[HSS]

Hi All -

I just wanted to share the story of what happened to my car last Thursday night. After coming home from work I made a quick stop and then driving slowly on a side street all of a sudden the ball joint snapped and the axle broke and front passenger wheel practically came off of the car. I am so lucky that this happened at low speed on an empty street, I was just on a highway doing 70mph in the rain less than 20 minutes before.... CRAZY STUFF!

Its an '05 Accord with only 77k miles on it...

Check out the pics attached and I also uploaded a copy of my dashcam video here:

 

[derass]

When's the last time you inspected that ball joint? Maintenance schedule calls for that about once a year.

 

[HSS]

When's the last time you inspected that ball joint? Maintenance schedule calls for that about once a year.

Good Question. I have annual state safety inspection that was done last April but don't know if they specifically checked the ball joint...

I know that in Feb 2017 the wheel was making a noise while steering and i had it checked out at that point and the mechanic said he could find nothing wrong with it and just greased the joint to resolve the noise and I just found the text he sent me "dont know if fixed but it's safe". The noise never really got worse or better since, but the mechanic I trust said it was safe so I kind of ignored the noise since the car is 13 years old as long as it was safe I didn't fear the noise...

 

[t-rd]

In my opinion, especially when you live in the snow belt, you need to change out the front lower joints between 8 to 10 years into the life of the car no matter what or that crazy event will happen out of the blue one day. I have seen quite a few vintage Accords stranded on the side of the road with a snapped lower ball joint. Or, whenever you do any brake or tire service, just rock the tire at the 12/6 position to detect movement. I changed out an upper ball joint in the past for my cousin's 03 Accord and the ball joint was literally moving out of the socket. The only thing keeping it in its spot when driving is the car's weight when the suspension is loaded.

 

[scar_cle]

Honestly, I have seen a few 7th gens in my time with a snapped off front wheel. (Or hanging by a thread) This is not uncommon.

 

[@ccord01]

While watching your video I expected to hear some profanity or at least a vocal cry of some sort in surprise as the wheel feel off creating an audible thud. Instead, just silence. Pretty sure had that happen to me at least an audible "WHAT the....!" reaction would of occurred.

 

[HSS]

While watching your video I expected to hear some profanity or at least a vocal cry of some sort in surprise as the wheel feel off creating an audible thud. Instead, just silence. Pretty sure had that happen to me at least an audible "WHAT the....!" reaction would of occurred.

Lol! :grin

As a religious man I try to keep profanity to a minimum, but I don't think that I can even credit my self control for this one. First of all I had just spent the 20 minutes prior visiting with someone who was mourning the loss of a brother who was a close friend to my family. I guess when things are put into appropriate perspective of losing a loved one; a broken wheel is relatively insignificant.:crying

Additionally when it first happened I thought that I had run over a box or something and was still in shock and not exactly sure what had happened, and then the car was making noise and started smoking so I had to quickly turn off the engine and only after I think did I truly recognize what just happened.

 

[visionguru]

Good Question. I have annual state safety inspection that was done last April but don't know if they specifically checked the ball joint...

I know that in Feb 2017 the wheel was making a noise while steering and i had it checked out at that point and the mechanic said he could find nothing wrong with it and just greased the joint to resolve the noise and I just found the text he sent me "dont know if fixed but it's safe". The noise never really got worse or better since, but the mechanic I trust said it was safe so I kind of ignored the noise since the car is 13 years old as long as it was safe I didn't fear the noise...

From watching South Main Auto on YouTube, NY state safety inspection seems: brake pad less than certain thickness = fail, a loose ball joint = pass.

In my opinion, especially when you live in the snow belt, you need to change out the front lower joints between 8 to 10 years into the life of the car no matter what or that crazy event will happen out of the blue one day. I have seen quite a few vintage Accords stranded on the side of the road with a snapped lower ball joint. Or, whenever you do any brake or tire service, just rock the tire at the 12/6 position to detect movement. I changed out an upper ball joint in the past for my cousin's 03 Accord and the ball joint was literally moving out of the socket. The only thing keeping it in its spot when driving is the car's weight when the suspension is loaded.

In my experience, ball joints give us ample notice before they actually fail. The process seems: ball joint grease lose (due to torn boots or water contamination), the ball starts rubbing against the socket, finally, the ball becomes small enough (or/and the socket becomes large enough) to pop out.

On my 3rd gen, a rear control arm ball joint popped right before I got onto the highway. (when the car was 10 years old). I didn't know better and ignored some clicking noise from the rear for a long time. The boot had a tear.


The upper control arm ball joints become very loose when the car was 17 years old. I experienced wandering on the highway and clicking noises. Both ball joints had cracked boots.


The lower ball joints were still good when the car was sent to the yard at 20 year mark.


I think the key is the ball joint boots, and also don't drive in water high enough to soak the lower ball joints. Do annual front end check. Take any noises seriously.

OP's mechanic failed him.

 

[salcuta]

Do not get an aftermarket ball joint. Aftermarket ball joints don't do well on 7th gen Accords. Most of them are manufactured by the same manufacturer and sold under different brand names. Go with OEM.

 

[derass]

In my experience, ball joints give us ample notice before they actually fail. The process seems: ball joint grease lose (due to torn boots or water contamination), the ball starts rubbing against the socket, finally, the ball becomes small enough (or/and the socket becomes large enough) to pop out.

Agreed. And it's surprising since OP has yearly inspections, most recently this April. Maybe the tech didn't check the balljoints, or maybe they wore out that quickly in 5 months. But I find the latter harder to believe.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

While watching your video I expected to hear some profanity or at least a vocal cry of some sort in surprise as the wheel feel off creating an audible thud. Instead, just silence. Pretty sure had that happen to me at least an audible "WHAT the....!" reaction would of occurred.

I thought the same thing!!

 

[Ronch]

Just blame it on those lousy roads in Bayside!

Glad no one was hurt.

 

[scar_cle]

On my way into work today I saw an accord (was an '06 or 07 V6) I could tell by the V6 Wheels with a wheel snapped off.

I wanted to get a photo as "this is useless without a photo" but I was on an interstate going 70MPH in the left lane and he was in the right breakdown lane.
So again, I have now seen a handful of the 7.5 gens with snapped off wheels. (of course I saw it and thought, I have to get into work to post to this thread)

 

[WDHewson]

I was hitch hiking as a kid back in the 1960's.

Was thrilled to be picked up by a guy in a Jag E-Type.

There was a horrible rumbling noise from the right front wheel and my host could tell I was concerned.

He says, "Bad wheel bearing. I'm a mechanic, it won't be a problem. It's the noises that you don't understanding that'll kill you."

Good advice then, and good advice now for the OP.

 

[Bambam]

March 15, 2021: While driving my 2014 Honda Accord Coupe home from work on 440 freeway in Raleigh NC, front passenger side wheel & strut flew off car. Car flipped 7 times for a total of 460 feet. Myself and my 5 pound Chihuahua are so lucky to still be alive. I went through the windshield but was able to hold on to him till the very end and keep him in the car. He had zero wounds while I broke everything in my body.

 

[midnight witch]

maybe next time wear a seat belt