Chrysler Repair: van wont move, cv joints, plymouth voyager

Question
I have a 96' Plymouth Voyager that won't move. It's not the tranny.There is this rod that is connected to the shock in the front(bracket on the shock)that snapped but I don't know what it is. I know this is a vague question but do u know what this "rod" is?  

Answer
Hi Ricardo,
If the van won't move the only "rod" I can think of is the drive shaft (half axle) that connects the tranny to the wheel hub so as to cause the wheel to rotate. If one of the cv-joints on the shaft breaks completely, then the trans would try to turn the shaft but it wouldn't turn the wheel. There is one shaft on each side, and two cv joints on each, one on each end of the shaft. So have a helper look at the "rod" and maybe they can see the rod turn or the flange at the trans, but not the wheel, which will of course cause the van not to move because the tranny will turn the flange that is broken and not the one on the other side due to the action of the differential in the tranny which shifts the power to the side that moves more easily, e.g. the broken side. You will need s new half-shaft if that is the case. They cost around $100 plus some labor to install. Let me know if this makes sense or not. If you have some tools you can do it yourself but you need some instruction sheets which I can send to you by postal mail, but that may take too long for you to get them. Sometimes there may be instructions with the shaft when you buy it.
Roland