[vent mode on]

Well, I got some bad news the other day. I work at Les Schwab (for you guys on the east coast, it's a tire store) and figured I'd get one of the alignment guys to do a free alignment for me. So we pulled my truck onto the lift and found nothing but problems. In order to align my truck I have to purchase a camber kit, yay! The guy also found that my ider arm needs to be replaced. Last but not least, we found that I have a blown right axle seal. I only have 45k miles on this truck and I already have to tear the rear end apart. . . in this a normal thing for Fords to do. I've owned import trucks my entire life and figured I'd venture into the domestic truck market this time, but I'm beginning to have second thoughts. Have any of you had these problems? Thankfully I work at a place where I can get all the parts discounted and the labor free. I would not be very happy if I had to take this pile into a dealer.

[vent mode off]

-Craig

 

The cambur kit I can't help you with, but the idler arm is no suprise. Thats been an issue on the 97+ F150s for a long time. Typcially once the stock ones go most people replace them with the greaseable Moog arms. These will last alot longer and carry a lifetime warranty. As far as the axle seal........big deal. That should be a 30min or less repair for a good mechanic. Seals over time become hard and brittle and some of the companies are cutting corners on parts now so its not real surpsing that its gone out. You might check your breather on the axle, if its plugged it may cause premature axle seal failure.

 

Where can I find more information on the Moog arms?

-Craig

 

Places like Oriellys or Autozone carry them or can get them. If you want to buy online rockauto.com has decent prices on them too.

 

I found the part at rockauto.com, but there are two choices. Do I need the 3.43 bolt pattern or the 2.48?

-Craig

 

Craig..sorry to hear about your truck.

I don't know how you treat yours, but I'm surprised mine hasn't had anything go wrong yet....I beat the hell out of mine 4 wheeling and playing in the snow and stuff. The Chevy I had before my Ford didn't stand up to any of this abuse, I was constantly working on that stupid thing, that's why I traded it in. I'm real big on Maintenance though. I change the oil every 3K, Fuel filter at 10K and so on...really big on maintenance. I figure if I take good care of it, it will take good care of me when I'm out romping around in the desert or forest.

good luck..

 

I was thinking that the different measurements refered to the arm length not the bolt pattern. Anyhow if thats what they're refering to you need to go out and measure yours. Its the distance apart that the 2 mounting bolts are.