My mom was driving her car when all of a sudden she stared hearing this grinding noise. A few minutes later the front right tire just locked up and the car wouldn't roll. We called a tow truck and the tow truck driver looked at the car and told us that it looked like the ball joint had gone out. We took it to a shop and told them to replace the ball joint, but while working on it the mechanic called us and told us that he thinks the transmission is going out or already went out. He said he can't tell until he replaces the ball joint/control arm (they're connected on our car), but that will cost $500. We don't want to spend $500 on the control arm then find out it was actually the transmission the whole time. Can any mechanics give me some helpful advice?
2007-02-18 05:40:11 · 6 answers · asked by jmatthews91 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
i own a repair shop,and you wont be able to tell anything about it until you do replace the ball joint and drive it that's the bad part of it all,and the mechanic is right ,he,ll have to repair it ,but i wouldn't think the transmission would be bad unless it was acting up before on it,or it got damaged when the ball joint broke on it,so either way you go on this one ,you have to fix one thing in order to find out if the other is bad,its up to you on this one,if it were me and it was a nice enough car i would say yes go ahead and repair it and then we,ll deal with the transmission problem,its going to be your decision on this one because your the one who is going to pay the bill on it ,good luck i hope this help,s.
2007-02-18 05:51:16 · answer #1 · answered by dodge man 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A ball joint won't stop the transmission from turning, it sounds like you may be thinking of the axle barrings that may have frozen up stopping the wheel from turning (front wheel drive cars only) a ball joint holds the lower a-arm to the spindle. To check if the transmission is locked up raise the vehicle, put the transmission in "N" gear the see if the wheel L or R turns by turning it by hand. If the mechanic can't tell before he replaces the ball joint you better get a second opinion by someone who knows how to properly diagnose a vehicle. By the way don't tell a mechanic what to replace, his job is to tell you what is causing the problem before you OK the repair. You can tell a mechanic to replace all the parts you want and when he is finished he then can tell you what needed to be done and by then you have already spent a lot of unnecessary money for a repair you don't need. Good Luck and GOD Bless
2007-02-18 13:58:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a matter of either/or. Sorry to tell you (and your mom) but they aren't related. If the ball joint failed (which appears likely), it has to be fixed. I'd also check the wheel bearings while the front end is apart.
The transmission going away is another problem and not related to the running gear failure.
Looks like you and your mom will either be pedestrians for a while, at least until you come up with enough money to repair both items or replace the vehicle.
2007-02-18 13:48:45 · answer #3 · answered by Kiffin # 1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should get them to inspect the cv joints, some mechanics are rip offs so be careful! to check ball joints you can wiggle the tire, it shouldnt be able to wiggle (badly). it could be a tranny problem but you can do visual checks of all other joints before knowing that they need to be replaced, the shop should know that. cuz if they think you have no clue then they will milk you for cash, so watch out.
2007-02-18 17:21:39 · answer #4 · answered by tralw2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a CV joint or a wheel bearing to me.
2007-02-18 13:54:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the wheel locked up,then i would say it a wheel bearing froze up.
2007-02-18 15:13:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