Elusive 98 Acura CL 2.3 Hubs

[evol90accord]

Where do you find these things? I'm trying to do the front brake conversion for the rotor over hub, and I cannot find these parts! I swear I've tried every junkyard in AZ, nobody seems to ever wreck Acuras!!

I tried the Acura dealership even, and they want like 122 a piece, and they have to special order them. :angry: blah. Online stores only sell the rear hub assembly (kinda odd...).

Can someone please point me in the right direction?

[aero]

Hate to say it, but the hubs are what you should have invested in first. Yeah, you may get WAY WAY lucky and find some in a junkyard, but thats prolly as bound to happen as you finding a g-square grille. When I did mine about a year ago, it took the acura dealer an extra week or so just to find another one. So unfortunately you'll have to suck it up and buy the expensive hubs. I got them when they were 70 for both. But it is well worth it to spend 250 a pair, i would do it again.

[evol90accord]

well if thats the case then I guess I'm not going to be getting them. I still need to get the wheel bearings and rotors. With prices like that I'm looking at well over 350 for a brake job :shocked: . Are you sure there isn't some obscure online site somewhere that I can get them from? Anyone??

[deckeda]

I recall reading that an alternative solution is to buy Acura CL 2.3 knuckles from a junkyard, because often the hubs and bearings will still be left on them. Or maybe not.

And yeah, the '98/'99 CL knuckles are a direct match for '90-'93 Accord's --- maybe 5th gen as well, since I think that's what the CL was based on. Seems weird, don't it? Somebody here should be able to confirm all.

Take a look at http://car-part.com/ and after inputting the Acura 2.3 info select Steering Knuckle in one of the popups. Eventually you should see lots of them; perhaps you can contact one of the sellers and ask if the hubs are still intact on the knuckle.


I need to do this same thing soon too ....

[aero]

hmm.. i never heard that the whole knuckle could swap. But as far as 350 being much for a brake job. Just think of what it would take to just do the rotors on the regular setup. This is what made me go for the rotor over hub conversion. The only shop i use quoted me 600 for rotors bearings and pads for the front brakes, thats all stock generic stuff.

With the stuff I bought, and doing it myself, it cost me 450 for new:
rotors
calipers
aem pads
master cylinder
bearings
hubs
tie rods

so i saved 150, and now everytime i need to change my rotors, its a breeze. I am actually swapping it off my old cb7 onto my new one now. And will prolly end up upping the size to the 11.5 rotors.

But 350 for the job once will be well worth it.

[deckeda]

aero3685, look at Superorb's comments re: CL knuckle: http://www.accordinglydone.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1177&page=7&pp=20&highlight=rotor+swap

Many of the comments concern 5th gen but I think they are the same as 4th gen.

Summary:
4th gen/5th gen/ '89 & '99 CL 2.3 knuckles all the same.

And, I think that 4th gen/5th gen/ '89 & '99 CL 2.3 bearings are the same.

OK --- here it is: http://www.accordinglydone.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3970&page=3&pp=20&highlight=knuckle

Take a look at what Jimmy says, then later (especially page 5) what Superorb says.

Finally, here's a recent thread by hoping to confirm the shoping list again: http://www.accordinglydone.com/forum/showthread.php?p=105875#post105875

you'll notice I was swinging back towards NOT getting knuckles, but if the hubs alone are becoming rare ...

[evol90accord]

Spindles! I didn't know what else to call these stupid things. Thats like the entire assembly with knuckles, hub, and bearings right?

I tried car parts before but "hub" isn't listed. "Wheel hub assembly" only returns results for the rear wheels. I found a bunch of spindles all over the country for less than 100 dollars each. Thats what I needed thank you!!

[GrayCar]

No, spindles are actually the small axle bit the hubs mount on.

[deckeda]

Originally posted by evol90accord
Thats like the entire assembly with knuckles, hub, and bearings right?

Keep in mind you'll need to verify FIRST with the seller just what is included. I'm not saying that the hub and/or bearing will be included, only that they MAY be. Confirm first.

Originally posted by GrayCar
No, spindles are actually the small axle bit the hubs mount on.

Yes, but are you saying that the spindles are a separate piece from the knuckle? Sorry, I don't have a decent manual here to verify. Everything I've read so far says that in order to replace the hubs, for example, you need to take out the knuckle. Now, if the spindle can indeed be separated, that implies you'd only need to remove that ... but I've never seen it described that way?

[HondaFan81]

www.acuraautomotiveparts.org

I called maybe few months ago and they said they had these in stock. They know people having been using these for rotor-over-hub swaps.

they are like $125 each though...

[evol90accord]

i found them on car-part.com. I just didnt know what else to call them besides hubs, which isnt an option. Once I knew what else they were called i could find them easier.

Im getting a pair from someone on Arkansas for 120 shipped.

[GrayCar]

This might help a bit.http://car.williamjennings.net/images/knuckle.jpg

[deckeda]

Thanks for that, GrayCar. I think it helps me confirm that there isn't a separate "spindle" involved --- none is shown, so it's part of the axle assembly. My assumption is that if that's what the junkyards were selling, they'd instead refer to it as an axle or whatever?

Now, I just need to get off my ass and get myself a set too ... evol90accord it sounds as if what you're getting is a decent price indeed. Keep us updated?

[evol90accord]

There isn't a separate spindle involved because that is the spindle. There are like 3 different names for this part!

Look for yourself at car-part.com. you select "Steering knuckle" and its listed as a spindle. I called and verified, they said it was the entire assembly, including wheel bearings and hubs (and i made sure they were 4 lug too, apparently some are 5).

