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I'm having several things going on with my front end of my car. It's a 2001 Plymouth Neon. I had no problems with it when I first got it. The past year I have had to repace both A-Arms (control arms), both struts and several alignments due to tire wear. The tires aren't wearing as bad since my last replacement A-Arm. Since the A-Arm was replaced, it now makes a clunking, thud noise as I go over bumps or sometimes turn sharply (passenger side). The mechanic told me it sounded like the other strut, so we replaced that but I've yet to see or hear a difference in the way the car drives. Since the passenger side a-arm was replaced it also makes a squeal when I turn into a parking spot or make a sharp turn slowly (passenger side). The latest mechanic I took it to greased everything and the bushings were replaced.

I'm scared to drive it sometimes, especially when the roads are wet. I feel like I have no control over where my car is going. It kind of feels like it scoots around curves, like fishtailing. When the roads are dry it has that same feeling but like the steering won't handle as well as it use to. What could be the cause of this? I've put quite a bit of money, time and aggravation into this car without getting any help or solution.

Since the start of these problems it's made a clicking noise, I can hear iit when I pass a guard rail, building, etc. on both sides. About 3 different mechanics told me my axles looked good as well as my wheel bearings. But it makes that notorious roaring sound like a bearing would make. My boyfriend has had to replace all bearings on his truck so I know how it sounds. Any idea as of what else I could have the mechanic check?  

Thanks so much!  

first thing i would ***     set the parking brake...  open the window.. start the motor...   step out and close the door with the engine running...   reach through the window...    rock the steering wheel back and forth while looking at the front wheels to respond..

i have had earlier dodge cars that the rack and pinion mounting bolts came loose... and the rack housing would slide back and forth instead of forcing the wheels...   that car took almost a half of a turn of the steering wheel to get the fronts to respond...


rumbling noise really sounds like wheel bearings... and they going bad can also introduce slack into the steering...

are you a AAA club member????    if so.. in some of the larger citys.. they have car inspection shop at their locations to inspect cars and give you a list of any thing they find...   some have mobile trucks...  they don't do car repair.. only complete inspections..  

wheel bearings in that car are as i remember.. hub and bearing assys...  and they do go bad..  if you have lost a wheel bearing... i would also check the ground wires between the motor and the body... if the grounds go bad.. in some cases it will take out the wheel bearings..  as the electrical flow is not supposed to go through the wheel bearings...  takes 2 minutes to do a voltage drop test..  ask how to do it later..


when you make a turn.. i would bet it is probably a loose rack and pinion mount..    or somebody has really really messed up the wheel alignment.. or you have something really wrong ...

get it to another professional mechanic..    a frame shop... a wheel alignment shop...   NOT a tire shop that does alignments..  a wheel alignment specialist.. or a frame repair specialist.. they will have more knowledge...    ask for an inspection and an estimate..  and to be shown the problem...    you will probably have to pay for this or a AAA inspection..    then you can discuss it with your family...


if you do have play when you turn the steering wheel... open the hood and look down onto the rack while somebody turns the steering wheel... ...