2004 Ranger - Lower Control Arm Crossmember Rotted - Replacement Options?

punk · Apr 16, 2015

I picked up a 2004 Ranger Edge in early December for a good price and just recently found the lower control arm crossmember is pretty badly rotted and I'm trying to get an idea of what replacement options I have.

I went to a local frame repair shop and was quoted ~$1,800 to have it replaced with a whole crossmember from another truck (but he's having a hard time locating one in decent condition). Is there any aftermarket replacements available or is it possible to order this part new (doubtful as it's welded to the rest of the frame).

Here is a [pretty bad] picture of the carnage:

https://i.imgur.com/ckt3CNf.jpg

I know it's a bit difficult to see where that is, so I circled it on picture I found on Google. The part I have circled is the front side, the rot on my truck is on the back side of that crossmember in the circled area.

https://i.imgur.com/zbIvz6d.jpg

Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful.

alwaysFlOoReD · Apr 16, 2015

How mechanically inclined are you? I think I would buy a rollover and swap bodies. Or part it out and use the money for another truck. It looks like you were sold bad goods, you may have recourse if it was knowingly sold that way, especially if it was a dealer.
That sucks.
Good luck,

Richard

punk · Apr 16, 2015

alwaysFlOoReD said:
How mechanically inclined are you? I think I would buy a rollover and swap bodies. Or part it out and use the money for another truck. It looks like you were sold bad goods, you may have recourse if it was knowingly sold that way, especially if it was a dealer.
That sucks.
Good luck,

Richard

Thanks, I'm mechanically inclined enough along with my family so a swap like that wouldn't be a big concern. I was just hoping there was a more "off the shelf" type of replacement that was available. I've searched around but haven't been able to find anything really and figured I would ask on some forums as I'm sure you guys are far more familiar with the trucks and parts availability.

I'm not really interested in recourse as I definitely should have looked it over better myself. Everything I could see from bending/kneeling down on the wet/muddy ground in December looked fine; it wasn't until I was under there to replace an endlink that I noticed it. The truck was almost an impulse buy as I needed another vehicle to drive daily while my car was getting a rebuild; the price was right and it appeared in good condition. Guess I learned my lesson there :black_eye:

alwaysFlOoReD · Apr 16, 2015

I can't say there isn't oem or other replacement parts made. Perhaps check Dorman, they seem to have lots of stuff. It's getting the correct name to do the search that may be hard.

punk · Apr 16, 2015

alwaysFlOoReD said:
I can't say there isn't oem or other replacement parts made. Perhaps check Dorman, they seem to have lots of stuff. It's getting the correct name to do the search that may be hard.

This is exactly what I was looking for; never came across Dorman in my searches. I have OEM part numbers for the frame so I can start there.

Thanks!

alwaysFlOoReD · Apr 16, 2015

I don't know if this site will have what you're looking for, but a little digging may turn up the proper term.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html

punk · Apr 16, 2015

alwaysFlOoReD said:
I don't know if this site will have what you're looking for, but a little digging may turn up the proper term.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html

Wow, this is great. Thanks!

Andy D · Apr 16, 2015

I seen ads In MA Craigslist. There is a guy selling 98 and up frames in Weare, MA. Good luck.

willy · Apr 16, 2015

Try lmc truck they have all kinds of goodies but as far as finding one id go with the post above find one thats smashed in the rear and cut off and replace

willy · Apr 16, 2015

O and dont forget the SAS option [emoji3]

punk · Apr 17, 2015

willy said:
O and dont forget the SAS option [emoji3]

SAS? Sorry, I'm from a different car world so if that's a truck or TRS forum thing I have no idea what it is :dntknw:

I'll check out lmc truck as well, thanks!

Thanks, Andy, I'll take a look around on CL.

willy · Apr 17, 2015

SAS = solid axle swap drop in a dana 30 jeep lots of build threads on here

punk · Apr 17, 2015

willy said:
SAS = solid axle swap drop in a dana 30 jeep lots of build threads on here

Got it, I'm also not afraid to mod :icon_thumby:

Thanks for the replies thus-far, I've got plenty more research to do now.

2004 Ranger - Lower Control Arm Crossmember Rotted - Replacement Options?

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