YACT: My roving scrapyard is trying to settle down

[Turin39789]

Starting off, I know this one will be hard to explain.

The car is a 1987 dodge Aries ( K-car) 2.2 liter 4cylinder FWD.

The radiator has failed recently, i keep adding water, the car doesnt overheat, so i havent bothered replacing it. Also the front drivers side cv-boot has been screwed ever since i got the car in spring 2001.

The big problem lately is hard to explain. Basically the car is shaking side to side when I am driving straight or near straight. When I turn the ride smooths out. Otherwise it feels like it is catching and the whole car shakes back and forth.

Any ideas? Questions? anything you need to know to even think about helping?

Thanks guys

 

[NutBucket]

Does it matter which way you turn?

 

[Evadman]

ball joints.

A new CV Boot is about $10. Get it fixed before you wreck it. (well, it probably already is wrecked.) Get a boot to keep it from getting worse.

 

[Turin39789]

Napa is showing this


NAPA Chassis Parts Ball Joint - Lower - Front Susp
Usually ships in 24 hours. NCP
2601271 $ 53.99


Master Ride Chassis Ball Joint - Lower - Front Susp
Usually ships in 24 hours. MRC
10446 $ 18.99


Figure I will go with the cheap one, how much work is involved in doing this myself?

 

[Turin39789]

only thing that has kept me from doing the cv boot is that I think I will have to pull the entire axle to get it done

 

[Turin39789]

no one loves a k-car

 

[thedarkwolf]

Screw fixing the boot. A new axle is about $50 and if you have to pull it you might as well replace it.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Screw fixing the boot. A new axle is about $50 and if you have to pull it you might as well replace it.

I might as well replace the whole car, it only cost me 500 dollars. Don't have the scratch for it now.

I actually got pulled over on the highway today, cop was worried about my car. He said my front drivers side tire was shaking back and forth as though it were missing lug nuts. Checked the tire when i got in to work, the tread will be coming off of it soon. Luckily I have a spare tread to put on there, hopefully the tire holds up until wednesday when I am off work.

With the shaking and all, does that still sound like bad ball joints?

 

[Quixfire]

It sounds like something under there is loose. Instead of guessing what the problem is why do you inspect the front suspension?

Lift the front of the car up, support it with jack stands, then grab the wheel in the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and try to move the wheel back and forth. There should be some slight movement and it should be smooth. Repeat the same at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions; there shouldn't be any movement. If your car fails either of these tests then position yourself under the side of the car that the concern is present and check the car for loose or worn components.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Turin39789
no one loves a k-car

I loved my LeBaron.. (hopped up K-car)
that car was solid as hell!

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: Quixfire
It sounds like something under there is loose. Instead of guessing what the problem is why do you inspect the front suspension?

Lift the front of the car up, support it with jack stands, then grab the wheel in the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and try to move the wheel back and forth. There should be some slight movement and it should be smooth. Repeat the same at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions; there shouldn't be any movement. If your car fails either of these tests then position yourself under the side of the car that the concern is present and check the car for loose or worn components.

agreed. But im young(21) and all my tools etc are still at my parents house. Hoping the car will hold up until wednesday until i can get out there and take a look at this, was just hoping I could get a heard start on diagnosing this problem, as there are many people on this board(roger etc) who know infinitely more than I ever will.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: Quixfire
It sounds like something under there is loose. Instead of guessing what the problem is why do you inspect the front suspension?

Lift the front of the car up, support it with jack stands, then grab the wheel in the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and try to move the wheel back and forth. There should be some slight movement and it should be smooth. Repeat the same at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions; there shouldn't be any movement. If your car fails either of these tests then position yourself under the side of the car that the concern is present and check the car for loose or worn components.

agreed. But im young(21) and all my tools etc are still at my parents house. Hoping the car will hold up until wednesday until i can get out there and take a look at this, was just hoping I could get a heard start on diagnosing this problem, as there are many people on this board(roger etc) who know infinitely more than I ever will.

Even with my 20+ years of auto mechanic experience, that is how I would start diagnosing your concern.

God Bless and Good Luck until Wednesday.

 

[LAUST]

Look for the Dodge Aries Spoof

 

[Turin39789]

gah,. my front right tire is about to lose its tread, its ripped to hell. Why oh why did my car turn on me

 

[Turin39789]

Well, I replaced the tire that had bad tread seperation , car runs smooth as a dream now. Would have been nice to fix the problem for 8 dollars, but i didnt trust it. Took the car in for a balancing/alignment. Turns out it wasnt the ball joint, they tell me i need new tie rods on both side, and a new half axle. How tough is this going to be? how much is a fork going to run me?

'preciate it

 

[thedarkwolf]

I've never done tie rods but it should be easy. Just count how many turns the old ends take to get off and put the new ones back on the same amount and that should keep your alignment close enought to atleast go get it aligned. The axle is a bit tougher. You need a 32mm socket and a lot of strength to get the axle nut off, long peice of pipe will come in handy. Take the sway bar loose on the ends were it attaches to the A arms so you can swing it down out of the way. Then you will need to take out the ball joint bolt and pop the A arm loose from the spindle, a ball joint fork makes that easy. Then its just a matter of moving crap around till you can get the axle out and reverse. Getting the A arm/ball joint and spindle back together can be a pain in the butt but its not really hard. You just have to get everything lined up and manly it back together.

The fork is around $10 so is the 32mm axle nut socket and the tie rods shouldn't cost much either.

Just put 2 new axles in the caravan after rebuilding the trans.