96 Concorde

This is the same 96 Concorde I wrote about a few weeks ago regarding
the check engine light. No new developments on that problem but the
engine is running fine. Now, on to a more recent development.

Nine days ago I drove the car on a 300 mile mostly freeway trip. Today
I get home from work and Mom (it's her car) says "I'm hearing a noise
when turning right, but not left". so...out we go on a test drive. Make
a couple right turns..hear nothing. Make another..heard a slight
"clunk" which didn't sound really ominous. Made a few left turns...hear
nothing. Am thinking out loud that it's probably nothing serious when I
decide to make a very low speed-sharp right turn..CLUNK BANG BANG! The
left front wheel has collapsed. The ball joint and-or tie rod and-or
lower control arm has failed, slightly damaging the aluminum wheel and
denting the fender immediately behind the tire.

This cautionary tale is for the benefit of those who have similar
vehicles. (102000 miles) I had tie rod bushings put on this car only
about 2000 miles ago. Is this something that should have been noticed?
Or can such a failure easily pass undetected?

Thanks for any assistance

GrtARtiste

 

The person doing the inner tie rod bushings (in the very center
right-to-left of the fire wall) would have no reason to see or look at
the lower control arm - nowhere near each other, and no alignment (in
which the problem proabaly would have been spotted) would be required
after inner tie rod bushing replacement.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

There was a recall on these vehicles for reinforcement of the lower
control arm mounting points on the front subframe/engine cradle. If that
is what failed and the recall had not been performed, I wouldn't be
surprised. I understand that failures were never "common" and typically
occurred in road-salt country. My own '93 didn't have the recall
performed until well over 200,000 miles, and showed no signs of
deterioration at that time.

 

Bill that would all depend on what the reason was that the tie rod bushings
were replaced!! If the Owner of the vehicle complained about a front end
noise and the technician did not completely check it out I would say that he
missed it.
If the technician noticed it while driving it or while it was in the air I
would agree with you then.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

I took what he said at face value ("I had tie rod bushings put on this
car only about 2000 miles ago").

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

The Concorde is now back on the road 2 days after being towed in.
Repairs as follows:

260-5095 lower ball joint left front
260-5096 lower ball joint right front
40-18969S axle shaft left front
tow included in parts ($50)

Subtotal parts 377.89
Labor 180.00
L-O-F 22.00
Test computer
(unrelated) 35.00
tax 39.98

Total 655.07

Good, bad or indifferent?

FYI, I will have the alignment checked but the shop was too busy to do
it immediately.

GrtArtiste