if it makes noise, it is too late. a total failure will leave you stuck in traffic, waiting for a tow truck. i have had this happen to me about 5 months ago. not a whole lot of fun. just take it to a shop that you trust and have it replaced. and rest easy. sure you pay a little bit, but you can rest assured that the problem is gone, or that the parts warranty will help in the event of a failure in the nearby future. as for the price, i do not know. i can find the part for less than $100 and have it in in less than an hour....