I snapped a control arm today

[1995E]

Today, I was driving in the snow, and I slid towards a light pole. I didn't hit the light pole, but my wheel and the rim smacked the curb and I snapped the wheel off the control arm and the axle came out of the transmission, and the steering rod broke as well. I'll post a picture later.

I am worried about the part where the axle came out of the transmission. Do you think it just popped out or did I ruin the tranny too?


Also, I could shift and stuff initially, but when the tow truck came (8 hours later while I waited in the cold), the car ran out of battery, and for some reason, I could not shift out of park, and I could not hear a click when I pressed the brake. Is my ability to shift the car related to that in any way?

 

[DjfunkmasterG]

Ouch... the GF did the exact same thing on a 2014 Kia Sportage last october, it ended up totaling the car because when the axle snapped out it cracked the engine block.

Hopefully that didn't happen to yours, but when FWD tend to clip a pole they push everything back and stuff just rips apart.

 

[peterk9]

Today, I was driving in the snow, and I slid towards a light pole. I didn't hit the light pole, but my wheel and the rim smacked the curb and I snapped the wheel off the control arm and the axle came out of the transmission, and the steering rod broke as well. I'll post a picture later.

I am worried about the part where the axle came out of the transmission. Do you think it just popped out or did I ruin the tranny too?


Also, I could shift and stuff initially, but when the tow truck came (8 hours later while I waited in the cold), the car ran out of battery, and for some reason, I could not shift out of park, and I could not hear a click when I pressed the brake. Is my ability to shift the car related to that in any way?

If the engine isn't running or there is no accessory power you cannot shift out of Park unless you use the Shift Interlock lever. This is covered on page 283 of the Owner's Guide, 4th printing.

Peter

 

[dco43054]

This is one of those accidents that can cause real problems with the internals of the transmission. Get it checked out well.

 

[colintrax]

The transmission should be fine. CV shafts simply pop in and out. Since your battery was dead it couldn't shift out of park. However there should be a bypass and all car haulers should know about it.

 

[HughCares]

Today, I was driving in the snow, and I slid towards a light pole. I didn't hit the light pole, but my wheel and the rim smacked the curb and I snapped the wheel off the control arm and the axle came out of the transmission, and the steering rod broke as well.QUOTE]

So did you do this while creating your "impressive" drifting video or another drifting expedition afterwards???

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422910

 

[peterk9]

The transmission should be fine. CV shafts simply pop in and out. Since your battery was dead it couldn't shift out of park. However there should be a bypass and all car haulers should know about it.[/QUOTE]This is addressed in post 3 but likely not many owners are aware of it.

Peter

 

[1995E]

Today, I was driving in the snow, and I slid towards a light pole. I didn't hit the light pole, but my wheel and the rim smacked the curb and I snapped the wheel off the control arm and the axle came out of the transmission, and the steering rod broke as well.QUOTE]

So did you do this while creating your "impressive" drifting video or another drifting expedition afterwards???

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422910

Actually, this was not as a result of drifting lol. I had to pick something up for the company and I was driving in DC. This was on a regular road where I was going downhill, and my GPS said make a right, and I was like oh crap, I'm going to miss the turn and the light was going yellow (DC has a lot of red light cameras) so out of instinct, I kind of pressed the gas to clear the intersection, and the turn was really tight, and I just lost traction, slid forward towards the stop light pole, and instead of hitting the pole, my entire wheel took the weight of the car and SNAP and boom. At least there was no exterior damage. Just internals. It still looks good lol.

Also, the tow truck driver decided to drag my car without me getting it out of neutral... I said, can we jump start it (The car will start and stuff earlier after the crash, and I think I killed the battery when I left it in run mode or something with the A/C on and the engine off) and he was like nah, we don't have to. He pulled it up on the tow truck using a chain on the tow hitch.

I saw the wheels turning when it was going up the bed while it was in park. Making me concerned that my transmission may be... fried or that both axles popped out of the front because all 3 wheels were turning.

 

[dco43054]

The transmission should be fine. CV shafts simply pop in and out. Since your battery was dead it couldn't shift out of park. However there should be a bypass and all car haulers should know about it.

Unless you punched a CV shaft through the side of the transmission.

