Yep, it happened to me

[Damkid]

thats happened to me in my green car a total of 4 times now

[ejp2fast]

glad you're ok man...

your user name is being prophesied.

[resuwrecked]

So basically, it was the lower control arm failure with a mix of a bad cv joint? I know in my Aspire, the lower control arm and ball joint are built in together. So while I was having the drive axles replaced, I had the control arm replaced too.

The cv axle WAS good, until it got ripped out during the accident.

your user name is being prophesied.

This car is my resurection of the last one, and hopefully won't end up a wreck.

[eurotiva]

Glad your ok man.

[batstiva]

First of all, glad you're okay, and glad you were able to get back up and running quickly.

Now I'm just going to go ahead and ask the dumb question. When that happened, what failed? Did the ball get so worn it just fell out of the pinch bolt? Or does the ball break off? What exactly fails?

[Pu241]

To my knowledge, there's not much. Maintain your alignment, keep an eye on your boots. If anyone does work on your CV joints, make sure they know what the hell they're doing. At the first sign of popping noises, take it to the shop.

The good news is that it's not likely to happen at speed. Mine happened as I pulled out of a parking lot and into traffic - I'd be curious to know how fast resuwrecked was going and how much he turned the wheel - mine was pretty much cranked all the way over when it happened.

B

"To your knowledge", I'll keep that in mind.

First The CV failed as a result of the failure of LCA's ball joint.
New CV would have likely suffered same fate.

I've driven popping CV's for 20K miles and never had this happen.

Why isn't it likely to happen at speed?
Mine failed at 35-40 MPH in a tight turn on an interstate on ramp.
Pulled the manual CV axle out of the tranny before the CV itself failed.

This is completely preventable, check the ball joints, as resuwrecked suggested, if you get movement replace them.
The Moog part is a higher quality replacement, though more costly.

[Pu241]

Now I'm just going to go ahead and ask the dumb question. When that happened, what failed? Did the ball get so worn it just fell out of the pinch bolt? Or does the ball break off? What exactly fails?

NOT as dumb as some explanations above.
The ball joint is pressed into a machined port in the LCA.
If the boot fails and moisture/grime(sand) gets into that joint it can create rust and the grime will grinds off the rust till the ball will actually pop out of the joint/socket that it was a part of.
When that happens nothing keeps the wheel/tire from rotating away from the car.
The axle was not designed to hold a lateral tension force and will fail by dis assembly or removal from the tranny itself.
At that point your done.

[MONSOON]

I think you did it on purpose batstiva so no award for you. Instead enjoy...

[batstiva]

^^ Okay, so basically the ball stays in the pinchbolt, and the rest snaps off and swings free. Yes?
Just asking cause I've never had a problem with mine, I just changed Batstiva's cause I was under there changing CVs and struts anyway.

[batstiva]

I think you did it on purpose batstiva so no award for you. Instead enjoy...

Aw come on. I had a speech ready and everything. :lol:

[MONSOON]

Yep. I had it happen to me. Fortunately I was in the back of a parking lot when it cut loose. That was the one I had to get rid of because the apartment complex we were living in at the time didnt allow any type of car repairs on the premises.

[TominMO]

Boy, this would be something to check out with any car we plan to buy. I drove home about 800 miles with Casper, only to find out that both LCAs were about to pop the ball out, they were that bad...I was very lucky. Bought the Moog (Federal Mogul) LCAs and put 'em in, now no worries. Did the same on Blue just on general principles; his weren't too bad, so I saved the old ones as emergency spares when convoying.

[fillmorr]

i know on my aspire while i was taring it all apart on the drivers side both the control arm and the outer tie rod were bearly hanging on

[Team Lightning]

Just for info, how many miles did the LCA's have on them when they failed? Mine have 263K and haven't been replaced. Just wondering if I should go ahead and replace them.

[Pu241]

Just for info, how many miles did the LCA's have on them when they failed? Mine have 263K and haven't been replaced. Just wondering if I should go ahead and replace them.

My OEM's failed about 150K miles.
The after markets I have on now are giving signs of tire wear on the inside edges.
Could be ball joints or alignment.
I'm betting on ball joints, again.
So in your case I'd definitely check them and replace if you have movement in the ball joint.
IF they need replacement the front end will definitely feel tighter after they've been replaced.