Help Please!! See PIC!

Origommi · Aug 27, 2006

Well, I am driving down the road today and I hear a clunk then dragging noise. I looked under the car and see this piece dragging. Only one wheel turns. Is it the tie rod that has broken or is it the rack n pinion? Any idea what has broken here and what would have caused it.

Kilgore Trout · Aug 27, 2006

Outer tie rod end has come off. I am not sure but it almost looks as if the steering knuckle is damaged as well where the tie rod end attaches.

Mike97gt · Aug 27, 2006

Your outer tie rod end broke.

Were you getting any noise when you turned the wheel before this happened? sometimes they will make a creaking noise.. others like my car will make no noise at all but loosen up..

What happens is when the tie rod is worn out the ball and socket joint gets looser and looser until the tie rod fails like what happened to yours, your very lucky you did not get into a accident.

Kilgore Trout said:
Outer tie rod end has come off. I am not sure but it almost looks as if the steering knuckle is damaged as well where the tie rod end attaches.

I do not see any damage to the lower control arm in those pics.

03ghoststang · Aug 27, 2006

looks like the ball joint came of the outer tie rod end.......lucky you didnt get into an accident

Origommi · Aug 27, 2006

Guys... In the scond pic with the arrow. What is the piece of metal that looks like it has a hole.

03ghoststang · Aug 27, 2006

Origommi said:
Guys... In the scond pic with the arrow. What is the piece of metal that looks like it has a hole.

thats the brake dust shield or something like that all i know is that its a shield

Origommi · Aug 27, 2006

What parts does it look like I need? I agree it looks like the steering knucle is cracked in half. AND where is a good place to get some of the stuff.

03ghoststang · Aug 27, 2006

Origommi said:
What parts does it look like I need? I agree it looks like the steering knucle is cracked in half. AND where is a good place to get some of the stuff.

you'll need the knuckle, outer tierod end, the shield,

Origommi · Aug 27, 2006

I thought that I would end up needing an entire rack n pinion set

03ghoststang · Aug 27, 2006

well if the inner tie rod end (the one that goes into the rack) feels real loose you can also replace that part only and the bellow/boot

Brute03 · Aug 27, 2006

my steering started creeking a few weeks ago from that same side but i can't pinpoint it, could it be a worn tie rod too?

DTNODYA · Aug 27, 2006

Brute03 said:
my steering started creeking a few weeks ago from that same side but i can't pinpoint it, could it be a worn tie rod too?

Yeah, it could be. svttech will agree with me on this one.

It's either your tie rod end or you need steering rack bushings.

Origommi said:
I thought that I would end up needing an entire rack n pinion set

I doubt it. It looks to me that the tie rod end broke and when it did, it slammed downward and hit the brake dust shield. Basically you could bend the dust shield back out unless it's fubar and it doesn't look too bad. Just re-paint it after you bend it.

You will need to definitely get a new tie rod end (get one with a grease fitting) .. they are cheap.

You may need to replace the inner tie rod but I'd start by just getting a new tie rod end and if it acts up, get a inner tie rod. And definitely get it alligned after you replace the stuff ... tie rods control your toe (if you did not know) so your alignment is gonna be jacked up.

You're lucky! No steering usually doesn't yield the best results.

03ghoststang · Aug 27, 2006

i say he will need a new alignment afterwards unless he can get the new tierod screwed in to where the old was

stng · Aug 27, 2006

Holy $hit man!!! You are damn lucky you didnt get in an accident, you must have been a saint or something in the last life... +1 for the outer tie rod end for sure, based upon all the grease and dirt under your car it looks like a high mileage vehicle. If I were in your shoes I would go ahead and replace all the ball joints/tie rod ends just to be on the safe side, and since you are going to be right there and will definately require an alignment after.

As far as the picture with the arrow, thats your backing plate/shroud and you will be fine with that just how it is so long as it isnt scraping on anything.

Mike97gt · Aug 27, 2006

Origommi said:
Guys... In the scond pic with the arrow. What is the piece of metal that looks like it has a hole.

thats the brake dust sheild... just bend it back into shape, I bend those things on purpose sometimes for better access while working.. they bend right back..

03ghoststang said:
you'll need the knuckle, outer tierod end, the shield,

He does not need a knuckle or brake sheild.. he only needs a tie rod end and maybe a inner tie rod and a alignment.

you can even see much of the steering knuckle in those pics. The brake sheild ( the part the arrow is pointing too) can be bent back into place.

Brute03 said:
my steering started creeking a few weeks ago from that same side but i can't pinpoint it, could it be a worn tie rod too?

Sure it could be the tie rod ends.. this is very common.

Origommi · Aug 28, 2006

Yes very lucky... I was only going about five miles per hour when I heard it start to grind, then crunch. BTW, for everyone out there... It had been making a thump sound when turning for about three months. The noise is not always there and you can barely hear it, but please dont be the one who posts saying they didnt read and heed. It could have been real bad on the German Autobaun doing 110 (which is where I was going). Thanks guys for all your help with this.

hotmustang331 · Aug 28, 2006

Thats the good think about modding your car like a mad man....you go through your whole car and either replace everything, or check it while your there

But seriously you are VERY VERY fortunate!!!!!!! You could have easily got in a wreck...

SilverBullet00 · Aug 28, 2006

ah crap, my steering just started creaking when turning left... I guess I will be under the car today check it out... better safe than sorry!

Superhereaux · Aug 28, 2006

SilverBullet00 said:
ah crap, my steering just started creaking when turning left... I guess I will be under the car today check it out... better safe than sorry!

check the lower ball joints as well

Mike97gt · Aug 28, 2006

Superhereaux said:
check the lower ball joints as well

+1

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