"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
12/02/2016 at 09:03 • Filed to: Repairs
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"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
12/02/2016 at 09:03 • Filed to: Repairs | 2
| 12 |
Defied physics since the clamps were still locked down but somehow the part slipped off. It happened as I was parking, just after being on the Freeway going 70 mph, hitting the apex on ramps and off ramps, general driving in traffic. The steering wheel just swung back in forth, the wheels stayed the same direction they were turned to, just a really interesting and unique failure.
I’m blessed that no one got hurt and no property was damaged or anything like that. But really I say all this because the steering is slightly more numb than it was before, about half a notch away from being at the point where I wouldn’t want to drive it. Just on center.
Don’t know why, but I have great luck with cars in terms of maintenance and reliability but my repairs are always things technicians, “Have never seen happened before.” Must be to keep me humble.
shop-teacher
> Wobbles the Mind
12/02/2016 at 09:08 |
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YIPES!
Goldzilla
> Wobbles the Mind
12/02/2016 at 09:24 |
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I was in the manufacturing biz for steering for large trucks years ago. most likely from the sheet is that the universal joint failed. some u-joints have staked cups that are good at going in circles but not side loads. heavy impacts can induce that side loading, however it is usually due to a damage when removed for other maintenance work. any previous work under the hood that would have caused the dealer to remove the intermediate shaft? The intermediate shaft is the on that’s from the steering rack or gear box to the firewall.
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Wobbles the Mind
12/02/2016 at 09:26 |
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A recently replaced tie rod came loose on my truck a couple of years ago. The replacement was standard and the original was metric (or vice-versa) and the tech used the old nut on the new tie rod end. As you can guess, it pulled through the threads.
This all happened on a highway at speed. We were really, really lucky that I was able to maintain control, get it off the road and stopped safely. When I posted about it, another guy posted a picture of his brother’s Ranger which had a similar problem. He was also at speed, but he lost control and rolled the truck.
You were blessed.
gmctavish needs more space
> Wobbles the Mind
12/02/2016 at 09:32 |
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Well if it was gonna fail, that’s just about the best way for it to happen. I still feel very lucky about how my brakes failed on my old E30. I drove some friends home one night, the route included a very steep hill, which turns into an even steeper hill, which ends in a T. Also the highway. I got home, slowed towards my parking space, and the brake pedal went straight to the floor. I don’t like to think about how that would’ve gone if the timing was any different.
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Wobbles the Mind
> Goldzilla
12/02/2016 at 09:32 |
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Nothing I can think of. Thank you for the insight!
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Wobbles the Mind
12/02/2016 at 10:30 |
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I recently had to replace two control arms and a tie rod end because my suspension geometry decided it no longer wanted to stay straight under braking. That’s all fixed now but ever since my steering wheel isn’t on quite straight. I have to make an appointment for an alignment..
mrbaits
> Wobbles the Mind
12/02/2016 at 11:26 |
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I had a tie-rod end come off on a ‘84 mercury lynx when I was in college, that was a fwd car and the wheels turned into each other. Fortunately I was going pretty slow on a neighborhood street at the time, no damage. It could have been a LOT worse.
Urambo Tauro
> Wobbles the Mind
12/02/2016 at 11:28 |
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That’s terrifying. In the event of a stuck throttle, I can brake. In the event of brake failure, I can steer. But steering failure scares the shit out of me. I mean, maybe I can still brake, but who knows where I’ll end up?
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Goldzilla
> Wobbles the Mind
12/02/2016 at 11:54 |
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20 plus years in car and truck parts manufacturing quality engineering, happy to share what I know. (Also happy to be in a different product than automotive for the last 7 years)
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Goldzilla
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
12/02/2016 at 11:55 |
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Tie rod ends are “wear parts”, thats normal
pip bip - choose Corrour
> Wobbles the Mind
12/03/2016 at 06:42 |
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most disturbing part of that invoice is you got stung for 2 lots of freight at $25 each.
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Wobbles the Mind
> pip bip - choose Corrour
12/03/2016 at 12:54 |
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I had them overnighted since I would have been in Lousiana by the time they got in over ground and I hate leaving town with unfinished projects. So that was my own decision to pay $50 to have my car before I left town (though they said it was $37 each).