Hey Jeff, Sal here. There won't be washers on the passengers side. Only the rear drivers side frame has the slotted holes. So your pretty much done

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SAL
13.209@104.3mph
Power Surge Performance 99 Lightning Chip and Filter Kit, full Bassani Exhaust, Nitto Extreme Drags
PowerSurgePerf@aol.com

 

Sal, since your in the biz, mines past 12k, any chance this issue could develope into a "recall", or is this not a safety issue?

 

Thanks guys....

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99.5 red Lightning
13.2@103
jcks@home.com

 

Does this only apply to '99 Lightnings or 2000's as well?

 

thepawn its easy enough to see all you have to do is look at the rear lower controlarm bolt on the driverside and see if it has moved. Mine has plus it pulls.Seems like just a problem with that side. I have an appointment for Tuesday to fix that plus one of the powersteering hoses is leaking.

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99.5 red Lightning
13.2@103
jcks@home.com




[This message has been edited by JeffsLightning (edited 03-22-2000).]

 

Hey guys

I have the same problems you are all having with lower control arm, rear bolt on driver side has moved. Took it over to have it checked and the guy that alaines the front end said that the caster and camber were exactly correct. He changed the toe a little to try to stop the wear on the inside of tire. He also said that the pickups, when assembled at the plant were all in jigs untill they come off assemble line. He said that it looks like to him that they may have move the bolts then. Just wanted to throw that out there, I think he was blowing smoke up me your comments? Dennis

 

Alex:
Good news/Bad news. I checked on the part numbers that you listed for the controll arms. Bad news is that those numbers for the upper control arm. This will not help the lower one from shifting around like they are doing. If you go out and slam the breaks real hard, also so some heavy duty autocross type driving, you will see that the bottom driver side bolt has moved after they've done that nice front end alignment for you. If you don't think it's moving, touch up the shinny metal where the bolts been sliding with a little bit of black paint, drive it hard and recheck, and you'll see the paint is missing.

Good news, I think, if you get part number F65Z-3B236-CD this is the lower bolt with the cams. At least that's what the computer screen shows. Bad news is that my local dealer did not have this one in stock, so I'm not 100% sure if it truely has the cams (didn't see it in person). If anyone out there could check their local dealer for that part number and if they have it in stock, maybe they could check to see if it has the cams with it or not to be sure. Otherwise, it's back to welding the bolt head to the frame.

Kevin

 

I have mentioned this before is several other posts. Maybe the information is not relevant to this discussion. But, I had to have both lower control arms replaced with the SVT specified ones. Includes four wheel alignment.

Part numbers are XL3Z-3078-BA and XL3Z-3079-BA. I have not checked for the bolt movement described above. But, the replacement definitely fixed the clunking and occasional banging noise I was getting.

 

This may be a stupid question.....but does this only effect Lightnings. Is the frame setup that different than F150s or Expys??

Just thought I'd ask since I've been following this for a while.

Thanks---Bob

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99 EB Expedition 5.4L with all the perks,3.73 LS,Heated Mirrors and Seats. Everything but sun-roof. Rhino Step Bar, Ford Bug Shield,More to come...

 

Sal,

I talked to SVT yesterday about the front end clunk/lower control arm noise. The tech told me that the "head Lightning program" technician has said to repair the clunk, install a starlock washer on the head side and the nut side of the bolt in the slot. What is your opinion of this, do you think it will work? Also do you still suggest welding????

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DEVILDOG

 

Hello,
My 2000L at 1800 +- miles made the famous clunk noise when I was backing out of my driveway this A.M.I looked at it just awile ago and you can see where the paint has worn off,on the driverside.You would think they would have fix this problem,before they started production for 2000 models.Anyway my question is should I take it back to the dealer and get them to give me a frontend alienment after they fix the problem or get my buddy to weld the washer in place,and not worry about it any more?Thanks for your help people,This is a great place to get answers for these Beasts that we drive.

Jim
Jhobbs@pdq.net

 

Any one in the detroit area know of a dealer that will take care of the clunking noise and poor front end tire wear--alinement.I would like to go in or drop off my Lightning and not have to take it back 5 other times.

 

Any one in the detroit area know of a dealer that will take care of the clunking noise and poor front end tire wear--alinement.I would like to go in or drop off my Lightning and not have to take it back 5 other times.

 

One more time....Does this only effect Lightnings or what????

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99 EB Expedition 5.4L with all the perks,3.73 LS,Heated Mirrors and Seats. Everything but sun-roof. Rhino Step Bar, Ford Bug Shield,More to come...

 

ExpyBob,

The problem is easy to see and you can check for yourself. Just look at the driver side lower control arm where it mounts. If you notice that the rear bolt has scraped the paint on the frame, then you have the same problem. I haven't heard of any of the F150 owners complaining about the problem, and if you haven't heard the clunk (you would know if you heard it, it's pretty awful) then you don't have the problem.

The lightning has a different suspension than the F150's and Expy's so this problem may not occur on those vehicles.

Hope this helps.

WM

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99 Lightning
Superchip
Bedrug
LoRider Hard tonneau (w/remote unlock)
PSP filter
Bassani Full system