Control arm failure

[monkeykiller1996]

probably a bit late since you already ordered parts but there are the ones i got there cheap and have a 10 year warentee with free shipping http://www.ebay.com/itm/151890535297...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

EDIT: well there not as cheap as when i bought them i only paid 35 for the set when i bough it still not to bad of a deal

[TominMO]

For steering parts, I always get the best there is, in this case Moog. About the same price as everything else, and the tie-rod-end boots and lower control arm boots tend to last longest. Mine are all still fine after seven years.

[denguy]

Could turn into a can of worms. If all you really need is a tie rod end, stop right there.

[Rick the Quick]

I ordered the tie rod just to be safe since they were cheap like you said, and I ordered the Haynes manual off their website for like $25.
Does WD40 count as anti-sieze compound?

And yeah if I can get it towed back to the school I'll just do it in the lot. A campus safety officer literally walked right by me while I was waiting for the tow-truck so I don't think they mind.

@Festyboy

Is this guy you by chance? I'm gonna send you a PM

Hey chuyler, welcome to the Forum. The $5 that a small tube of anti-seize will cost you is money well spent. The WD 40 dries up rather quickly. As for using WD 40 for loosening rusty bolts it will help but you will get bettre results with something like PB Blaster. I see it on sale for as low as $4. I see you are in Pennsylvania so you will be glad you used it. Good luck bro.

[lessersivad]

This whole thing has me scratching my head.

Took car to 2 different places for alignment and neither one caught a potential problem with the ball joint?

Inspector took the money and didn't right up anything? Including windshield and parking brake.

Tow driver says AAA won't pay to tow back to campus? Call AAA!

I hate to say it, but you've been snookered.

[FestYboy]

No worries, I got him covered.

[scitzz]

No worries, I got him covered.

He couldn't ask for better help.

it is things like this that make me hate repair shops. They go out of their way to work people over. They see young people, or especially women, and the elderly as easy targets to make tons of cash off of. Weekly, I see this.

[lessersivad]

No worries, I got him covered.

Yes, and I'm glad he is.

[chuyler]

5/1 UPDATE:

The car is back on the road! Festyboy came over early this morning and we knocked it out in under an hour. Also got Wendy's and bought some tools, so pretty good day overall.

Thanks for everything Arthur!

p.s Here's a picture of my ford next to another much larger ford.
IMG_2638.jpg

[Eaglefreek]

Awesome!

[denguy]

What all did you guys do to it?

[FestYboy]

The only thing that was needed surprisingly: control arm. Then we filled the trans. Quick easy job. The axle was in good shape, as was the axle seal. Tie rod was tight and the strut still good and straight.

[zoe60]

That was really nice of you Festyboy!

[chuyler]

I drove to class tonight and noticed a faint grinding sound coming from under the left drivers side (the damaged area).
Any ideas what that could be from?

[WmWatt]

Hard to say. I'd suggest jacking up that side with the car out of gear and rotating the tire by hand to see if you can locate it. For safety I'd put a block under the car and not rely on the jack alone. Other things to try are listening while going slowly in a tight turn in a parking lot forward and backward suggesting worn CV (universal) joint in the axle, and swerving right to left while driving suggesting wheel bearings. Also with the car sitting on the ground push and pull on the top of the tire to see if there is any movement suggesting worn wheel bearings.