bah, i think i ran over something and it pulls to the left. I checked the rear axle/suspension and it seems straight. something squeaks when I am driving on, seems like the drivers rear side wheel area.

 

Time for an alignment

 

nah not an alignment, some is physically not tracking right in the front wheel well area. How much does the dealer charge for a diagnosis usually? everything seems to be straight.

 

i feel your pain man,
thankfully its warranty FTW!

 

erm warranty doesnt cover something I did on the car right? like run over soemthing and make something get out of alignment? everything seems to be straight.

 

Alot of dealers don't even do alignments. They farm it out.

Take it to a good shop.

 

doubt its alignment, because it squeaks too. bad alignment doesnt make the car squeak does it? the wheel jerks right after each squeak a little to the left. how much does a dealer charge for a diagnosis?

 

wrong wrong wrong wrong!!!!
of course it depends on dealer to dealer and i might've just been really lucky.

let me tell you my story: i hit a curb head on going 60 mph while revving so hard that i popped a wheelie in my 8. i parked my car after this happened and went out to inspect my car. it turns out that i hit the curb so hard that i dented my rim inwards into my axel. now, all i had to do was get a replacement rim and my car could drive again, except for one more little problem.

my alignment was messed up really badly!!!! so badly that i had to have my steering wheel positioned diagonal in order to drive straight!!!!

i take it in to my local mazda dealership, and i just say that i "think" my alignment is off they take my car into the shop and goodness gracious, they find that my alignment is indeed off significantly!!!!!! they then proceed to repair it immediately, telling me that it will all be covered by my warranty.

i then went home and lived happily ever after

 

okay i'll take it to the dealer and see whats up. Im gettin an oil change tomorrow anyway. I will tell them there is a squeak coming from the front end, and the wheel jerks to the left. its only got 12k miles on it HOPE the dealer will cover it as a warranty.

 

There's a difference between "seems straight" and "actually straight". Could be brake disc dragging or wheel bearing.

 

nope neither. got it on a lift and checked it out. both drivers side rims are bent!

 

That was one hell of a pot hole!

 

Nah it was a curb not a pothole. Anyhow, I got 4 clean stock rims on there now it drives fine. BUT the front wheel bearing is messed up. It squeaks and I hear a dull grinding noise and the tire has play when i shake it with it on a jack.

Any chances the dealer will fix this for free (my car is still under warranty) if i take it in? 12k on the car

thanks.

 

Lol.... LOL thought u said u checked?

 

yea, i thought I did too, but after swapping some new wheels in, was evident that the bearing is bad as well.

 

that sounds like what had happened to me almost a year ago.

but instead of driver side, it was on my passenger side, both front and rear wheel bent.

God damn potholes!



Have a picture of the *possible bad part*

 

or you bent something. but unless you hit something HARD, its probably just out of alignment.

 

I have the same prob. I have a vid on youtube.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av26vnFscEY
-Gil

 

nah it's my fron ball joint, no doubt. whats the policy on dealers for replacement vehicles?

 

well eclipsegsx (btw this is a mazda rx-8 forum),

let me tell you my personal opinion. stop wasting time on this forum and take it to your dealer!!!!
unless your dealer is a complete *******, he WILL cover it under your factory warranty, as long as you don't say that your the one who messed up the car in the first place!
only say as much as you have to and nothing more!!!!! i.e. don't try to explain the problem if they ask you about its origin or anything of the sort. thats why they have mechanics for this kind of stuff

heed my words and you keep your warranty and everyones happy

 

thanks Mike, I will take it to the dealer and just tell them "it just happened on its own" I replaced the rims with clean stock ones so there is no evidence of curb rash.

Thanks for the opinions, will keep you guys updated.

 

way to take responsibility!

 

responsibility is for noobs

 

How do you know its your ball joint? how much will it run to get it fixed? can you post the quote the dealer gave you? or PM me?
The reason(s) I ask I think I may have the same **** wrong with my front driver. and if I do, I'm out of warrenty, so I'll have to pay out of pocket.
Thanks,
-Gil

 

hey dom,

I meant to say wheel bearing

i couldnt look at the video yet, im at work and have no audio. The easiest way to look at your wheel bearings is to jack the car up at the wheel you think is the culprit, hold it from the top and bottom and wiggle the wheel. (hold it at 12 and 6 o clock) if there is ANY play then its the wheel bearing. this play or slop means your wheel bearing is loose/worn out.

I will let you know how it goes with the dealer. the above case is an almost sure way to test your wheel bearings.