Hello All, I need some help!

[JabezAbreu]

Hello,

I am new to this site, please excuse my noobiness. I must say the reason for this is because I just experienced a minor accident driving my 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix V6 FWD. I hit a curb going about 10 MPH, hitting my Front Left Wheel. The damage has been done. I currently have my car on stands in front of my house. I would like to fix this problem myself. I don't know whether the axle is bent but it is slanted an inch to the right, beside the axle on the right, is a long rod. The rod snapped in half. I need to replace what this is, what is the exact name of this rod? I have a picture to show all of you. Nevermind I having an issue uploading the picture. When the car was towed to my house, the guy said control rod, or arm? It looks like an axle, but it is much longer than the axle directly connected to the transmission.

[JabezAbreu]

Test

[Odi]

upload the picture to photobucket or imgur or any other picture site. the rod youre talking about is probably the tie rod, chances are you busted both the inner and outer tie rod.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Does it look like this?

I want to say you are talking about the tie rod, they is both an inner tie rod and an outer.




Also if you want to post pictures use a photobucket account and paste the direct link to the image uploader, its 3 over from the simley face.

[JabezAbreu]

YES!! This is what snapped in half. This is called the control arm or tie rod?

[Scottydoggs]

which part broke, the very end or the bar? those are 2 parts, inner tie rod, and the outer most part where it bolts to the knuckle is the outer tie rod.

[JabezAbreu]

Ok, i'm going to post these photos that I have on photobucket...give me a minute please and thanks!!!

[JabezAbreu]

CAr_zps9ecf3f1b.jpg Photo by ja6ez | Photobucket\

I dont know what part of the rod broke...but this picture should be helpful.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Okay, so you broke the inner tie rod in half.

Here is your options, go buy 1 inner tie rod and rent the tool to remove it and put the new one in and re-use the outer tie rod that bolts to the knuckle. Or go and buy both a new inner tie rod and the outer and replace them at the same time.

After you fix it, you must go and get an alignment ASAP, your steering will be all off and will wear the tires super quick if you don't.

And hopefully you didnt tweek the control arm. Thats the big A arm looking one on the bottom that bolts to the aluminum subframe.

[Scottydoggs]

yup what five said.^^^^

[JabezAbreu]

When the towing guy came over to drop my car off, he said that the control arm and rod needs to be replaced...so the control arm is where exactly?
How would I know if the control arm needs replaced?
And Thanks a lot, I'm a bit of an airhead when it comes to this stuff.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

This is the control arm. If it seems to be bent or twisted, then I'd replace it, but more than likely you didnt bend it enough to matter, they are pretty strong.

[JabezAbreu]

Thanks, is there a good chance that my axle is bent as well? It is slanting to the right about an inch when I look at it over my brakes looking downward....

[Scottydoggs]

id check the wheel out as well, it could be bent as well. after you get the new parts in if it feels funny, rotate the tire to the rear of the car and see how it feels.

looks like you took a nice hit there.

[Scottydoggs]

the axle is a cv joint so it moves it could be but chances are its ok, the lower control arm may be bent tho and making it look not straight.

if you can wait for parts to be shipped ordering on line will save you a lot of money, those lca's are 75 and up at my local parts store, on line 42 each. if you do one side its always good to change the other side, even if you do it later on due to time or cash flow. front ends like when parts are changed in pairs. one new and one old lca may make the car feel odd. handling wise.

the inner rod id get locally. they run about 25 bucks or less.

[JabezAbreu]

Take a look at these pictures, is there anything else looking funny here? Other than the axle, I don't think there are any other issues..... but please, check em out... THANKS A LOT!!!

ja6ez's Library | Photobucket

[Scottydoggs]

this pic, shows the bushing, it dont look so good.

[JabezAbreu]

Where can I buy the cheapest car parts online?

[JabezAbreu]

What can the problem be?

[Scottydoggs]

i see a small tear on the left side, but the bigger problem looks like the cup the bushing in is no longer tight to the lca.

rockauto, or partsgeek are pretty good. pretty fast on the shipping too.

you can google up your year car + lower control arms, and start shopping around, look for free shipping as well.

i got dorman lca's for my regal for 42 a side from partsgeek. they were at my door 5 or 6 days later with standard shipping.

the dorman arms are good replacement arms, new bushings and new ball joint and new arm, the whole piece.

you can also upgrade and get moogs, they do cost a bit more.