'02 V6 Sport 93k
Needed brake job, had already ordered pads and front rotors. Had trouble removing the front caliper bracket bolt that goes thru the knuckle (bracket bolts are loctited), so just put the new front pads on. Test drive resulted in a lot of vibration above 30mph, seemed to quiet upon brake application. So I thought maybe the new pads were just rubbing/sticking on the worn out rotors. Indeed, at least one of the new pads had a groove from the rust on the old rotor.
Found a tip (I think on another site) that to access to the caliper bolt behind the knuckle, put both wheels in the air and turn them all the way to one side; this give you an angle to put a breaker bar on the bolt (with a small extension to stick into the knuckle).
So I managed to get the new rotors on, got the same vibration on the test drive. But on the way home, felt something give way in the steering, car started wandering, very scary! Finally made it home without crashing (car would still steer both ways, just felt like the steering wheel wasn't really connected).
Traction control light came on just as I was parking, but didn't have a chance that day to take a look or plug in a scanner (I only have a basic OBDII). From what I've read, it sounds like either tie rods or control arm ball joints gave out. I wonder if something broke from the stress of having one tire in the air as I was changing the brakes. Maybe yaw sensor caused traction light?
Went back a few days later to take a look, and I think you're supposed to grab the wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock to look for play in the tie rod, 12 and 6 for the ball joints, but I couldn't detect any movement/noise when shaking either tire (car on the ground). I put the car on ramps and tried wiggling the tie rod, seems ok (traction control light stayed off when I put it on the ramps). Had someone turn the wheel with the car on the ground, didn't see any delayed movement, but it was hard to see the connections to the knuckle.
Any thoughts on how to diagnose this? Should I just try replacing outer tie rods (parts aren't expensive) and see if it fixes it? But then I'd need to pay for an alignment. Would it likely cost more than $500 to fix this at an independent shop? I can probably drive it over, as there are several within a mile radius, but the car probably isn't worth putting that much more money into (already have another car for hauling family, but prefer driving the LS). Would appreciate any advice!
Needed brake job, had already ordered pads and front rotors. Had trouble removing the front caliper bracket bolt that goes thru the knuckle (bracket bolts are loctited), so just put the new front pads on. Test drive resulted in a lot of vibration above 30mph, seemed to quiet upon brake application. So I thought maybe the new pads were just rubbing/sticking on the worn out rotors. Indeed, at least one of the new pads had a groove from the rust on the old rotor.
Found a tip (I think on another site) that to access to the caliper bolt behind the knuckle, put both wheels in the air and turn them all the way to one side; this give you an angle to put a breaker bar on the bolt (with a small extension to stick into the knuckle).
So I managed to get the new rotors on, got the same vibration on the test drive. But on the way home, felt something give way in the steering, car started wandering, very scary! Finally made it home without crashing (car would still steer both ways, just felt like the steering wheel wasn't really connected).
Traction control light came on just as I was parking, but didn't have a chance that day to take a look or plug in a scanner (I only have a basic OBDII). From what I've read, it sounds like either tie rods or control arm ball joints gave out. I wonder if something broke from the stress of having one tire in the air as I was changing the brakes. Maybe yaw sensor caused traction light?
Went back a few days later to take a look, and I think you're supposed to grab the wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock to look for play in the tie rod, 12 and 6 for the ball joints, but I couldn't detect any movement/noise when shaking either tire (car on the ground). I put the car on ramps and tried wiggling the tie rod, seems ok (traction control light stayed off when I put it on the ramps). Had someone turn the wheel with the car on the ground, didn't see any delayed movement, but it was hard to see the connections to the knuckle.
Any thoughts on how to diagnose this? Should I just try replacing outer tie rods (parts aren't expensive) and see if it fixes it? But then I'd need to pay for an alignment. Would it likely cost more than $500 to fix this at an independent shop? I can probably drive it over, as there are several within a mile radius, but the car probably isn't worth putting that much more money into (already have another car for hauling family, but prefer driving the LS). Would appreciate any advice!