Anypony Good With Cars?

[Page.Turner 940]

I'm in a bit of a pickle...

 

The brake light is on in my car. Basically the brake pads need to be replaced or something, but there's another issue with it. Whenever I make a right turn, it... kind of grinds? Like a crunching, grinding noise?

 

Is that something I should be concerned with or is it just the brakes?

 

The vehicle in question is a 2006 Ford Focus

[Key Gear 6,663]

Whenever I make a right turn, it... kind of grinds? Like a crunching, grinding noise?

 

I'm not a mechanic by trade, but I do a lot of work on my own car and I have helped others with their vehicles in the past.

 

So, you only hear this grinding sound when you make a right turn? You never hear it when you press your brakes or when you accelerate?

 

If you only hear the sound when you turn, then it sounds like your front-right cv-joint might need to be replaced.

 

Edit: One quick question though. Is is an actual grinding sound? Or is it more of a *klonk* *klonk* *klonk* type of sound?

Edited March 29, 2012 by Scootacool

[Crispy 5,563]

My knowledge of cars is very basic... As far as I know, the two easy things you could do are get your pads checked/replaced and get your tires balanced.

 

As for the grinding noise, maybe you have a strut going? If your suspension is out of wack, that can happen. Those are a little expensive, so do the first two first.

 

Edit: Or listen to Scootacool. He obviously knows more about this than I do.

Edited March 29, 2012 by Crispy

[Page.Turner 940]

I'm not a mechanic by trade, but I do a lot of work on my own car and I have helped others with their vehicles in the past.

 

So, you only hear this grinding sound when you make a right turn? You never hear it when you press your brakes or when you accelerate?

 

If you only hear the sound when you turn, then it sounds like your front-right cv-joint might need to be replaced.

 

As far as I can tell, I can't hear it at any point unless I'm making a right turn. I also know the alignment in the car is also off (and as far as I was told will forever be off no matter how many times we fix it, but I was taught nothing about cars so I have no clue) so I was wondering if it might be that...

 

What is the front-right cv-joint?

 

My knowledge of cars is very basic... As far as I know, the two easy things you could do are get your pads checked/replaced and get your tires balanced.

 

As for the grinding noise, maybe you have a strut going? If your suspension is out of wack, that can happen. Those are a little expensive, so do the first two first.

 

Edit: Or listen to Scootacool. He obviously knows more about this than I do.

 

I'll still keep the suspension in mind! X3 thanks for your help!

[Spock 91]

Mechanic time... Really. don't ignore weird noises. it's a bad, bad idea.

[Key Gear 6,663]

As far as I can tell, I can't hear it at any point unless I'm making a right turn. I also know the alignment in the car is also off (and as far as I was told will forever be off no matter how many times we fix it, but I was taught nothing about cars so I have no clue) so I was wondering if it might be that...

 

What is the front-right cv-joint?

 

So the sound only occurs when you turn, and you have been having reoccurring alignment problems? That definitely sounds like your cv-joint is nearing the end of it's life.

 

The cv-joints are the parts of your car's drivetrain that transfer the rotational power from your driveshaft to your wheels. When they start to fail, you will hear mechanical grinding or thunking when you make turns. As its condition deteriorates, a failing cv joint can also affect your steering alignment.

 

If you look underneath your car, your cv-joint is the thing that "plugs" right into your front tires. It will look something like this:

 

 

The cv joint is actually covered by the cv boot, which is the black rubber thing in that picture.

 

Since yours has begun to fail, it will probably look more like this:

 

 

Due to wear and tear over time, the cv boots have a tendency to rupture, and, when they do, they spill the grease that protects the cv joint from getting worn out.

 

To solve your cv-joint issue, you will just need to tell the mechanic to replace the passenger side cv-joint.

 

Some mechanics like to use the opportunity try and replace the entire front drivetrain assembly or front axle. Do not let them do that.

 

If you have any more questions, just let me know. I like to consider myself something of an expert on failing CV joints, because it has happened to me 7 times.

 

The first time it happened, I was in the middle of a college semester, so I just ignored the sound. I was able to drive on it for about 4 more months before it became a serious problem. At that point, the front left cv joint on my car collapsed while it was driving down the freeway.

 

Depending on when the sound started, you may be able to get another few months of relatively safe driving out of it, but, like any steering problem, the sooner you can get it worked on, the happier you will be.

 

I have completely no idea of where your location is, but a cv-joint repair can run you anywhere from around $200 USD to slightly over $500 USD dollars from a reputable mechanic. The part will tend to cost around $140 USD to $250 USD, and labor costs will depend heavily on where you are located, but you should not be billed more for more than an hour and a half of labor. This is a quick repair for anyone with a decent air wrench.

 

Edit: I forgot to include a cost estimate...

Edited March 29, 2012 by Scootacool

[Shankveld 4,949]

A rule of thumb for care I have is:

 

If there's a problem regarding anything to do with the breaks, get it fixed by a professional (it's your life at hand)

~

[Page.Turner 940]

Ooooohhhhhh~ hmmmm... goodness D: Sounds like something I should really look into. I have a planned trip in May to Missisauga which is near Toronto (in Canada, of course) and from where I am, it's about a four hour drive on the Highway/Freeway; I'll be travelling 100mph as the legal limit the whole way.

 

But... if I bought the part myself, I could have my father replace it? He's decent with cars, he just lives a couple cities away. Though my brother's friend is a certified mechanic... I wonder if he'd do it for a reduced price...

 

EITHER WAY! Thank you so, SO much for your help! Having a general idea makes me feel better. And... I'm known to be a sucker for people telling me they should do more :X When my brother got to driving age, my father taught him everything. When I got to be driving? I didn't even get taught how to change wiper fluid... I don't even know how to change a tire.

 

Anyway, again, thank you!

 

A rule of thumb for care I have is:

 

If there's a problem regarding anything to do with the breaks, get it fixed by a professional (it's your life at hand)

~

 

My father is going to change the brake pads X3 he knows what he's doing it, he's done it so many times!

[Key Gear 6,663]

But... if I bought the part myself, I could have my father replace it? He's decent with cars, he just lives a couple cities away. Though my brother's friend is a certified mechanic... I wonder if he'd do it for a reduced price...

If your father is changing your brakes, then he would definitely be able to do change a cv-joint. If he has an impact wrench of any kind, then he would definitely be able to do it.

 

Changing a cv-joint is not a really major repair job. If I can do it, then anyone can do it.

[Page.Turner 940]

If your father is changing your brakes, then he would definitely be able to do change a cv-joint. If he has an impact wrench of any kind, then he would definitely be able to do it.

 

Changing a cv-joint is not a really major repair job. If I can do it, then anyone can do it.

 

Awesome!! :,D So if I picked up the part he could install it! neat! That should save us some money XD