It all started in 1985, when Chrysler and Mitsubishi formed a new production division known as Diamond Star Motors. Shortly thereafter they setup shop in Normal, Illinois and prepared to build a series of cars that would hit the American streets full force. In 1989, DSM released their first three vehicles: the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser – all sisters to one another, sharing the same platform, parts and looks, but sporting different badges. Only one of the three survived into the late 2000s, and that was the Mitsubishi Eclipse. The 2007 Eclipse was front-wheel-drive, and used a sealed front wheel bearing.
There is a secret when it comes to maintaining sealed wheel bearings on front-wheel drive cars. They aren’t adjustable, so they can’t be serviced. But, if you want them to last, you have to torque the spindle nut properly. This prevents excessive runout between the end of the axle shaft and the bearing. When you install a new wheel hub, or axle shaft on your 2007 Eclipse, always replace the spindle nut and tighten it to between 145 and 188 foot-pounds.