I will definately keep you updated. I'm more excited about this swap than I was over my rear disc brake conversion... This is gonna rock!

[GrayCar]

What price are they quoting you for the knuckle? I'd be interested in hearing that.

Spindle is just the end of the axle.

My real question would be if the Accord axle will fit into the CL hub. Is it long enough? Are the splines the same?

While you're at it, might not be a bad idea to go with the five lug if you're also doing new wheels. Five lug wheels seem easier and cheaper to find.

Keep me posted, I would like to see how the disc brake/knuckle thing works out.

[evol90accord]

It better fit. I did a bunch of reading to find out how to do this swap, and the answers I've found say that this knuckle basically bolts right up, no hassles. I've read conflicting comments though that you need accord bearings because the acura cl bearings won't fit? I don't think this is true, but I'll find out in a few days.

I paid 120 shipped for the pair. Now I just have to go get myself some rotors that fit by old caliper and bracket. Is the 98 acura cl rotor 10"? I keep reading 11" versus 10" and I know I want to keep it 10" for now. upgrading calipers and brackets just isn't in the budget right now.

[deckeda]

Originally posted by evol90accord
... the answers I've found say that this knuckle basically bolts right up, no hassles. I've read conflicting comments though that you need accord bearings because the acura cl bearings won't fit? I don't think this is true, but I'll find out in a few days.

... Is the 98 acura cl rotor 10"? I keep reading 11" versus 10" and I know I want to keep it 10" for now. ...

I'm sure we've all read the same stuff. I too have seen the recommendation (or was it merely a confirmation?) to go with your normal Accord bearings but if the Acura knuckle & hub bolt right up to the axle, the bearing really isn't an issue, correct? I mean, it's the HUB that has to meet the axle, not the bearing. And of course the Acura bearing has to fit the Acura hub ... I am on track here, am I not?

The '98-'99 CL 2.3 cars were 4-lug 10" rotors. CL 3.0 cars were 11" rotors; don't remember how many lugs. Guess I'll have to go back and read!

**************************************

I'm sorta on the fence about the whole thing. I don't really know if I'd ever replace the rotors again. The way we drive the car, it's mostly highway miles and the present rotors have been on there for --- now get this --- the last 130,000 miles and they still have some meat.

If I do it I'm leaning towards 4-lug b/c I doubt I have the scratch for new rims now. Now, if somebody has a lead on cheap OEM Honda or Acura 5-lug rims ...

[GrayCar]

The only issue I see regarding the bearing would be if the axle will fit.

Since the bearing resides in the hub, you know it fits already in the CL knuckle.

My question would be does the Accord axle fit into the CL bearing? Diameter, etc.

If it does, you're golden.

Or does the Accord bearing fit into the CL knuckle and it's all good?

I'm going off the Accord diagram where the wheel bearing assembly bolts onto the knuckle, the hub goes inside the bearing and the axle into the hub, so, I may be crazy. :)

Anyway, if they say the axle will fit into the hub and the Accord bearings fit into the CL parts.... well, it should all work.

You're the Guinea pig, let us know how it goes. :)

[deckeda]

Originally posted by GrayCar
I'm going off the Accord diagram where the wheel bearing assembly bolts onto the knuckle, the hub goes inside the bearing and the axle into the hub, so, I may be crazy. :)

Anyway, if they say the axle will fit into the hub and the Accord bearings fit into the CL parts.... well, it should all work.

I took another look at that diagram (thanks again BTW!) What you say here is true; it's the rest of your last post that doesn't make sense but since this is what you ended with I think we are of the same understanding.

[evol90accord]

the confidence here is overwhelming. :D "Should/probably/might/shouldn't" are not exactly power words!

I'm glad I'm not the only person a little confused about all these posts about swaps. Most of the stuff jives, but there are a few things that people have conflicting comments on.

When i was searching for these parts, a guy at one of the shops I called told me he was 110 percent sure that it wouldnt work because the diameter of the wheel bearings were different. However, autozone says the wheel bearings are the same part for both cars!

I've just resigned to trying it myself to find out for sure. I'll let yall know.

[GrayCar]

Originally posted by deckeda
the rest of your last post that doesn't make sense but since this is what you ended with I think we are of the same understanding.

Ya, I think I was figuring it out as I wrote it... :)

[evol90accord]

I think this is one of those subjects that the more reading you do, the more opinions you find, the more confused you get. Some things are just learned by doing.

[GrayCar]

Originally posted by evol90accord
I think this is one of those subjects that the more reading you do, the more opinions you find, the more confused you get. Some things are just learned by doing.

Here! Here!

[deckeda]

Originally posted by evol90accord
I've just resigned to trying it myself to find out for sure. I'll let yall know.

No, let's none of us actually do this swap. Isn't it better to just talk about it and "figure it out" virtually? Oh, I could just go on and on for days .... :lol:

[evol90accord]

i think thats what 75% of the people do on these forums. theorize whether or not stuff will work and opinions.

Thanks for the input nonetheless. :p

[GrayCar]

Originally posted by deckeda
No, let's none of us actually do this swap. Isn't it better to just talk about it and "figure it out" virtually? Oh, I could just go on and on for days .... :lol:

It's because we're all a bunch of gutless woosies, rather talk than turn a wrench. Just like our fathers and their Camaros/Mustangs. :)

[deckeda]

:boink:

Watch it now --- I used to have an old Camaro --- did more teardowns than I can remember --- but back then I had more time (and spare cars to borrow, if you get my drift).

With my newfound interest in cars, it's like I'm learning all over again.

[GrayCar]

haha, wasn't ranking on the Muscle Cars. My father had a '68 Shelby Mustang R.

More of comment about guys shooting the shit about their cars.