Steering/Alignment problem

[bobbygbreeze]

I have a 2001 Explorer Sport that feel in a ditch on it's left side. The steering is terrible now. The front driver side tire tilts inward at the top and the steering wheel is turned approximately 90 degrees clockwise when driving straight. A friend of mines told me that it might be the upper control arm, nd another saide it could be a negative camber. Of course neither of them are experts so hopefully one of you all could point me to a more accurate description of my problem. Here is a few pics of the upper control arm and other components behind the tire.









I'd appreciate any help posible. Thank you all in advanced.

 

[jlsparky7]

Its really hard to tell whats going on in those pics. Do you have any pics of the lower control arm?

Your best bet is to jack up the truc kand take both wheels off and compare one side to the other. More than likely both control arms, the tie rod, and tie rod end are bent.

 

[bobbygbreeze]

Thanks Jl. I should label the pics a little better, The full size view is available apon clicking the pic if that helps a little bit more. I can teake some better pics once my fiance' is discharged from the hospital. We just had a baby today.... Yay Me...

 

[jlsparky7]

Thanks Jl. I should label the pics a little better, The full size view is available apon clicking the pic if that helps a little bit more. I can teake some better pics once my fiance' is discharged from the hospital. We just had a baby today.... Yay Me...

Well congrats! and welcome to the forums!

Didnt realize it was your first post.

Better pics would definitely help. I did click on them and its still hard to tell whats wrong.

 

[bobbygbreeze]

Until i can come up with some better qaulity pics, is there anything you can think of off-hand that would be causing this ? I'm eager to know, but not as eager to get ripped off if you know what I mean.

 

[williams.cory]

wow. how fast were you going when this happend? Ford front ends are usually really tough....we used to have a 1999 durango and when it slid off the road one day it was total carnage, such a weak front end like everything was aluminum...

Just this winter i was out having fun in my X by sliding around corners and such. got a little carried away and lost control going abour 35-40 MPH and slid into a ditch with some really HARD snow. Didnt do any dmage at all and no alighment needed to be done...but it just so happens that the one time I wanted to have a little fun a state trooper was sitting right there and saw the whole thing! He came up with his lights on and everything. But he was cool, just made sure everything was ok, but the chances of a full blown bear being right there.....hahaha


oh yeah, it was pretty intense sliding uncontralably going 40 MPH and headed for a ditch!!( wasnt a slight angle, I was almost completely sideways when i hit) I thought for sure I was going to roll it!!!!!!!!!!!! I've done some stuff in my explorer that i probably shouldnt have but makes good memories and i have fun with it. But she comes back in one peace at the end of the day

 

[bobbygbreeze]

About 45-50 if im not mistaking. can you tell just from the looks of it what could be wrong ?

 

[bobbygbreeze]

Hello All, Thanks JL and Williams. I went ahead and dropped it off at fireston so they could rip me off, Looks like we're looking at a hub berring. 488+ down the toilette. Thanks for all the help.

 

[jlsparky7]

Hello All, Thanks JL and Williams. I went ahead and dropped it off at fireston so they could rip me off, Looks like we're looking at a hub baron. 488+ down the toilette. Thanks for all the help.

No problem man. Could of been a lot worse, thats for sure.

 

[bobbygbreeze]

I take ht last message back. Firestone just called me back and told me the bearing was just fine. The person who last worked on the car put in the wrong upper control arm which was causing the wheel to tilt at the top. So now i'm looking at about $450 which includes parts, labor, and realignment. saves me a couple bucks. I'll keep you all posted once I go pick it up later.

 

[jlsparky7]

I take ht last message back. Firestone just called me back and told me the bearing was just fine. The person who last worked on the car put in the wrong upper control arm which was causing the wheel to tilt at the top. So now i'm looking at about $450 which includes parts, labor, and realignment. saves me a couple bucks. I'll keep you all posted once I go pick it up later.

Saving money is always good.

 

[bobbygbreeze]

They seem to not be able to get the right part once again, now I have to wait another till they can contact Ford to get the original because the aftermarkets seem to not fit.

 

[bobbygbreeze]

Wow, after all this time, It was the knuckle that was damaged. I changed it out myself and the problem seems to be fixed, just need an alignment now and I may proceed to my car mods. I'm working on some pretty sick mods.