2009 Ford F150 XL SCREW with over 167,000 miles on it.

Maybe 3 weeks ago I noticed an oil stain on the drive way. I just changed the oil and assumed the filter needed tightened so I tightened it a bit more. It was at first several large drops. This kept up. One week I backed into my slanted driveway and left the truck there for a few days. Pulled out and there was a large stain in the drive. I got under the truck and could've sworn the leak was coming from the transmission.

Alas, it was not. Discovered it was coming from the passenger side of the truck. My son thought brake fluid so I marked the master cylinder with a sharpee and went several days not feeling any degradation in braking power. The leaking continued so today I jacked the truck up and it truly looks like it's coming from the strut. The only problem is the leaking continues. If it's the strut how much fluid do these things hold? And if it's leaking then why isn't the suspension feeling different?

And if it is a strut then what spring/strut pack is recommended?

 

Yes it is.

 

Ugh...was afraid of that. Just how much fluid do these things hold? Were I to guess I'd say over 2 cups have spilled out.

I think I will just replace both spring/strut packs. Hopefully I can do this myself.

Thank you.

 

This was actually the first problem my truck had when I bought it brand new. After 3k miles the strut decided to puke oil all over my garage floor.

Warranty fixed it... but I was surprised...

Yes, it's not a bad job.

Personally I like the strut/coil pack combos that are already assembled... I get the heebeejibees about using spring compressors... but that's just me.

(Too many safety videos regarding "loaded" springs going off like a bomb...)

 

WOW! I'm getting old (and it happened over 10 years ago) but my truck did a very similar thing. Your recount of you when your truck was brand new jogged the memory of my issue which was very similar to yours; A few months after purchase I found spots on my driveway and called the dealership saying brake fluid was leaking! haha...I took it in and they diagnosed a bad strut. I forgot about that!

I remember them replacing the strut and not the entire assembly. I remember that because the dealership nearest me ordered the part then did something to upset me so I took it to a dealership nearest my work. That last dealership said the particular strut was nowhere to be found except for the first dealership and the service manager refused to let go of it unlessI returned there to have the repair done. I opted to wait for the part to be delivered and had the work done at the 2nd place.

But also like you I'm not interested in working with things under tension like that. Long ago I heard of a mechanic at a Sears automotive store (as recounted by my brother who worked there) working on a spring when it came loose from the spring compressor, bounced off the floor, hit the ceiling, and took his index finger with it. Nope!! I like my digits still attached. haha

I just bought spring/strut packs and anti-sway bar links as well since I'll have most of that disassembled.

 

FYI, a friend, a kid of mine and I swapped out the strut packs today. I also had some new anti-sway bar links. The driver's side link was in poor shape so we decided to swap both out.

First off if anyone swaps out the strut pack I recommend hitting the nuts with some penetrating spray the prior day. Really had no issues with removing the strut packs.

The anti-sway bar links? Different story! It was so frustrating and took a long time to remove the old and get the new bolted down. We wound up having to cut off the driver's side link but with some cleverness we got both links bolted down.