An Unpleasant Surprise

Well, on my way out to town this morning, just as I was cresting a small hill on the gravel road leading to my property, while towing my Cub Cadet side-by-side on a small utility trailer, my Right Front Wheel FELL OFF!!!
The upper ball joint let loose, leaving the wheel cocked over at about a 50* angle, still hanging on by the lower control arm. I have NO IDEA how many more bits and pieces were bent, sprung, twisted, torqued, or whatever, but I'm at least thankful that I WASN'T driving on the twisty mountain road that I have to use to get to town.
I looked at the ball itself, and it looks rusty and pitted, and was more then likely the source of a mysterious "clunk" that I would get on some bumps. The Toyota dealer had recently "inspected" the front end at my request to try to see if anything was loose. but they said they could not find anything. I HAVE let them know that I am NOT HAPPY, but there's not much else I can do.
New parts should be here this afternoon, ALL 4 BALL JOINTS, and then the local shop will have to see what else needs replaced when they get it apart.
I will have some pictures in a bit, but I didn't have a camera with me when it let lose...
I just needed to rant...

 

Here you go... Pics.






I am replacing both sway bar links, since the one is pretty bent, AND, the Axle on the Passenger side is being replaced since the CV joint is either damaged, or about to take a dump.
But, it's not as bad as it could have been since I'm getting a bit of a break on the parts, and a local mechanic is doing the job for somewhat less then "Book Rate" for labor and the like.

 

DAMNN MAN

Looks like the sway bar end link was your saving grace keeping you from completely losing your wheel and dying.

 

Holy hell! Bet that was clenching moment. Glad you’re OK

 

Glad you’re ok. That ball joint looks pretty old, worn, and rusty.

 

Luckily I was moving about 5 miles per hour when she let go!

 

That's why they are ALL being replaced!

 

At this point I would just go LT with uniballs

 

I'd take a real good look at the brake line too. It's stretched pretty tight in those pictures. Don't just look for the obvious leak, make sure the rubber is still sound and doesn't have cracks or signs of damage from being stretched that could cause problems later on.

 

Thanks for the heads-up... I'll do that.

 

Well, I already have the parts, and they are going on as we speak...

 

There WAS this kind of a sucking sound when I got out of the FJ...

 

Got it back from the mechanic this morning, all fixed and ready to go. Just have to get a front end alignment and tire rotation sometime next week. It feels "tighter" and more stable, and a LOT less odd noises going down the road!

 

All in all, getting all 4 front ball joints, both front sway bar links and a new right side axle for less then $400 total and only $130 for the tow AND labor, and getting the Cruiser back in less then 24 hours seems to be a screaming deal...

 

How many miles did this happen at?

 

that's a screaming deal and could have possibly ended up with the whole front end being permanently tweaked or the whole thing flipped and you in the hospital.

Really glad this worked out for ya and a small price to pay for bad luck. See ya out on the trails!

 

Same thing happened to me a few years ago as I was pulling up to a stop sign. I was about to get on the interstate, pretty crazy. Sounds like we were both lucky in regards to location

 

So, I just had a front end alignment done, and a tire rotation just to be totally sure everything's O.K. Shop guy said the caster and toe-on were a bit off, but otherwise not bad at all, considering what happened!

 

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