Brakes and such

[somedude922]

Here we go. So over the last few weeks I have noticed a tapping sound coming form my front left wheel while driving, goes away when braking. I tightened everything down. I noticed that when I spun my rotor with the wheel off, the caliper would move, kind of like a warped rotor. I figured ok, brake job coming. Well, now my wheel taps and when I brake its even louder. Take off the wheel and see the rotor is BENT, I mean bad, the caliper has blown its seal too. SO. I will be replacing all that. I have not worked on brakes, axles, hubs, bearing, seals and such before.
This is on a '79 with front disc brakes.
Questions:

Could it be more damage than the rotor? bent spindle?
What should I replace while I am in there?
Should I tear it all the way down and do ball joints( which look good), seals and bearings?
I need to acquire some tools. What will I need?
I am not a complete noob to wrenching but have been out of the game for a while, also I have never done any kind of work on axles of any form. Only engines.
I will try and get a picture up of the caliper.
Oh and I do have a original technical service manual. (not Chiltons or Haynes)

Thanks

 

[Torxhead]

Might just need a front bearing repack and adjustment. Acquire a fair amount of web info on how to do it and have fun.

 

[mtnwhlr]

I live by if's not broke don't fix it so other than a brake job I would just check and repack the bearings.

 

[gutthans]

Well, since brake area maintenance isn't something you did lately...sure pull, inspect and repack bearings/hubs...cheap insurance. Doubt that they are bad, as you can warp the rotor face w/o affecting the concentricity (centering) of the hub...just spin the wheel off of the ground to check for wobble in the bearing and do the standard 12/6 wheel pull to check ball joints while in the air.