K, so I replaced my left drive axle yesterday because the boot kinda exploded on the old one. Well, I didn't do it, one of my coworkers at Goodyear did it. Anyway, I got a reman., the guy put it in, and everything seemed fine. Well, I'm driving on the highway on the way home, and I notice that everytime I hit a bump or go over a dip, the steering wheel kind of moves on it's own. It feels like somebody is moving the wheel back and forth really quick. I can control it, but it's really annoying. It also happens when accelerating from a stop, kind of like torque steer but not as bad. The steering feels a little loose, but when I move the wheel side to side while driving it reacts quickly, like it should. I should also mention that I need a new power steering tensioner, but I have a feeling it's something to do with the axle because the steering wasn't this bad prior to replacing the axle. Suggestions?

 

i would ask your coworker if he pushed the control arm down to get it out of the way to remove the axle..He might have broke the rubber bushing in the control arm by doing so...

If this is the case,i wouldn't blame him,it was probably about ready to go anyway...

 

I think he might have done that while taking it out, all I know was that he did it in about 15 minutes, I was busy working on another car at the time, so I really wasn't paying much attention. How much is the bushing? Or do I need a whole new control arm? I hope not(groans)

 

Start groanin....

 

imo if your control arms are both original and you replace one side you will likely have the same problem but on the other side. at least i did after replacing the passenger side, the car pulled hard to one side while excellerating. replaced the other side and car back to being steady and solid. you want bushings on both sides to be of equal strength/firmness

 

The bushing is available seperately.
unfortunately when you have a leak on the front of the engine it tends to destroy the bushing PDQ.
I do have the bushing and complete arm available on my site

 

oh, dude i learned a lesson too. always check the tightness and/or thread lock the three ball joint nuts on the CAs. internetautomart sells CAs that come with bushings and ball joint and i just slapped it on with out checking. after at least a month i got under to check out something and one was missing, one was loose and one was tight. who knows what might have happened if they all came off and i hit a big pothole... sooooo check em

 

WTF!! That's the first I've ever heard of that happening.
I mean it's always a good idea to check them, but that still shouldn't have happened.

 

why? it shouldn't reflect badly on you or anyone else. well except for me for not checking... i mean youre selling a quality part at a good price and there is no reason that the nuts should be tight already. i dont want to pay extra for tightening