What to do?

DONTAERAHN

MEMBER
2000 FORD EXPLORER
V8
AUTOMATIC
131,413 MILES

Hello my name is Dontae and I have a serious question to ask you guys.

I have a 2000 Ford Explorer XLT and I have been having problems with it. Well first (this was on 2/18/16) I went to go get an alignment done for i, t but the mechanic said I couldn't get one because I need an inner tie rod for for the front wheel on the driver side. Once he fixed it for me, he tried to do the alignment again only this time I could only get a partial alignment because this time he says my sway bar links are bad. Okay I didn't have all the money to get that fixed so I asked was it okay for me to drive it until next week? He said it should be fine. So about a week later, I was driving and I start to hear this real bad scrubbing sound coming from the drivers side, I didn't pay it no mind because I thought it was doing it because the inner tie rod. Last night it starting scrubbing real bad and I notice there was some oil on my rim and when I started driving it again to try to make it home, I felt the truck shifting sideways on its own and I saw some smoke. The ABS light came on and it was scrubbing louder and I can feel some clanking under my feet on the drivers side I thought it needed some brake fluid, but it was full and when I got to work this morning one of my co workers said he heard some clanking and scrubbing too and when we looked at the tire, it was leaning inward. Do you think that has something to do with my brake light being on? It's kind of hard to stop now also. Please help me.

5 Replies

JOHNNYT73

MECHANIC
924 POSTS

Take it to a different shop and have a professional look at it. This sounds like it will become a safety issue very soon. It could be the hub bearing, ball joint, or etc.

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Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016 AT 5:38 AM

DONTAERAHN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Do you think it has something to do with the sway bar links?

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Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016 AT 5:40 AM

JOHNNYT73

MECHANIC
924 POSTS

No, I do not.

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Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016 AT 5:58 AM

DONTAERAHN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Ok thanks

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Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016 AT 6:00 AM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,752 POSTS

Hi guys. I have to chime in here too. The anti-sway bar and its links have absolutely nothing to do with the alignment or steering and suspension systems. It simply reduces the tendency for the body to lean on corners. Years ago most vehicles didn't even have this bar.

Be aware that Fords have way more trouble with steering and suspension parts separating leading to loss of control and crashes than most other brands. You shouldn't be driving the vehicle when there's unusual noises or vibrations. The fact you already noticed the wheel leaning in tells you there's a major safety issue to worry about. The list of possibilities include a wheel bearing coming apart which would lead to an ABS wheel speed sensor failure and hence, the warning light, a ball joint about to break, and that can happen on Ford products just a few weeks after an inspection showed it was fine, or even the alignment adjustment slipped because the bolts weren't tightened enough. That depends on the type of suspension system used on your vehicle. It's not common though for a slipped adjustment to cause all those other problems. For that reason, I'm leaning toward a sloppy wheel bearing.

The first place to go is to the original mechanic to give him the opportunity to correct any mistake he might have made. If a realignment is needed, that will be done at no charge to you. If additional parts are needed that weren't part of the recent service, most shops will not charge you for the alignment again even though they legitimately could. Go to a second shop only if you don't get satisfaction at the first one.

Once this is solved, have the steering and suspension systems inspected at least once per year at a tire and alignment shop, and anytime you hear a noise, feel a vibration, the steering wheel shifts position, the vehicle develops a pull to one side, or you see abnormal tire wear.