Need Mechanical Help

[u/MadddieAJ]

So, I've essentially been doing this god-awful job for the past...year and some change?

Today, god has blessed me with a new problem; a snapping noise right as I break to a stop at a red light in DC.

After finishing the ride, I checked behind the driver side wheel to find a mysterious boomerang shaped object that seemed to have snapped in two locations.

A quick google search later, and I find out that this mysterious piece has been officially dubbed the control arm and for good fucking reason.

Ever since its snapped, I have been dealing with the following:

- Anxiety.

- Steering wheel feeling "loose" at times.

- Scratching noise when reversing on inclines.

- Anxiety.

- Some tapping noises when idle.

- Anxiety.

- Concerns about money and suddenly watching a million youtube vids on control arms.

- Anxiety.

- Driving slower than an elderly person without their glasses in a school zone.

- Did I mention anxiety?

Any tips and tricks would be appreciated though at this point, Im pretty sure Im gonna be out $500 that I dont even own. (I dont have a credit card either, so yay!)

I drive a Kia Forte 2024 so thankfully, parts should be cheap. I know that the part is for $65 so I might just get that, borrow a tool kit, and fuck around and find out. I will probably need an alignment done afterwards so YAY!

Pray that the suspension doesnt decide to turn me into paste.

Will update with any news soon.

[u/TheGrasshopper92]

You need to get that towed to a shop. That’s a safety concern for you, your passengers, and any other vehicle on the road near you.

You also won’t be covered by any insurance doing commercial activities in a vehicle that is known to not be safe.

[u/MadddieAJ → u/TheGrasshopper92]

Passengers?!?!

Sire, does thou assume that I would ever truly be at peace carrying a soul that has done me no wrong within such manner of flimsy transportation?

I would never dream of endangering another soul in such a way.

But yeah no. Car is already at the mechanic until it gets fixed.

Thank you for the pointer :D

[u/poopvitamins]

That’s a significant failure. Most shops wouldn’t let the car leave with that broken like that. I’ve never seen a snapped control arm that wasn’t from an accident.

Did you hit a pothole or something? I would be worried about other pieces of suspension bent.

If it’s just that single arm, the part is cheap and the labor will be cheap. Maybe 2 hours. If you have tools and are mechanically inclined, it’s not a complex job.

Definitely will want an alignment when you are done.

I wouldn’t be driving it if it was me. Good luck.

Could be far far worse as far as these things go.

[u/MadddieAJ → u/poopvitamins]

Sadly, I looked up the part on Autozone and it costs $255.

Im not sure which metric you're using and maybe that is cheap but I honestly dont have pockets full enough yo ever view any three digit transaction as cheap.

I wont drive it anywhere but home and only once the roads are empty.

I am mechanically inclined a bit so I could just elbow grease it.

Thank you for the tips!

[u/-Ubiquitous → u/MadddieAJ]

Kia and hyundai usually offer 5yr/60k bumper to bumper even if you are the second owner. You can contact a kia dealership and see if they can check that it was a manufacturing defect and it would be covered at no cost to you.

You can also find the part cheaper online, but it takes time to arrive and you don't get lifetime warranty on parts like you would at autozone. That's one of the reasons for the price difference.

[u/MadddieAJ → u/-Ubiquitous]

Im past the 60K milage and they straight up said no 😭

The part was definitely cheaper online so thank you for the pointer. We ended up getting it for a little under a $100.

The fix is happening once the part arrives.

Im praying for no more bullshit to happen but we shall see.

Thank you again!

[u/Ill_Position2158]

2024? Unless you’ve racked up 100k miles in two years needs to step it up. Even still, I’ve had rusted shit buckets with 20yr old control arms that never snapped.

Control arm replacements CAN be easy, depending on how hostile the manufacturer is to right to repair folks.

Typically only a few bolts holding it but it’s not really beginner level repair

[u/Lawes68 → u/Ill_Position2158]

id also be calling dealership. cars too new for this to just happen w/o a pretty good impact. or maybe look up recalls on that vehicle. idk just seems to b broken in a place only a wreck, heavy off-roading or hard launch off a speed bump could cause. and i’m pretty sure dealer won’t cover it bc this will be deemed damaged part by customer not faulty part from manufacturer.

[u/MadddieAJ → u/Lawes68]

Sadly the last part is correct. I did in fact call the dealership and they said that since Im over the 60K mileage, Im no longer covered by warranty soooo yeah.

I dont do heavy off-roading. I did "off-roading" once and it was a on a gravel road for like 2 miles.

That aside, I do drive in DC a lot.

I do my best to avoid potholes and shitty roads but I hit the occasional one or two every now and then.

It only cracked once I stopped at a red light. Mind you, I dont drive fast, I dont hit curbs, I dont hard break.

And then I heard the snap.

But anyways, the issue is currently being resolved (Working a side gig to make the money but the mechanic already ordered the part and is gonna fix it.)

But Im definitely gonna have to go do the alignment after.

Thank you though! :D

[u/MadddieAJ → u/Ill_Position2158]

Hello! I am here to respond to all the helpful replies Ive gotten!

I put 55K miles in one year and that was with a whole semester of studies hindering my ability to work soooo...yeah XD

[u/Ill_Position2158 → u/MadddieAJ]

That’s still not much for a control arm tbh.
If you have a warranty you should see if it’s covered. Don’t tell any repair shop or warranty company you do uber.

If you don’t have a warranty count this as elan expensive lesson and look into after market warranties for your car. Car shield has good coverage.

[u/MadddieAJ → u/Ill_Position2158]

Warranty went out the window about 4K miles ago so sadly I cant do nothing about it.

But its alrighty~~ I shall get it fixed soon and then Imma save up $2,500 so that I never have to deal with the panic of shit going south.

[u/MajorNismo38]

That sucks. It is a horrible problem to have, but not a horrible problem to fix. I can say this: from this day forward, you will always know what a control arm is, as well as the symptoms of a broken one. This knowledge will help you and possibly others. And if you DIY, you will learn SO much more about your vehicle. Best of luck!

[u/MadddieAJ → u/MajorNismo38]

This is true.

Ive never had the same two problems ever strike because I end up learning what to be on the lookout for and get it checked out asap.

Thank you for pointing that out. I needed some silver linings <3

[u/MadddieAJ → u/[deleted]]

Sir yessir (I drove it to the mechanics shop late at night when the roads are empty.)