Automotive Repair Madness

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The Seeker

The Seeker

Thunderbird
Supporting Member
So I am ready to sell my Ford F-350 dualie diesel truck, but it needed new sway bar links up front due to a knocking noise over bumps. I knew anyone wanting to buy and test drive it would be put off by the noise.

I picked up the new links about Noon today and figured it would take less than an hour to replace them. WRONG!!!!

Due to rust, corrosion, and stupid design, I wasn't done until 4:30!

The replacements are by Moog and are designed so much better than the OEM. They also have grease nipples which the Ford links lacked (and wouldn't have worn out if they had).
 
You can't even imagine how tough those bolts were to get off! I nearly pulled muscles yanking on them. Then, once I got the upper bolt off on the passenger side, there wasn't enough space to withdraw it from the frame (engine in the way). Who designed something that way?

I had to hack it off with a saw. If I'd have had all my tools and stuff still back at my old residence, I'd have used a nut-cracker or just burned the old bolts off.

The new ones went on like a dream!

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Yes I have often felt automotive (and bike) engineers should have to do at least 3 years apprenticing as mechanics BEFORE they are allowed to design ANYTHING.
Then things would be different for sure. :y15:
 
It's a 2002 with only 80,000 miles on it.

Not only that, but I just had to replace the starter that's entire housing rotted-out along with the main starter cable from the battery. Due to that, the interior fuse block's chip fried (no fuse for the fuse block's chip?) which required replacing the entire fuse block and having it programmed (only a Ford dealer can do that).

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I feel your pain. For years I used to crawl around under cars doing repairs like that.
It was fun when I was younger, and I enjoyed doing it, but with time that "fun" faded away.
These days, about all the "fun" I get involved in, is working on bikes.
 
What gets me is that Ford calls these trucks Super Duty and they sre built "Ford tough". Yet, things just rot away not from use, but from lack of use.

To add insult to injury, I had to have it towed to the Ford dealer to program the chip. While it was there, someone stole the bed cover I had on it. The only way to lift the bed cover was to unlock and open the tailgate. No one had the keys but me and the Ford dealer. They of course claim it was kept inside the whole time. If that's true, then an employee stole the $700 cover! I of course cannot prove anything and can't really even prove it was on the truck when it was towed. But I know it was.....so either a Ford employee stole it or the guys with the towing company.

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I hate to be the one to break this to you Seeker. "Built Ford Tough" "Professional Grade" "Ram Tough" are all marketing B.S. that leads one to believe the trucks are "beasts" that can handle ANYTHING.........in reality its just lies on paper that some advertising exec. came up with in the shower one more morning, or while sitting in an Irish Pub having a Guinness. I know----I used to design ads and ad campaigns---also known as Professional Sh&^ Slinging.:y2:
Very sorry to hear of the theft that freakin sucks. I guess thats why they call the "steelerships". I am even more amazed they are taking no responsibility. Certainly wouldn't be going back to that place again.
 
I understand marketing of course....it's just the idea that things that should never happen (like my oil pan rotting out from the outside-in) have happened to a truck that I paid more for than my house!

I can't prove if it was stolen by a dealership employee or the towing people.

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I know what you mean. And yes you would expect quality if not from the marketing aspect but from the freakin price point aspect. However that goes for most things these days.
Except used Triumphs they are still a great value for the $TUP
 
I had to replace my starter, also - from lack of use.

80,000 is mighty low mileage for an '02. I have only 160,000 on my 2000. Is the 02 still the International 7.3 engine?
 
Yep....IH engine.

This truck was only used for towing to horseshows.

This starter's entire outer housing was rotted through or else I'd have just taken it to an excellent starter/alternator rebuild shop nearby.

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It's got a Positraction rear end with the big 4:11 ratio. That's a bit of overkill on this vehicle, but it is an option that costs more.

I didn't order it that way and really didn't know that when I bought it. I only found that out when I questioned why my mileage was never able to get up to whst other owners were able to get.

PS: Ford did the cruise control recall fix and flashed the computer while it was in there to program the fuse block chip.

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I agree; the 4:11 rear end is overkill, especially if one runs empty more than one tows. I have a 3.73 limited slip (positraction).

You have a very nice truck. Mine is a plain Jane contractor's former truck. It does have cruise control, electric windows and locks, and carpeting. But that is all of the bells and whistles except for things I have added: electric brake controller, fog lights, rear view camera, Kenwood radio with GPS. I don't have remote locks nor remote start and I don't have power mirrors (which I wish I had).
 

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