Need New Front Axle....Dealer Says?

[JAYB1RD]

I don't buy the bent axle story. Even if the axle is bent, it's not connected to the steering in any way. I've broken a handful of halfshafts in my old Chevy, but never did they affect the steering (not full-time 4wd either though). Did they check your idler arm and pitman arm? Could also be a bad wheel bearing or balljoint or tierod end. Double check you're tire pressures too, just to be sure. But I'm having a hard time believing that you bent a cast aluminum housing, (seems to me that it would rip or tear first) let alone that it's what is causing your steering troubles.

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by JAYB1RD

I don't buy the bent axle story. Even if the axle is bent, it's not connected to the steering in any way. I've broken a handful of halfshafts in my old Chevy, but never did they affect the steering (not full-time 4wd either though). Did they check your idler arm and pitman arm? Could also be a bad wheel bearing or balljoint or tierod end. Double check you're tire pressures too, just to be sure. But I'm having a hard time believing that you bent a cast aluminum housing, (seems to me that it would rip or tear first) let alone that it's what is causing your steering troubles.

A bent tierod would be obvious, so would a bad pitman and idler arm if they checked it.

I'm leaning towards bruised tire.....I've one on my truck now, it's the spare.

Have them balance a rotate everything again... someone's being lazy...

[yat74]

Dealer said they rotated the tires 5 times, I don't know if they checked all the arms and tierods as they didn't mention it ...I have that strange feeling too, that someone was being lazy. I am going to take it in for a second opinion but to what type of shop? I guess a tire/alignment specialist; but that is supposedly where the dealer sent it to be diagnosed for some $320 to just give it back with it pulling to the left.

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by yat74

Dealer said they rotated the tires 5 times, I don't know if they checked all the arms and tierods as they didn't mention it ...I have that strange feeling too, that someone was being lazy. I am going to take it in for a second opinion but to what type of shop? I guess a tire/alignment specialist; but that is supposedly where the dealer sent it to be diagnosed for some $320 to just give it back with it pulling to the left.

I know it sounds silly, but rotating and balancing are two separate things.

See if you can find someone who has one of those fancy laser balancers like my dealer. They'll be able to tell right away if a tire is bruised or if it's bad.

[deserth3]

I think someones blowing smoke.
The halfshaft has nothing to do with steering. If the tires out of balance you'll get wheel hop at speed. Pulling to the left/right is either tire pressure or allignment. You could also have the rear end out if a shackle bolt broke or fell out. Take it somewhere else, spend $50 and get a second opinion.
Besides I can crawl under my truck and get a great view of the front halfshafts.

Second opinion and check your tire pressure.

[HummerLite]

As a tech, I'd say go else where for an alignment...... Did they try to align it? Also have them check mount on the right side of the rack, as Paragon killed mine last Sat... Had mine aligned it's better, But still waiting for mount and bushing ( no stock any where )