So heres the deal... I was on my way home from the movies, driving about... 55-60 in the right hand lane of a divided 4 lane highway. As I pass through the beginning of an intersection some idiot Floridian driver in a little Saturn or something, pulls out in front of me. I instinctively slam on the brakes, my horn, and swerve very hard left trying not to hit the car..... well I didnt hit it, but my jerking of the steering wheel caused me to slide past the other car in the left hand lane... sideways (well almost).

After I regained control and straightened the car out, I continued driving slowly waiting for the car who cut me off. It wasnt really an accident since I didnt hit anything and neither did they, but the car continued to slow down, making sure to stay behind me, going about 30 under the speed limit, and causing a decent sized line of cars behind him. I continued driving slowly but the car turned off onto a side street and dissapeared out of sight. I dont know why I was waiting for them but now I kind of wish I had turned around and followed them to get some info or something, Im not sure what I could have done...

Anyways, to the point... On my drive I noticed the car didnt drive like she normally did. Im guessing from jerking the wheel at that speed I screwed up my steering.. The car seems to want to pull to the left now, all the time. I have to actually turn the steering wheel to keep the car straight. Also when I turn, I used to have that "faint whistle/turbine sound" .. Now I have a "very loud annoying grinding/whistle sound", and occaisionally when I turn I hear a pop. So... whats wrong with her?

 

You might have bent one of the tie rods, but usually that only happens when you hit one of the front wheels on a curb. I would take it to the dealer and have them check it out.

 

Thanks... Anyone else have any ideas?

 

Bump... No one knows what else could be wrong? Id really like to have an idea before I go taking it into the dealer.. Id hate to take it in and it be a simple fix that I could have done at home or something... [&:]

 

Did you look at the front end? We can GUESS all day long but only the only way to get the RIGHT answer is to get someone to look at it.

 

Somewhere in the linkage there could be a bend, or you threw the alignment off. The sideways force on the wheel can do that, (it happend to my dads jeep) As for the "faint whistle/turbine sound" it used to make....HOW ANNOYING IS THAT??? MINE DOES IT TOO I HATE IT!!

 

I have looked at it but unfortunately I dont have any idea wtf Im looking at... Im not sure what bends are normal and which ones shouldnt be there. I just didnt want to take it in to find out it was something simple ya know? I didnt know if there was like a list of things I could check or whatever.

And yes that sound is really annoying... but now its much much worse.. Im not sure what it was but I messed it up whatever it was. If its the alignment then thats a much easier fix than simply a bend correct? And if there happens to be a bend in something, that wouldnt be covered under warranty would it?

 

If its still under warranty take it to the dealer, I had them change my oil a few weeks ago and balance and rotate the wheels and they did a front alignment for no charge, its covered under the warranty he told me.

 

Thanks, Ill just take it to them.. not sure what I should say if they ask me what happened though. If I say what happened they might not cover it... would they? I mean its not like I did because I was screwing around or anything, it was an accident... I did it to keep from possibly killing those people in that stupid Saturn. [>:] Guess this is what I get for being nice?

 

could be alignment mine pulls hard to the right that i have to hold wheel to the left