Happened to a friend in a FWD car. Hopefully not the case for the O

 

[colintrax]

Actually, this was not as a result of drifting lol. I had to pick something up for the company and I was driving in DC. This was on a regular road where I was going downhill, and my GPS said make a right, and I was like oh crap, I'm going to miss the turn and the light was going yellow (DC has a lot of red light cameras) so out of instinct, I kind of pressed the gas to clear the intersection, and the turn was really tight, and I just lost traction, slid forward towards the stop light pole, and instead of hitting the pole, my entire wheel took the weight of the car and SNAP and boom. At least there was no exterior damage. Just internals. It still looks good lol.

Also, the tow truck driver decided to drag my car without me getting it out of neutral... I said, can we jump start it (The car will start and stuff earlier after the crash, and I think I killed the battery when I left it in run mode or something with the A/C on and the engine off) and he was like nah, we don't have to. He pulled it up on the tow truck using a chain on the tow hitch.

I saw the wheels turning when it was going up the bed while it was in park. Making me concerned that my transmission may be... fried or that both axles popped out of the front because all 3 wheels were turning.

It'll be fine. Because your CV was out of the one wheel park doesn't work. The differential can let the two sides spin opposite and not send any power to the engine. Or in your case the parking pawl

 

[colintrax]

Unless you punched a CV shaft through the side of the transmission.

Happened to a friend in a FWD car. Hopefully not the case for the O

I think the OP would have mentioned transmission oil all over the ground lol

 

[dco43054]

I think the OP would have mentioned transmission oil all over the ground lol

Not necessarily.

But still hope he doesn't have any more problems than he mentioned.

 

[1995E]

Here is the picture of the broken wheel. I thought I took more pictures in detail of like the axle and the control arm that snapped but I guess my camera glitched. This is the only picture I have. Right next to the wheel is the snow covered curb that I hit. I am so lucky I didn't hit that pole. I am going to stay indoors whenever it snows outside lol. No more running errands on snow days. Good thing the shock absorber and spring were still attached to it. It prevented the front from grinding on the ground. I wish the control arms were a little stronger though because it was like a 10 MPH tap on the curb that did it.

I just hope it drives the same and the steering wheel is centered when they fix this.

 

[peterk9]

I'm guessing it isn't a dedicated Winter tire. Hope you're back on the road soon and glad no one was hurt.

Peter

 

[1995E]

I'm guessing it isn't a dedicated Winter tire. Hope you're back on the road soon and glad no one was hurt.

Peter

Haha thanks Peter! And yes, it was just the stock Michelin all terrains. I mean they do well in terms of getting you out of the white stuff but not really good when you want to stop and that was the case here. I guess I'll look at some winter tire threads around here and see which winter tires are good. An investment like that could probably save me a lot of trouble in the long run.

 

[2TimingTom]

Winter tires are nice, but does the area of Maryland you're in get a lot of snow? That part of the country seems like the type to freak out and shut down everything in town at the mere mention of a flurry.

Or there are better all season tires as well. I use to play the winter tire game but it was a huge hassle. Hauling wheels and tires up out of the basement, changing wheels, hauling the other wheels and tires into the basement..... It's not bad if it's a 15" economy car tire, but SUV tires start getting pretty heavy. I have Michelin LTX M/S2 tires on my Mariner. Snow traction has not been an issue. The Michelin Latitude tires on my Escape are OK in the snow, but don't come close to the LTX. Plus they are quiet in the dry and wear like iron so I should have them 60-80,000 miles.

But snow and ice can be a problem no matter what tire you have.

 

[peterk9]

On the weather front, it seems that over the past two years the eastern U.S. has been getting more Winter storms then in the past. Could be a sign that 'things are a changing.'

Peter

 

[blwnsmoke]

On the weather front, it seems that over the past two years the eastern U.S. has been getting more Winter storms then in the past. Could be a sign that 'things are a changing.'

Peter

I agree in a way... We have had a fair share of snow and we are about to break the record (need a couple more inches) but going back the past 3-5 years.. we didn't get much snow at all (which is unusual). I remember 2 years ago our state snowmobile trails where I'm located never opened during the whole winter due to lack of snow.

Hoping our winter seasons are returning to normal.