So I bought this 2005 f150 from the dealer last month, doesn't have a salvage title or anything to document this... The dealer said it was hit on one of the sides (forgot which) but said it was fixed completely by ford. The steering linkage is very slightly bent on the drivers side.

I noticed it right away but thought that I would easily be able to tell what the problem was and it'd be a quick fix, unfortunately I've spent many hours trying to find just that.

You can see in these pictures that both passenger side wheels stick out about 2 inches from the fenders. However, when you look at the drivers side, they are both nearly flush.

I've done many measurements and also found that the passenger side wheel wells have about an inch greater spacing between wheel and fender than the drivers side. I've also found that the top of the a-arm on the passenger side (where it comes to the v off the frame mounts) sits about an inch lower on the passenger side.

I've looked and looked and cant find any bulging of the frame where it could be bent or nothing else that looks out of the ordinary. I've got a friend who owns a body shop and we were gonna get some frame measurements and start there, anyone have any clue what my problem is?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/020wv.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/818/021bp.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/846/022kp.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/023wgi.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/705/024la.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/025hh.jpg/

 

Somethings off.....I'll look at the pics some more.....

 

I recall a thread on this site several years ago from a guy who had purchased a brand new truck and noticed this same condition on his F-150. I remember that he posted pictures and everything and it was clear that the wheels on one side of vehicle stuck out further than the wheels on the other side of the vehicle. I'm trying to remember if there wasn't something put out by Ford about this issue at that time, but I can't recall.......

 

There has always been a slight difference in how far the tires stick out between the 2 sides, however, in your case it is extreme. Also that drivers side wheel looks to be too far back, unless the wheel is turned as bit. Can't tell from the picture. My guess, is that the frame may be tweaked. I had am accident that the frame was bent, and the frame was totally replaced. It looked no different than before the accident.
The offset problem seems to be far worse in the front than the rear. Something definitely not right.

 

All these pictures tell me is that those repairs aren't going to be cheap.
Best of luck on getting it fixed.

 

If you just bought it last month from a dealer, then you should take it back to the dealer and tell them something isn't right. Did you get any type of warranty when you bought the truck?

 

try loosening the body bolts and moving it over on the frame?

I just looked at the pics and its like pushed way back in the fender well on the drivers side. Almost seems like the LCA itself is bent, or they put a upper control arm for the RH side on the LH side. something clearly isnt right at all, and unless you got a screaming deal on it, I would return the whole truck and buy something else. I dont think it will ever be perfect. Must have been a hell of a hit it took. The 04-08 trucks are tough and dont just bend up in little fender benders.

Good luck
-Patrick

 

something is seriously wrong there, i feel like you just bought a money pit and a lot of head aches

 

Looks like not "completely" enough.

I didn't know that Ford was in the collision repair business? At best it would have been repaired by a dealer and many just farm that work out to local collision shops.

 

Dam, looking at that I'm suprised you can't just let go of the wheel going down the highway and end up in the ditch. Is this a joke? I can't understand how this would not show up in the body panel alignments also. The holes where the cab bolts to the frame can't possibly be that far off from one side to the other without being able to see it in the hood or fender alingments. Thats several inches on the left front wheel. I've never seen anything like this. Ford must have bought it at auction site unseen and then they were just waiting for you to come along.

Did you wear your glasses to the dealer the day you bought this one?

 

nope, he were a bright neon shirt because they saw him coming from a mile away

 

I got the truck for 10,400 with 40k on it.
I figured that cheap I could afford to put some money into it and still come out ahead.

As of the last two posts I mentioned that I KNEW there was a problem, it's not like I bought it and had no idea...

Alignment is perfect on the pickup it could forever without veering off to either side. Some ball joints need replaced on the drivers side but other than that the pickup is the smoothest ride I've ever had.

 

The one possible bright spot in this story...

 

^^ That's why I'm optimistic about this repair, hopefully with some time and luck we can get it back to where it was before the accident.

 

Have you checked the wheels backspacing to make sure there all the same ?