I was sweeping out the garage today and I couldn't get past this noticable odor. It smelled like differential fluid or gear case lube. Of course I got a lot of chemicals... but it's not like anyone to keep some lube open, especially if it stinks, even with the garage open.

So I spent my time looking around, and I couldn't find anything. I happened to sweep a socket under the front of the truck by accident. I bend over, in front of the truck, and I look under the truck and grab the socket. To my surprise, I find not only where the odor was coming from, but a mess on my clean floor! I spent last Sunday pressure washing the floor with Simple Green, bleach, and degreaser!!!! So I was kind of ticked off from that.

But not only did it drip onto the floor, but the crevaces on the lower control arm were filled with the nasty and smelly golden colored oil that leaked from the shock.

Luckily I am bringing the truck in tomorrow to have the A/C clutch replaced, but now this mess with the shock absorber. :o

Now I got a question... would this cause severe tire cupping and abnormal wear on those front tires?

The reason I ask is because a while back I posted a tire wear problem, and I thought it was because the tires were the wrong type for the truck. So I am wondering if this problem has just been slowly creeping up on me.

However, what baffles me is the fact that it started leaking when I didn't drive the truck for about 6 to 7 days. Basically the last time I drove it was last Monday. I drove the Dakota on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I was in Delhi, NY. Today I drove the Dakota. Tomorrow I need to drive the truck to get the A/C fixed and now the front shock.

However, I might hold off on getting the clutch fixed and just have them order the shock, and have them work on it next week possibly and let them have the truck all day to fix it up right.

What I don't understand is how the shock could go bad when the truck was doing nothing but just sitting there.

Now mind you, I don't do any off roading or anything that would damage the front suspension. If anything, from me overloading it so much, I'd for sure thing that one of the rear shocks would be busted... but the front?! I'm totally confused and baffled.

But what really gets me is the fact of how cheap those shocks are... IIRC the front shocks are only $66.17 from Ford. Why did they install garbage shocks on a F150?

Now my next question, should I just forget about it and go aftermarket with a set of like KYB Gashocks? Or should I get something else? How much does it cost for them to install shocks... or should I just do it myself. I mean I know how, but... I really don't got the time. I just can't see wasting my time on something that is just going to bust in the end. I want something that 'ain't gonna bust' type thing.

I just don't understand why my truck is falling apart on things that shouldn't be falling apart. If anything the frame should be bent, the input shaft should be broken, and my tires should be blown out from those loads of hauled.

But the front suspension? Just doesn't makes sense...

 

best I can say is that Sh*t Happens...that is weird it failing while just sitting there

 

Your truck is bleeding from all of the overloading that you put it through!..........

 

First, why go aftermarket. It is under warranty. If you go aftermarket, you are going to pay for the parts and the labor.
As far as the cupping. That is more than likely an alignment problem. Shocks can cause abnormal wear, but it would be only on the side that is bad. Also from the sound of it, the leak is recent.

 

Well, I brought it by, and they are going to fix the A/C compressor, because they said it will take a good chunk of the day to repair.

They are ordering me a new shock for the right front.

However, I was reading up on this last night and I found out that the shocks should be replaced in pairs. Is this actually true? Because I don't want to find out one day that I should've just had them replace the left front as well.

In any case, I really don't care, as long as the truck doesn't leak any more in my garage.

I am more ticked off about the floor than the truck right now! It took me forever to get that freakin' floor clean.... I wanted to tell them to go clean my garage floor now after that mess...

Argh...

 

Generally speaking the shocks should be replaced in pairs. Really though you probably don't have many miles on your F-150 and it is still pretty new. I don't think both need to be replaced as they havent had enough time to truly wear out

 

When I've had strut problems on my vehicles under warranty they've only replaced the faulty one. Seems stupid to me. At one point on my 91 Ford Probe GT all 4 of my struts were diffferent ages under warranty.

 

Stinky Oil? Drats?

Usually I would leave a smartass comment, but this is too easy

 

yah youve overloaded the truck by 4x the payload of it and you wonder why the suspension is failing.....

dont worry i found out that i overloaded my truck this weekend. Ive got a mark on my driveshaft from where it bumped a crossmember under the bed

 

Your truck is just Pissing on you!.............

 

LOL

Well, they replaced the A/C Clutch... it seems much quieter... so that looks like it's fixed.

So they ordered a front, right shock because it was making my truck **** on me.

Yes, it was yellow too...

 

Speaking of pissing on things, doesn't R Kellys trial start this week?