1997 Honda Accord Engine Size unknown Front Wheel Drive Automatic 130000 miles
I recently bought a used Honda Accord SE that had been fanatically maintained. The previous owner was very upfront about everything and informed me that the tie-rods and ball joints needed to be replaced. She gave me a written estimate from a Honda dealership for the repair ($800) that she had done before putting the car up for sale.
I drove the car home (to another state) and took it to my mechanic. I informed him that the tie rods and ball joints needed replacement and could he give me an estimate. He called a while later to say that the car actually needed new wheel bearings, not tie rods, and the repair would be $650. I had him do the repair.
It's now three weeks later and I'm becoming increasingly aware of a slight knocking sound coming from the front drivers side wheel. This noise speeds up with the car and is most obvious when the car is turning (slightly) to the left. From the internet research I've done, it sounds like it could be tie rods or cv joints or wheel bearings. Somewhere I also read that you need to access the cv joints to replace the wheel bearings, or something like that, so possibly they were loosened in the original repair?
Anyway, what do you think this problem could be? (And, there is no debris or nails stuck in the tire). And, if the problem is a tie rod or cv joint or wheel bearing, based on the information above, what responsibility lies with the mechanic for the current problem (loosened something, missed something, ignored something, screwed me.)?
I'd like to have some information before marching my way back down to my mechanic. Any help would be much appreciated!
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Friday, February 15th, 2008 AT 1:52 AM
