- Joined
- Aug 15, 2019
- Messages
- 3,956
- Reaction score
- 1,959
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Oklahoma
- Vehicle Year
- 1993
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
I had a 73 Econoline 1 ton van back in the 70s and 80s that was built like a tank. It had the same front end, even tho it was solid iron twin I-beams and radius arms. The bushings on it dried and shrank, leaving the rt front washers to make like tiny cymbals. The thing was so built I wasn't at all ambitious to try tearing it down so it got driven a long time that way.
It also had kingpins on the front with bushings that would wear out and those seemed daunting also, but after the steering got so sloppy it was over a quarter turn from pulling it right to pulling it left I finally tore it down and fixed it. Wasn't such a tough job after all and made a world of difference in the steering.
I can still remember the sound of those washers clinking around, doubt I'd ever mistake it for an auto hub. Those things get a bad rap and I for one do not know why, the ones on my 93 never once failed or refused to do exactly as I needed them to do, but they were kept well maintained. If you look at the maintenance schedule in the owners manual you'll see almost any 4wd use in water calls for inspection, including changing fluids
It also had kingpins on the front with bushings that would wear out and those seemed daunting also, but after the steering got so sloppy it was over a quarter turn from pulling it right to pulling it left I finally tore it down and fixed it. Wasn't such a tough job after all and made a world of difference in the steering.
I can still remember the sound of those washers clinking around, doubt I'd ever mistake it for an auto hub. Those things get a bad rap and I for one do not know why, the ones on my 93 never once failed or refused to do exactly as I needed them to do, but they were kept well maintained. If you look at the maintenance schedule in the owners manual you'll see almost any 4wd use in water calls for inspection, including changing fluids
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