While driving to work this morning, about a 1/4 mile onto the highway, BANG!!!! followed by a long screetching noise and the car going out of control. I was able to keep it in the lane and stand on the brake. After the cops got there i went to look, my front right wheel is turned sideways in the wheel well. Had it towed to the shop, has a broken cv axel and a lower ball joint.

A few weeks ago, on and off especially when backing up to park I notice it was kinda hard turning the wheel, thought it was the power stearing fluid going low.

Glad it happened that way and not when i was doing about 60 or 70, not too happy that i'm gonna have to shell out $500 to fix it..

Q

 

Sux bro, at least you're ok, that's some scary shit

 

I got my baby back on monday after shelling out $550. The stearing is bit softer though I think its a little too soft.

While I'm here anyone who ever gets their car towed in Northern NJ please don't use Tumino Towing. They SUCK!, unprofessional and the customer service over there is nothing to be proud of. Just my 2 cents.

 

At least they towed your car.. AAA wouldn't tow my car, claiming it to be too low and the stock tires "were too wide"

550$ seems a little steep for 1 axle and a lower ball joint...

60 bucks (probably less) for the axle, another 60 bucks (we'll say for the sake of argument) for the ball joint... 120 bucks + labor @ 90 an hour... Axle is a 30 min job for someone who has the know how. Ball joint cant be any more than another 30-60 min.
120 bucks for the parts
180 for labor, (well say 2 hours worth of work)
There shouldnt be any shop supplies, but well say another 50 bucks.
Total = 350 bucks... Is what it should have been... Did they do an alignment?

 

wow, that seems like a really high price to fix both of those, especially if it is in american dollars too. i just bought a passenger side axel last week and im planning to swap it out today after school.

cost:
axel 130
36 mm axel nut socket 30
mt fluid 20
TOTAL 180

all prices are canadian

gonna do both lower ball joints later but should cost more then 40 for both.

 

Actually i'm getting $100 back from my insurance co. for the towing. The price they quote me for the axle was $149 (remanufactured) and ball joint was $50 and they charged 3 hours of labor ($225) and all this was only front right.

Avoid Tumino's Towing.. they're a rip-off!!

 

And they did not do an an alignment

 

Wow axles cost $40 if u give them ur old one.. and labor on an axle is very easy.

 

i'm waiting for someone, so here's me killing time telling my somewhat related story..


my cv boot was busted for a good while..
the other day, I was driving, about to take a 2hr trip, and i feel my car shaking like hell.
i park, look at my wheels, and the fronts are like this |----/
worried, i go through the yellow pages, trying to find a shop that will take me (it's 6pm)
i call around, everyone's tellin me no, and then i get a small mom&pop 1 lift garage that says they're closed.. frustrated, i say ok.. the woman asks me what's wrong, saying maybe they can fit me in anyway.
i talk to who i guess was her husband, he says "get here in 10 minutes and i'll take a look at it"
well i get lost on the way, takes me about 25 minutes to get there.
when i find it, they get on the phone looking for the part.
two guys jump in a pickup and drive down the road to pick it up while the guy puts my car up on the lift.
about an hour and a half and $190 later, I'm on my way.
really fucking cool of them to stay so late to help me out...

 

make sure u ask for a Flatbed if your car is lowered. i always ask for that and AAA always provides one.

 

149 bucks on a remanufactured axle.... GOOD LORD!!!!!!

Seriously, an axle on our cars should take NO LONGER than 30 minutes to put in... And should cost no more than 70-80 bucks for the axle at the most...

I know whats done is done. But just be careful who does your work next time.