[snyper2384]

My 08 forenza automatic transmission is pulling hard to the right. figured it was the wheel bearing but when I took off the hub it spins fine. its on the front passenger side . The axle is hard to turn with the hub on or off . thinking it might be something with the transmission . when I jacked up the driver side that tire will spin and the passenger side the axle will spin though its very hard to turn by hand . any thoughts?

 

[Nathan.]

The transmission should not, or rather, will not have any direct influence over your horizontal steering. It does run along with the drivetrain which wheel hubs are technically apart of, it wont effect horizontal movement.

Have you tried an alignment recently? How old are your tires? I'd be looking at steering/ suspension related components rather than something intrinsically mechanical, such as the transmission.

 

[Max]

I'm a little unclear as to what side was hard to turn and when, during your evaluation, so I'll ask. Did you rule out a dragging / seized brake caliper? :huh:

What is the comparative condition of your right and left rotors and pads?

Did this start all of a sudden? Any pot hole or accident damage that you may have left out?

And don't disregard a REAR wheel or suspension problem that might throw the whole vehicle out of whack making it pull to one side.

 

[snyper2384]

yes i have already checked the brake caliper . that was my first thought . and to help clarify . since it is a front wheel drive i lifted the driver side with my jack while still having the tire off the passenger side . the driver side i can rotate the tire no problem and the passenger side the axle of course goes the opposite way . but if i grab the passenger side ,with the brake caliper off, hub on or off i can not turn the axle easily .. with it in neutral of course . and to also clarify i also tried it with the tire on and it felt like the brakes were on but again the caliper was already taken off . i suspected the wheel bearing so i went to pepboys to get them to press the old one out and put in a new one but they said the bearing was fine . thats why i suspected something with the transmission . is there a bearing where the axle meets to the transmission ?or what ever it connects to down there ? the mechanic at pepboys said it might be bands going out in the tranny or a bad torque converter??


also rotors are fine started all of a sudden slowly pulling to the right but after about another 10 miles started jerking hard to the right . if i let go of the wheel it makes a hard pull toward the ditch . the faster i go the quicker and harder it pulls .

 

[Max]

I'm at a loss, although what you describe points to the transaxle, as you have apparently ruled out brakes and wheel bearings. :huh:

 

[snyper2384]

if thats the case which i am thinking it is the transaxle what would you recommend and what action should i take ? I have never worked on one before and have no clue what to do but cant afford to take it to a shop at the moment

 

[Max]

I think that you are at the mercy of a transmission specialist / shop, for further evaluation.

 

[Nathan.]

I definitely take a look at the CV joints themselves. Check to see if the boots are still on. there is a point were the axle slips into the transmission. the pieces of the axle that fit into the transmission are called splines. This car uses half shaft axles. So you actually have two axles that fit into this transmission one for each wheel. If everything checks out as you say that I would definitely take Max's advice and check out a reputable transmission shop. But before doing that I would also certainly check to make sure that the boots on your CV joints are still intact. if you're under a hundred thousand miles then you would still be covered under the warranty for both a transmission and the CV Axle.