM
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Default Anyone besides VanSteel

Well I have the rear bearing hub assembly removed without the TA-the TAs are fine. Has anyone used anybody besides VanSteel as rebuild service. They seem the steepest at $200.00. For example, I Googled and found a "Macell's Corvette" rebuild of entire assenbly for $120.00. Thats a big difference. Please remember, I'm doing just the bearing assembly, no TAs. Any suggestions, I'm in the Detroit area. Note: I dont' really care about all the clean and shiny stuff Van does, I just want a great bearing rebuild. This is not a show car. Stock daily driver. Thanks

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Old Aug 27, 2006 | 05:18 PM
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Check the details on what they are actually doing, do they just throw them together or do they set them up with great precision. IMO 200$ is very cheap, if you consider the hours that go into doing it properly. If I had to do a set for someone including bearings, races, shims, setting them up, cleaning and paint I'd charge a lot more than 200$.
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Old Aug 27, 2006 | 05:26 PM
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I am in the process of doing all this stuff myself and I have to agree, $200 is not bad. Granted this is the first time I am doing it and I don't have all the tools (yet). Also you don't always want the cheapest guy working on your stuff. GTR1999 (Gary, forum member) does this stuff, so contact him. He may not be the cheapest, but from all I see and hear in here he may be the best.
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Old Aug 27, 2006 | 05:30 PM
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Bairs charged $150 per side when I had mine done about a year and a half ago. If your core is bad (bad spindle etc.) you can add to that. They have a good reputation. Call and ask for Brian.
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Old Aug 27, 2006 | 05:39 PM
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Be careful looking for the least expensive vendor. I did that a few years ago and it took over a year to get my money back for junk parts. (Can you say Fl Caliper Man.???) I would spend a little extra for a known entity.
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Old Aug 27, 2006 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
GTR1999 (Gary, forum member) does this stuff, so contact him. He may not be the cheapest, but from all I see and hear in here he may be the best.
I've used him for a steering box rebuild...I think he is the best based on the work he did for me and for what I've read about his work on rear hubs. There was a post here this week about a forum member who had a bad rebuild on his rear hubs and he has to keep bringing it back in for repairs. If your doing this yourself, you only want to do it once so you want to make sure its a quality rebuild. I recommend you talk to Gary.
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Old Aug 27, 2006 | 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
Check the details on what they are actually doing, do they just throw them together or do they set them up with great precision. IMO 200$ is very cheap, if you consider the hours that go into doing it properly. If I had to do a set for someone including bearings, races, shims, setting them up, cleaning and paint I'd charge a lot more than 200$.
BIG TIME Van Steel did an awsome job on my rear spindles, and it's something I KNOW will last 150K miles. Replacing & clearancing rear bearings is a precision procedure. When done right, will last...
Eddie
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Old Aug 27, 2006 | 09:13 PM
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Yea, I am already in contact with Gary and I am going to get my parts from him. Soon as my press gets here this week I have to pull the TAs apart and see what I need.
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Old Aug 27, 2006 | 10:31 PM
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The only reason I clicked on this topic was to find out what horrible thing Van Steel did to you to warrant a topic titled, "Anyone but Van Steel." Very poor choice of words for your topic title.
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Old Aug 27, 2006 | 11:53 PM
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Van Steel Rocks

When I first contacted them on the phone, they gave me lots of good advice and recommendations...BEFORE I even committed to using them for the work. I know they're a business, but I never once got that feel from them on the phone, they were just willing to offer sound advice.

When I did go with them, I did so with a sense of confidence that you really only get from someone you really trust.

I'd recommend Van Steel

Swede
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Old Aug 28, 2006 | 10:30 PM
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Originally Posted by SwedeAWACS
Van Steel Rocks

When I first contacted them on the phone, they gave me lots of good advice and recommendations...BEFORE I even committed to using them for the work. I know they're a business, but I never once got that feel from them on the phone, they were just willing to offer sound advice.

When I did go with them, I did so with a sense of confidence that you really only get from someone you really trust.

I'd recommend Van Steel

Swede


Van Steel did my trailing arms and differential. Top notch work and great people to deal with.
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by PRNDL
The only reason I clicked on this topic was to find out what horrible thing Van Steel did to you to warrant a topic titled, "Anyone but Van Steel." Very poor choice of words for your topic title.
Guess you need to start reading more carefully. That is not the title of the post. 8 others didn't seem to have a problem with it???
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by jasmarty
Guess you need to start reading more carefully. That is not the title of the post. 8 others didn't seem to have a problem with it???
There isn't much difference between "but" and "besides" - and I had the exact same reaction as PRNDL when I first saw the title. Choose your words more carefully and drop-kick the attitude out the window, and you'll be fine around here.
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 03:39 PM
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Bairs did mine on two corvettes. They do great work. Dave
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 06:24 PM
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You get what you pay for. I did mine myself, but I wouldn't do it for somebody else for $200 a side. If I had it to do again, I would have them do it.
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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 10:20 AM
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
There isn't much difference between "but" and "besides" - and I had the exact same reaction as PRNDL when I first saw the title. Choose your words more carefully and drop-kick the attitude out the window, and you'll be fine around here.
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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by PRNDL
The only reason I clicked on this topic was to find out what horrible thing Van Steel did to you to warrant a topic titled, "Anyone but Van Steel." Very poor choice of words for your topic title.

..... agree.... but his thread is getting a lot of attention with that title ....
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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 10:43 AM
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To those of you who helped...thanks!
MODERATOR- FEEL FREE TO EDIT THREAD TITLE
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Old Aug 30, 2006 | 11:01 AM
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"ya git' what ya' pay for", and those dudes at Van Steel are "bullet proof", or should I say "100 proof". "Ya' cant break a Van steel job". Best in the business (maybe not the cheapest, but the BEST!)

Gonzo
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Old Aug 31, 2006 | 11:38 AM
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Artie has been rebuilding rear bearings for almost 30 years. I think he has it down. I have been to his shop a few times. It is neat, clean and organized. They powder coated my frame and rebuilt my suspension. I could not be more pleased. Jerry
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