I was hanging out with my landlord buddies this a.m. and all of the 97's are cracked one 98 but none of the 99s which are my step-dad and myself. My build date is 12/98 his is 1/99 and neither one of us are cracked(he has 10K miles and I have 4,200miles). It appears there is some kind of difference in the doors between the 97-98s and the 99s. The difference is in the setback on the weatherstripping seems further than on the 97@98s. Everyone thinks there is some kind of difference but no one can quite tell what it is. I have seen 99 with door cracks but they all had very early build dates and I saw them with 15k + miles on them a few months ago.

I think Ford did something different to the doors that is very subtle after around 11/98-12/98 or that maybe a supplier makes the doors and it depends on what supplier you get. I thought everyone makes their own bodies now but I may be wrong? Does anyone have a door crack with a build date after 12-98?

Of course it could all be in my head but I have have read posts about guys having door cracks on 99s at only 3500 miles so maybe I am on to something.

 

No Crack here
(on the door anyway)

------------------
99 XLT 5.4L reg cab
4x2 120" Wheelbase
4 wheel disc brakes/ABS
5 star larait style wheels
Toreador Red/Silver
3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL
Delta toolbox
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)
Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp for components.
Jensen 50x2 RMS for subs.
2 6.5" Bazooka tubes
Lowering shackles?
54regcab@duesouth.net in Columbia SC

 

I also have a '99 with no crack yet. Built 4/99 with 6500 mi on it. But I do not put my windows down very much.
Jeff

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1999 F150 Lariat
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55ls
Deep Wedgwood Blue/Silver
Lund Interceptor hood shield, VentVisors, Class III hitch, Ford molded mud guards, soft tonneau, factory CD with changer (thanks Dusty), tinted windows

Menasha, WI

http://www.fortunecity.com/silversto...ton54home.html

 

The build date on my 1998 F-150 supercab, 5.4L V8 is 4/98....current mileage 17,050.
I do not have the door crack on either side. No piston slap. No leaking sliding rear window. Only problem is the cracked paint in the rain gutters on the roof..which is minor.



[This message has been edited by Dustoff (edited 10-01-1999).]

 

I've been putting together a list of F150online members that have door cracks. The list is over 135 and growing. Many of those that have contacted me own 99's with very low mileage - as you described.

My personal opinion is that the doors crack as a result of two things, both use related: Rolling the windows up and down and opening and closing the doors. The doors flex as a result of the door seals being so tight to the top of the frame.

I'd really like to hear more about the idea of trucks built after a particular build date not getting cracks.

In the meantime, if you have door cracks, and you haven't already done so, please email me at tcolegrove@excite.com. I'll add you to the ever growing list. Please, all I need is your email address, name (if you chose to give it) and which door(s). I don't need to hear if you don't have door cracks.

Thanks in advance

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1998 F150 XLT S/C 4.6L Auto, 3.55LS, 4X2, Moonlight Blue, all the bells & whistles except for leather seats. Lund Deflector, K&N, Pentaliner S/R, Window tint, factory side-steps, Infiniti component speakers, Superchip. Tom in Tacoma (Washington not Toyota)



[This message has been edited by TColegrove (edited 09-30-1999).]

 

Maybe a difference in door pillar width?
My 99 is a little over 5.5" in width where the crack normally is.

------------------
99 XLT 5.4L reg cab
4x2 120" Wheelbase
4 wheel disc brakes/ABS
5 star larait style wheels
Toreador Red/Silver
3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL
Delta toolbox
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)
Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp for components.
Jensen 50x2 RMS for subs.
2 6.5" Bazooka tubes
Lowering shackles?
54regcab@duesouth.net in Columbia SC

 

So what we need to do is leave the doors shut and the windows down and get in and out Dukes of Hazard style...;-)

 

Maybe I shouldn't post this to push my luck but ....... 1999 build date 8/98, took possession 9/30/98, 8300 miles, no door cracks as of now.

------------------
Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, Rhino Liner, Mobil 1, leaky rear slider. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)

 

COO-COO-COO! ROSSSSSCCOOOOO "P" COALTRAINNNN!

------------------
David
'99 F150 XLT SC, STYLESIDE
4X4 ORP 5.4L, AUTOMATIC,
139wb, Rhino, K&N,
BugGuard, RainGuards
Superchip

[This message has been edited by cloaker (edited 10-01-1999).]

 

I have a 99 with 16,100 and no door cracks yet. The build date is 12/16/98. I do however have the roof channel crack What a bummer.

------------------
99 F-150,XLT, Silver, 2WD, 4.2L, 5spd, RegCab, Shrt WB, Styleside.
Current Mods:Billet grille, Line-X bedliner, 5%window tint all the way around, Alpine CD w/2 MTX Subs & Rockford Fosgate 250w amp. K&N Airfilter. Glasspac w/dual exhaust exits out the back.
Future Mods: Superchip, driving lights, & a custom paint job

 

I had this same thory going for a while about the early 97's. Those made in 96. It was going good for quite some time but someone finally blew it. BTW mine is a 97 (md 5/96) no cracks leaks or anything

 

cphillip,

I remember your theory about the early 97s not having the crack. I am thinking it may be a supplier/plant defect or Ford quietly "fixed" the problem sometime in 99. I am hoping to closely examine the 97s and 98s that are cracked and compare it to my 99 to see what the difference is. It may be a matter of millimeters difference but something appears different and my truck shows no signs of cracking, nor does my stepdads. We both smoke and the windows are up and down constantly. Some of our friends never use the windows and have the crack.

We'll see if some one blows it for me

 

I also have my theory, which so far has held up. The sheetmetal on the outside of my door distorts below the window opening if the door is open and you roll the window down then up. Every cracked door I have talked to the owner about has exhibited this same problem.

I have heard of owners with windows that don't distort the sheetmetal when closed, but so far no one has reported a crack developing in non-distorting doors. I think that closing the window all the way (to the point the door sheetmetal distorts) puts pressure on the door frame, which is then further stressed every time the door is opened and closed (it's flexing at it's weakest point?).

It's hard to believe that Ford would let this go on so long if it was a simple matter of realigning or adjusting the window track, but the fact is I have not found one single person that says their door has a crack in it that also does not have the distortion issue with the window opening and closing.

I'm not saying this is the entire problem, but I find it too coincidental to not at least be a partial factor.

------------------
97 XLT Extended Cab 4X2, Northland Edition Short Box. Dark Toreador Red & Saddle Tan Accent. Tan Interior. 4.6L V8, 4-Spd Automatic. 3.55 Limited Slip differential, Factory Bedliner, Non-Leaking Sliding Rear Window, Trailer Towing Package, LeBra Tonneau, Ziebarted, with the'Crack' in the drivers door.




[This message has been edited by HCBPH (edited 10-05-1999).]

 

So, exactly where is this crack located?
How large can they get?

I have a 97 F150 with 24,000 miles.

 

By any chance with these door crack problems is there an associated problem with the power window? I haven't checked my door yet for this infamous crack but my drivers side power window wants to bind about half way down. On the cold mornings it will stop completely. I know another guy who has a 96 that has the same window problem. Anybody else experience this? -ZRracer

98' F-150 extended cab short box Off Road, 4.6, dual exhaust, Alpine CD (2) 10" Rockford Fosgate Subs, Automatic