I am an owner of an 88 formula 350. I just got done repacking the bearings and rotating my tires but catastrophe stuck. when I drive it there are metal shaving that come out. I put it right back into the driveway because it didnt want to move it feels like the brakes are always on. I used a hammer to put them on I've never done break work was I correct doing so? I used plenty of wheel bearing grease repacking the bearings coating everything in it even the little end of the axel that pokes out and the inside of the rotors and the bearings and the nuts all of it so I really think it's my breaks scraping against my rotors. I did this at my job(got a job as a oil changer) I'm 17 and would like a second opinion before I go back and work on it some more so I can do it right. Please help.

 

Rotated tires? Your wheels are specific front and rear. Putting the rears on the front will cause contact with the steering arm and maybe strut. That's your problem.

 

What did you use a hammer on? The rotor/hubs with bearings should slide on nicely. To replace the races you need a hammer.

 

The backspacing of your wheels are different front to back. They are about a half inch difference between the two. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...50-wheels.html

Also, you should never use a hammer to put brakes or wheel hubs on these cars. These cars use what are called tapered bearings. These need to be set at a certain pre-load to function correctly. To much will cause the wheel to lockup and rune the brake rotor and hub.

I would recomend buying the GM Service manual for your car. I also have an '88 and the manual has everything you would ever need to service the car. This is NOT the Haynes manual. It is over 1800 pages of technical data that will walk you though diagnosis, service, and every repair you will ever make. This is the GM Service manual that would have been used by dealerships in 1988. (FYI, get the CD Copy and load it on your computer/ Phone. So you always have a copy with you). Trust me, its the best $30.00 I have spent on the car.
Bishko eb5925N

 

Since the OP is learning Mechanics, the Haynes Manual would be a good addition, to the GM FSM. (Just brush up on "The Queens English". )

 

So much wrong with the OP's post, I'm wondering where to start?

i/e never done brakes before, yet packed wheel bearings. Grease to....okay...sometimes you have to tell folks to get the eff off u-tube and talk/work with one who has done it before.

Hammer? I digress.

As ya were.

IMHO, time to ask is before you do a task you have never done, not leave a mess and ask folks "what did I screw up?"