I would like to know who is responsible for routine vehicle maintenance so I can have them look at mine too.

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Red '00 Lightning,
Adopted 4/19/00,
Power Surge Performance enhanced,
Sound effects provided by Flowmaster,
13.701@100.81

 

I have the "clunk" and the "bang". My truck, however, is not out of alignment. The dealer won't fix the lower bolt unless Ford tells him to. Ford won't tell him to. Therefore, I continue on clunking and banging. In my opinion, any suspension part that moves when it's not supposed to is a safety issue!

adp
#1530
Black '99

 

This appears to be a completely different issue. The fix should not require replacement of control arms.

This has nothing to do with the bolt in question, the bolt sets cross caster, and as such has no bearing on camber/toe that could cause a wear such as this. And also sound like you did not perform routine maintenance. Worn down to the cord, that sounds down right irresponsible. I could be wrong. I had a Chevrolet that ate hard truck tires about every 25-30K, even when aligned right, but I did pay attenion to tire wear, and knew when it was time to change them.

Your alignment shouldn't change, so it will not be out of alignment.
It is sad, but the dealers have forgotten who their customers are.
I can’t get my dealer to fix problems right, and they don’t seem to care.


[This message has been edited by SilverBullet (edited 06-30-2000).]

 

Silverbullet, pardon me if I seem a bit rude, but I was there and you where not. Also just what are your credentials anyway to tell everybody else they are off-base or off-the-wall? Fess up!

The lower control arms where replaced at the instruction of the SVT technical team. I had a test course near the Dealer I had found that easily reproduced the clunk noise. This fix also included a four wheel alignment. The Dealer tech rep put microphones on the control arms to pinpoint the problem.

It seemed obvious that you had to get the right combination of steering and suspension movement, along with a sudden weight transer, to get the clunk.

After the fix, I went back to my "test track" and the clunk was gone and has stayed gone. Also, the excessive pulling, lane hunting and darting sensation disappeared from my steering.

Also, if the lower control arms have really nothing to do with wheel alignment, then why did the Dealer do a four wheel alignment after the control arm replacement?

 

I Am just sitting here shaking my head at this thread......Can some one explain to me exactly what a 4 wheel alignment is on a truck with a leaf spring/monobeam rear axle that has fixed mounting points?????????

Redlite, my question is not meant as a flame, I just don't understand why your dealership claimed they did this on a vehicle that has no adjustments on the rear suspension. I can however believe that your truck may have had standard F 150 lower control arms installed on it at the factory. They are very easily destinguished by a green sticker on it that says SVT, but mistakes do happen on the assembly line.

Fact is that this indeed is not a safty issue as silverbullet correctly pointed out. It is a major annoyance that I too have had from day one and am patiently awaiting a proper PERMANT fix. (I did the star washer bit and torqued to
150 ft. lbs. and it still moves on occasion

 

Redlite, this is what I believe was your "issue", the clunk fixing happend because your trucks Low-control arms where replace and the frame wax was henced removed from them and the mounting bracket. I do not know that this will forever solve your clunk issue.

IMO: Your truck would not have needed an alingement, if the control arms used where exactly the same as the ones take off, and put back on the same way. This is impossible even with same kind, because of manufacturing variability, and other tolerances stack ups. Additionally your control arm I believe were not the right ones.

 

THNDR shakes his head too at the thought of them ramming the curb trying to get the drivers rear wheel in line with the passenger rear wheel.

------------------
Red '00 Lightning,
Adopted 4/19/00,
Power Surge Performance enhanced,
Sound effects provided by Flowmaster,
13.701@100.81

 

Safety Issue?

I have the dreaded "CLUNK" also, and I also have a blown out driver side front tire that was worn down to the core on the extream inside that I was not aware of, no front end pull to make me suspect anything either. Almost hit a concrete barrier on I-45 North bound at 70 MPH. It is a safety issue, and had I hit anything, I would be looking for an attorney. I will also post this problem with the NHTSA, thanks SuperChicken for the reminder. Be sure and note "FORD" is aware of the problem and will be at fault if someone is hurt. Just thankful it happened to me and not my wife!

 

As I posted on another thread here (one of those off-topic impuslive posts), today's experience in the Service Dept....

"Two times now I've had the privilege of leaving the 00 in service dept where I work. And, two times now they have been unable to solve the problem. I've showed the service manager the pics of the shifting bolt that are posted on the F150 board (thank you again, Clonetek). He seemed very interested in solving this problem at that time. Now I'm beginning to wonder. After all, the truck was purchased from Joe Cotton Ford in Illinois and the dealer where I work isn't an SVT dealership and I'm in Baton Rouge La.
Here is the exact wording and spelling on my warranty ticket from today:
"CHECK FOR NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEIL TURNIGN LEFT. NPF NO PROBLEM FOUND

INSPECT AND VERIFY UNABLE TO TIGHTEN LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT WITHOUT AFFECTING ALIGNMENT. NEEDS ALIGN.

CHECK FOR EXHAUST RATTLE
NPF NO PROBLEM FOUND
INSPECT AND VERIFY NOT EXHAUST RATTLE. VERIFY TRANS COOLER LINE CHECK VALVE. NORMAL CHARACTER ISTIC."


Anyone else have an opinion about this? And does this problem have the potential to influence tire wear?

Trace
Beginning to have frustration

 

SilverBullet:
This has nothing to do with the bolt in question, the bolt sets cross caster, and as such has no bearing on camber/toe that could cause a wear such as this. And also sound like you did not perform routine maintenance.

It does have a lot to do with the toe in/out. As the cross mounted bolt moves laft or right the tire points in/out on the toe in/out. It also effects the lower ball joints. After taking it back to the dealer to be fixed, the lower ball joint was replaced due to excessive wear, and the front end was aligned again. At this point I was told that there was some wear on my tire but now that it was fixed it should not be a problem. Then the tire blows a week later. I have since returned back to the dealer who has replaced the tire under warranty. There isn't any service record of a fix for the "Clunking" other than to clean off the frame wax. Folks its a oval hole with a round bolt, its gona move.

Went back and asked about the lower control arm being replaced. New lower control arm was ordered and its the same one thats on my truck. Redlite, wish I had your part numbers to see if it was the same one. One of the tech's suggested putting on a different control arm but wasn't sure if it would work.

 

IBADTK, the lower control arm part numbers I have on my repair order are: XL3Z-3078-BA and XL3Z-3079-BA. They are called "ARM ASY FRON XL3Z". Now the repair order says replace lower controls per SVT Rep. Time is 5.10 hours. The order does not mention anything about wheel alignment at all. I mentioned wheel alignment because the Service Rep says that is what they would do as part of the repair. And, the last time they did a wheel alignment for me,it was including all four wheels. I stayed and watched. Maybe they just try to align the front wheels to the back wheels. But,who cares as long as it is under warranty?

I know that I am not a Ford steering or suspension expert. Therefore, I really would not strongly pay attention to what anybody has to say on this subject unless they are a Ford/SVT engineer. That includes me. I am just putting this information out there to help out others.

If you want to read more on this subject from me, do a search on "redlite", especially some of my earlier posts if they are still available. Some on how to demonstrate the noise and "test" the fix.

 

Please let me know if you posted a complaint with NHTSA. Just put on this post and it'll tell me. Thanks

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1999 Red SVT Lightning
#3466 of 4000
NLOC #428
99 Grand Prix GTP Red