Help. Where to find Engine Vibration damper - 4.0 L

[TheProducer]

I live in Virginia and my truck just failed inspection because of a broken engine vibration damper that attaches from the engine to the suspension.

Apparently it has been discontinued by Ford and there are no aftermarket parts available.

Can anyone here help?

That is, short of telling me to push it off a cliff ;-)

(rant on)
Honestly, I wish we had a lemon law. This truck had a new engine dropped in at 40,000 miles. It never ran right after this. I rode around with a Ford engineer to show him how loud it was and he said it was within their standards.

Now I have a broken part and Ford doesn't even make it anymore.
(rant off)

Thanks, I appreciate any help anyone can offer.

 

[MountainMike]

I know a lot of people that don't even run them, that must be one very specific inspection for them to know the 4.0L had that engine start dampener on it.

If you really need one for the inspection the easiest way to find one is an auto wrecker. Either that or head down to TRS's for sale forum, post up in the "parts wanted" forum that you need one and look in the "for sale" forum for anyone parting out a truck with a 4.0L.

 

[AllanD]

Remove it and go somewhere else for inspection

it is NOT an engine mount

BTW they simply stopped installing them going into 1993.

AD

 

[MountainMike]

Remove it and go somewhere else for inspection, it is NOT an engine mount

BTW they simply stopped installing them going into 1993.

AD

I agree on the first part of that statement but I have to disagree on the second part. Both my 93 and 98 have the dampener.

 

[sholzy]

Yep, my '93 has one also.

 

[TheProducer]

Thanks, guys. I'm still looking for one, but the mechanic said they'd call the State Police and ask if they could just pass it without it since it's not safety related.

Apparently, they saw it broken and law says any mount that was there when it was manufactured has to be in place and working when it's inspected.

I think in Virginia I have to go back to the station that failed it to get it reinspected after the work is done but I'll look into it.

Guess I'm going to have to find one if the police want it...or sell it for scrap. Shame, otherwise it's been running fine.

 

[MountainMike]

Guess I'm going to have to find one if the police want it...or sell it for scrap. Shame, otherwise it's been running fine.

That doesn't seem reasonable to me. The parts you want are a click away.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90051
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92318
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93807
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?p=847091#post847091

Or find a buddy with a Ranger, and put his on. They aren't safety related or even necessary.

 

[ElleShooTiger]

Our 98 4.0L has the damper, I looked around and havent found any replacements. Not sure how the bracket bolts up to the engine, maybe you could remove it and the shock?

How did they determine it was bad?? Unless its physically broken, its hard to tell if any shock is broken.

 

[TheProducer]

Thanks again, you guys are very helpful. And thanks for the links, MountainMike, I've bookmarked the pages. I'll be looking for the part and I'm sure I can get it somewhere.

Yeah I was being a bit melodramatic, but it really is ridiculous to require something that isn't made anymore and wasn't put on all vehicles anyway.

You all taught me something. And I appreciate it a lot.

 

[MountainMike]

No problem, it's what we're here for.

 

[AllanD]

Yep, my '93 has one also.

Not if it was equipped with the optional ABS system.

NO 1993-94 (or later) Explorer had one, and later Rangers are greatly hit or miss.... It hink they kept installing them on rangers because they had a train load of them, but the fact is they didn't do effectively what they were intended to do and YOU WILL NOT MISS IT in any way shape or form if you remove it.

Unless you really enjoy working around it when replacing a power steering line...

I know for a fact that if most Dealer mechanics are working near it and have the slightest excuse to remov it it
always turns up "lost" when they put the vehicle back together.

I've personally heard my brother say "They don't need this thing" followed after a short time of flight delay
by a crashing sound as it bounces into the nearest scrap bin.



AD

 

[sholzy]

Not if it was equipped with the optional ABS system.

My 93 Ranger has rear ABS, is this the option you mention? I didn't think my 93 even had the front ABS as an option.

NO 1993-94 (or later) Explorer had one, and later Rangers are greatly hit or miss.... It hink they kept installing them on rangers because they had a train load of them, but the fact is they didn't do effectively what they were intended to do and YOU WILL NOT MISS IT in any way shape or form if you remove it.

The OP kept saying "truck" so I assume this thread is about a Ranger, not an Explorer.

 

[MountainMike]

Both my Rangers only have RABS and have the dampener. As does Tom's 99.

 

[skyy_4life]

Remove it and go somewhere else for inspection

it is NOT an engine mount

BTW they simply stopped installing them going into 1993.

AD

all of the 4.0 ohv's in the rangers have these.

 

[AllanD]

I said "ABS"

And ABS WAS available as an option, infact there were even a few 2wd ABS equipped Rangers in 1993.

it was NOT a cheap option.

But in 1993 you'll have a hard time finding an explorer that doesn't have ABS.

And ABS is mutually exclusive with that engine damper, because the ABS pump is
mounted in the holes in the frame that would otherwise be used to mount the frame bracket for the engine shock.


RABS isn't optional it's standard

But this is all a side discussion, that damper is NOT "Structural" or "safety" it's an item that was installed
for NVH ("Noise Vibration and/or Harshness").

you do not need it.