New stub axles required?

Thoughts about brakes. I originally thought about reconditioning the calipers myself but doing a bit more research it's not a massive cost saving and given these are fundamental to stopping I'd feel more comfortable with them being professionally done and tested.

So, onto bath time. Let the degreasing begin.

Mucky stuff. Having tried different concentrations and probably poisoning myself I'm going to do more research as this stuff is still as filthy, and it seems to eat through the free plastic gloves from the petrol station. (I didn't deliberately take them - it was an accidental over enthusiastic grabbing last time the car needed diesel)

I have made a discovery. The best grease removal stuff is white paraffin. Cheap from any diy store, not that smelly either. Dissolves grease with ease and a bit of agitation with a paint brush.

Two posts in the same day... well, trying to get the hang of this blogging site and catching up on bits hit - and it does seem to mainly be hitting things that gets them apart - I got behind with the narrative.

One lone front caliper - not much for several hours work.

Front hub carrier - amazing how much stuff gets picked up and stuck to these things but I guess not surprising for a 17 year old car. I gave the end closest to bottom with photo with a couple of taps of the rubber mallet to get the stub axle out for it to shoot 6ft across the garage in a beautiful ballistic arc and dent the garage door.

Still thinking about how I'm going to clean all the grease and crud off. The Sand / grit blasters I've spoken to don't like grease as it plays havoc with their machines. Researching online there are a number of products that claim superior degreasing capabilities - I have a feeling this will be a trial and error process.

As such this process whilst about getting these important suspension / brake / transmission bits back to their former glory, is also about testing my commitment and ability. Whilst I can lay claim to tinkering with engines and car bits when younger and more latterly arming myself with a mech. Eng degree, I feel like a total amateur who has no right to even be considering playing with this stuff let alone actually building a car.
For some reason these thoughts seem to permeate most just before going to sleep (along with what engine, wheels, colour, under slung exhaust or side pipes, nudge bars, and so on - ad nauseam)

Anyway, here are some more pictures of rusty bits. My iPhone seems to have a differing opinion to my own as to which pictures it will actually transfer onto my PC on any one evening. Given I work for an IT Software company it pains me greatly to admit being beaten by technology.

This was a defining moment - the removal of the first bolt from the first brake disc hub assembly (front right). What you don't see is the socket wrench operator jumping up and down on the handle and resorting to rubber mallet based persuasion to shift ONE bolt.

Good job I've been visiting the gym or I'd be failing the first hurdle of getting these wretched things off.

And the prize for removing five bolts is... Another rusty bit! Hmmmm. This is going to take a while.