2008 Trailblazer LT been having a bad year. So far I have put new tires, brakes, rotors,front wheel bearings, and Steering rack and pinion. Now it just started making a clunk in the rear. I found the control arm on the drivers side rear axle is rusted through/broken. Pass side looks ok (?) good grief, what's next?? Wife's truck and it only has 150k miles on it. owned it for about 7 years now and hope to get a few more years out of it.... Minnesota vehicle so it does have it's share of rust, but nothing serious body wise.
The rack & pinion quit while we were on a trip and they said the line leaked out all the fluid. They tried to repair and replace it but it wasn't available and the new stye wouldn't work. They had to replace the whole thing after flushing it out . I did get a lifetime warranty (NAPA) covering parts and labor.

Just wondering if there is any other weak spots I should be looking at here...Frame looks to be OK, mounts and exhaust are good...

 

Keep an eye on the power steering lines where they go over the front strut. They are prone to rusting out due to galvanic corrosion. If the area looks oily, the corrosion on the steel tubing has already started and power steering fluid is already weeping out.

You might also take a look at the fuel lines between the fuel tank and the engine to make sure any metal sections are not rusting as well.

Good Luck!

 

Thanks! Power steering went out on a trip to Nebraska, ended up replacing lines and Rack & pinion because of change to line attachment. The old style (which I had) is no longer available. Scary driving without any steering unless you use major strength to turn the wheel. I suppose fuel lines will be next....I have replaced then on both my other vehicles 2006 HHR, and my 1999 Land Rover. Gotta love Minnesota's vehicle weight elimination methods (salt on the roads)

 

Same thing in Maryland where I currently live and in Nebraska whee I grew up.

I forgot to mention the power steering fluid cooler. It's located below the radiator on the driver's side under the front bumper cover. They are prone to rust out as well. Replace with a Dorman unit as they come with a lifetime warranty. Not really hard to replace, just sort of a pain to get at.

I now use NiCopp tubing to replace the steel brake lines, fuel lines and transmission lines when necessary. NiCopp is so much easier to work with and it does not corrode (as fast) as steel lines so it's essentially as one time replacement for life! I little more expensive than steel lines, but well worth it in ease of flaring and installation!!!

Good Luck!

 

Thanks!! something to check out before I get stranded again

 

got the news from the repair shop, one side broken (I knew that) and the other is cracked. so replacing both sides.... $600 if they don't find anything else...

 

Good Luck!

 

Thanks! but since I have had both knees replaced, and back problems, among others, I anm not doing much repairs on my own. Plus not having a garage, or even a driveway and the fact that it is only 19 degrees outside, my working on the truck days are minimal. The Trailblazer is the most comfortable vehicle I have and the wife is usually driving it to work. I do what I can with the other vehicles, a 99 land rover discovery and a 06 HHR. The newer cars are way too small inside and for what they cost, I can do a lot of repairs and drive a bigger vehicle. I like to keep the old stuff on the road. This summer, my son tried to follow me off road with his 2023 Trailhawk (Jeep) and I was driving the Discovery, After 1/2 the day, he got stuck a number of times and I realized I didn't lock in the 4WD.. I think Iwon that one...

 

new problem, well I guess an old problem resurfaced... When turning all the way to the right, then turning left, there is a loud Clunk.. very repeatable, and can be done while sitting in park... Turns out it is something in the rack and pinion unit that was installed 4 months ago, lasted 2400 miles! Luckily I have a lifetime warranty on the rack and pinion unit, and a 24,000 mile 24 month warranty on labor and parts from NAPA. Talked to the Warranty company and they told me I could take it down to a local shop that I have been working with as they use the same warranty company. They tried to duplicate the problem and said ti could be the upper control arms.. I told them when it makes the noise and drove down to check things out. Apparently it doesn't happen when the wheels are off the ground, only when there is weight on them, and it is definitely from the Rack and Pinion. So... they are checking on getting parts replaced under warranty and will install it billing the warranty company. Just gotta wait for it to be done. The wife is off work for another week, so maybe it will work out. I have few cars laying around so hopefully it will be OK.

 

** UPDATE***
Parts were in town so truck was fixed up super fast and I went to pick it up this morning. Dropped it off yesterday at noon, fixed by 10:00 this morning! these guys I use in town are super fast and extremely knowledgeable on any car I take in there. Guess that is why I keep going back. No charge as warranty covered everything and is now extended for the new parts/repair.