Will a loose lower control arm damage the axle?

bulkwarrior · #1 08-13-2012, 12:43 PM

My driver side front axle boot has a crack so I took the car to the shop to replace the boot. The tech at the shop said it will cost just as much to replace the half axle, which come with boots and stuff. I agreed. Just a few days after the new axle's in, the boots got loose again(it's brand new). Took the car back, the tech now say the lower control arm is a little bit loose(it's not broken or bended, but a little loose). He said this has caused the axle to fail. So Now I have to replace the lower control arm as well. Can anyone tell me if the loose lower control arm can cause the axle to fail(within a few days of operation)? Thanks

Big "J" · #2 08-13-2012, 02:10 PM

Under normal circumstances, no. The boot should not fail or come lose from a slightly loose control arm. More than likely, he didn't tighten the clamp around the boot.

Unless you owe that shop allegiance, run far away and find another mechanic who knows what they are doing.

Did you steering feel sloppy, rattles, a lot of wheel vibrations? A loose control arm would cause major vibrations in your steering.

bulkwarrior · #3 08-13-2012, 02:24 PM

No, I don't feel the rattle or vibration when I turn the wheel, and the control arm is not that loose(it's a little bit, you have to really apply force to it to make it move a little).

Big "J" · #4 08-13-2012, 05:08 PM

Then the mechanic is feeding you BS. Logically, the only way the boot can fail or come loose is from him not clamping it down.

bastereo · #5 08-14-2012, 02:05 AM

The tech didn't have anything to do with clamping it down. The OP got an entire axle, the boots come crimped on. My guess would be poorly manufacturered axle and poor quality control.

It sounds like your options are pay for the control arm and they warranty the axle? Or are they saying you have to pay for the axle again?

TwinTurboGTR · #6 08-14-2012, 08:08 AM

I concur with big"J", run away from the tech. My tension strut and wishbone were shot, going over 10MPH would cause severe shaking and vibration, my boots stayed intact without a problem.

Now this could be a tech problem because the inner boot needs to be crimped onto the TC. If it is not on there tight, it will spin off. The half shaft would need to be built by 5 year olds in order for the boots to fail that quickly. It sound more like tech error to me.

Depending on how he took the carrier assembly off, he may not of had a lot of room to get behind there. So just slapped the boot over the TC and clamped it on sloppily.

Isambard · #7 08-14-2012, 08:53 AM

To the OP's original question: Definitely NOT! How can it?

I agree with bastereo, the (new?) axles would come with the boots already crimped. Either they are a horrendously cheap make and inferior quality (in which case you need to tell him you don't want it) so that the boot has come loose, or he has knocked the crimp upon installation.

At the end of the day, for the 'tech' to say it has failed because of the lower control arm, its just his way of getting out of fixing a balls up he has done-directly or indirectly-its bullshit.

Whether he supplied the cheapo axle (if it is at fault), or he in some way did something to make the boot come off a few days later its definitely not the loose control arm. NO WAY!

Like Big J said run a mile, and find someone that can do the job properly. Stay away from this moron.

On a side note: I take it you are replacing BOTH sides, yes? If you're not, you should be.