The steering wheel top showed a misplace of 90 degrees from its original position to the right, still the truck went straight when let loose. The body shop inspection recommended to perforn an alignment. After sending the estimate to the company that owns the Van, I received a check.
I decided to fix the truck by myself. So, I replaced the fender -piece of cake, I bought new tires -yeah, my truck needed them badly-, and I took the truck to a shop that specializes in alignment. The expert told me that I need to replace the four ball joints and the front sway bar end links, and after that the alignment can be performed. I just paid the $35.00 appraisal and I replaced the parts. So far, the visual inspection told me that I need to replace one top ball joint only, and the sway bar end links...plus the bar bushings because they appeared to be dry.
I did the replacement and the truck was running much better already, I guess the new bushings did a huge difference of feeling when driving. I took the truck to another shop to make its alignment. At this time the mechanic told me that I need a new central link, and he used pliers to show me the play of the joints of this bar. No charge for the inspection. So, I ordered the central link and replaced it. It wasn't a hard work, and the top of the steering wheel returned almost completely to its normal position. I gave a better look to the old central link and showed to be bent at one side. I was happy that the truck was ready for alignment, and at this time I took it to Sears.
The mechanic from Sears called me and showed me with a pry bar the play between the two lower ball joints, and that one of them had to be replaced before the alignment. No charge for the inspection.
I bougth the new lower ball joint and replaced it. What a hard work! I had to remove lots of parts! I even had to rent a ball joint press tool from Auto Zone (for free after return of the tool), I didn't follow the standard procedure but I cut off the bolt part of the old ball joint with a hacksaw, and pushed out the ball part with a sledge hammer. Of course the arm bracket was supported by the jack under. After finishing the repairs I took the truck back to Sears and following the alignment the steering wheel top now is looking straight up at the sky as it is suppose to be, and the riding is great, the feeling is like driving a new truck.
The check I received from the accident has been invested in parts and tools, and I can say that this has been a great experience. I visited Youtube to see the several videos for replacing ball joints, Now I own new tools from which I never knew they existed before, and I just wanted to share with you this experience which luckily ended well. This story should be different if I just followed the appraisal given by the first mechanic alone and let them do the alignment... and knowing that this shop indeed specializes in alignment procedures only, I still asking myself how this expert didn't realize the bending of the central link when I told him about the accident, the pressing of the front wheel by the van's front bumper, he raised up the truck to make the inspection... he saw the misplacing of the top of the steering wheel 90 degrees to the right... he even drove the truck for road test...
