Grrrrrr

[adsm08]

Blast Ford and their reliable front-end parts!!!!

It just took me 2 hours to replace 1 tie rod end , because it was quite likely the original.

I gotta say, there is something to be said for parts that fail more than once every 25 years.

 

[Dweano]

Try lifting it...that'll wear out those front end parts

 

[adsm08]

I was just gonna cram 31s in there. Should wear them out faster without all the expense and trouble of lifting a truck that is unlikely to ever see the trail.

I'm more frustrated because I originally thought I was just going to have to tighten my wheel bearings, not shuck out $80 for a new tie rod end and an alignment.

 

[straycat]

Either that tie rod was really in that great of shape for a very long time....or you are just a tight wad and waited for ever to fix it .....lol

 

[BlackBII]

There aren't too many things that last more than two and a half decades...ask my GF's sagging breasts, they'll tell ya.

 

[adsm08]

Either that tie rod was really in that great of shape for a very long time....or you are just a tight wad and waited for ever to fix it .....lol

I've been doing my own safety checks for the last few years. Last year it had a bit of play, but not enough to fail (so we are still in thousandth's of an inch there). This time I went and rocked the wheel and dang, I must have had 1/2 an inch of play at the knuckle. So I didn't let it go. It was good last year.

It may have been replaced once in the past, not 100% sure, but today was at most the second time that rod end has been done since 87.

If I'd thought it needed replaced last year when I inspected it, I would have replaced it then, when I had access to an alignment rack and could have reset the toe myself and saved $60. So there goes your tightwad theory.

 

[Dweano]

I'm more frustrated because I originally thought I was just going to have to tighten my wheel bearings, not shuck out $80 for a new tie rod end and an alignment.

I took my truck to a shop to get an alignment...ended up costing my $800+...new bearings, new ball joint, ass ton of labour, random new other things they decided I needed...talk about frustrating. I am never going back to that shop haha

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, they usually hit you good when they do get you.
I was going to rebuild my front end last summer just kind of as a preventive thing but I never got around to it because it wasn't bad enough to actually need it. Now I'm trying to put as little money into the front end as possible because I'm hoping to put the D-35 in next summer and overhaul the whole front end then.

At least I still have my original ball joints.

 

[straycat]

Yeah, they usually hit you good when they do get you.
I was going to rebuild my front end last summer just kind of as a preventive thing but I never got around to it because it wasn't bad enough to actually need it. Now I'm trying to put as little money into the front end as possible because I'm hoping to put the D-35 in next summer and overhaul the whole front end then.

At least I still have my original ball joints.

Darn, I can't imagine having the original ball joints still after all those years being on that truck!!!

 

[r1hatman]

There aren't too many things that last more than two and a half decades...ask my GF's sagging breasts, they'll tell ya.

I hope she never see your posts!

 

[adsm08]

Darn, I can't imagine having the original ball joints still after all those years being on that truck!!!

They are still good too.

IF they last another year until I get the 35 in I'm keeping them as a trophy

 

[LIMA BEAN]

There aren't too many things that last more than two and a half decades...ask my GF's sagging breasts, they'll tell ya.

Do you still have your nutz or has your GF lovingly removed them from service?

 

[r1hatman]

Do you still have your nutz or has your GF lovingly removed them from service?

 

[Captain Ledd]

I did my 97's last summer at about 196,000. passenger side axle had a bad ball joint, and the right had a bad tie rod end. the other were getting just a little bit of slop so I just did it all.

We owned the truck since it had 9,000 miles on it. These were the first new front end parts it had (aside from brakes and wheel bearings). Not too bad I'd say.