Looks like these were the right kits.


Oddly enough, you save quite a bit of money ordering the two kits from the same company, but through their eBay store instead of their website.

The steering kit was listed as $369 and the ball joint kit as $125 with free shipping on thetireclub.com, but $299 and $129 on their eBay store with free shipping as well.

So far, I'm pretty happy with parts hunt.

Timken Hub Assembly x 2 - $347.04 shipped
XRF Steering Kit - $299 shipped
XRF Ball Joint Kit (all 4) - $129 shipped
Michelin LTX M/S2 tires x 4 - $852.76 shipped

I'll start working on replacing all the filters and fluids while I'm waiting on these parts to show up.

 

The underneath of your X looks like mine, especially the oil pan.

I'm setting up to replace front end parts too so thanks for the link and part numbers.

 

Sean,

Here are the kits broken down even further in case you decide to order things individually due to not needing a part.

XRF Steering Kit
1- DS1438 Drag Link pass side Greasable
1- ES3426s Sleeve
1- ES3427t Tie Rod at pitman arm , connects to drag link Greasable
1- DS1439 Drag Link pass side Greasable
1- ES3422s Sleeve
1- ES3423 Tie Rod drivers side outer, conn to pass side drag link geaseable

Ball Joint Kit
2- K8607T Lower ball joints
2- K80026 Upper Ball joints

Here's a link to XRF's catalog. After inputting the information for my vehicle, I was surprised by the amount of replacement parts that XRF makes for the Excursion.


http://showmetheparts.com/xrf/

 

The parts are on amazon and if you have prime free shipping for a grand total of $290
1- DS1438 Drag Link pass side Greasable
1- ES3426s Sleeve
1- ES3427t Tie Rod at pitman arm , connects to drag link Greasable
1- DS1439 Drag Link pass side Greasable
1- ES3422s Sleeve
1- ES3423 Tie Rod drivers side outer, conn to pass side drag link geaseable

 

Thanks. I do have prime and I'll keep that in mind.

 

Congrats on the X.

I'd check if yours came with a rear sway bar- being a performance guy, you can imagine how absurd it would be to not have one on a vehicle this large and top-heavy. If it doesn't, you can get one cheap and easy from an F350 at Pick n Pull (or similar). Hellwig makes a good one, too.

Best/ cheapest mod I've made!

 

You see, it's stuff like this that makes the FTE/Excursion forum community better than any other forum I'm a member of. As I read back through many old threads trying to learn more about my recently purchased Ex, I realize that the people here just seem to share their knowledge without expectation. Fantastic community!


I should have bought a Ford sooner.


Back on topic, I just checked and I guess I'm lucky because it already has a rear sway. The Ex actually rides pretty damn good considering it's age, horrible tires, shot ball joints, and bad bearings. It's definitely not as smooth as our other people hauler, but it is capable of a great deal more.


Thanks for mentioning it!

 

Your other people hauler must not be a straight axel 3/4TON 4x4

 

Very far from it. FWD 4.0 V6 beast known as the Chrysler Town & Country Limited. Well at least my wife drives it like she thinks it's a beast.

 

I just got the new stock sized Michelin LTX M/S2 tires mounted and balanced and it made a dramatic difference! I can't believe that the previous owner was driving around on the last set of tires.

In addition to the other parts ordered, I just ordered four new Monroe Reflex shocks. Like anyone else, I was trying to get them as cheap as possible so I hunted around and found them on Amazon for the lowest price. I looked at Advance Auto because they have a Lifetime Warranty if purchased through them, but their price was much higher. I started doing the math and figured that if I split the order into two separate purchases through Advance Auto, I could use the online discount code that gives you $40 off for every $110 spent. I had a $5 discount remaining through the SpeedPerks and then I found out that there was a 20% rebate if you bought at least 4 qualifying Monroe shocks. This is a really long way of telling you that all said and done, four new Monroe Reflex shocks will have cost me $123.68 with a Lifetime Replacement through Advance Auto.

The initial vehicle purchase plus the maintenance costs still has me feeling pretty good about buying this beast.


In-progress/Completed Maintenance

Timken Hub Assembly x 2 - $347.04 shipped
XRF Steering Kit - $299 shipped
1- DS1438 Drag Link pass side Greasable
1- ES3426s Sleeve
1- ES3427t Tie Rod at pitman arm , connects to drag link Greasable
1- DS1439 Drag Link pass side Greasable
1- ES3422s Sleeve
1- ES3423 Tie Rod drivers side outer, conn to pass side drag link geaseable
Ball Joint Kit - $129 shipped
2- K8607T Lower ball joints
2- K80026 Upper Ball joints
Michelin LTX M/S2 tires x 4 - $852.76 shipped
Monroe Reflex Shocks x 4 - $123.68
Mounting/Balance w Lifetime Balance - $54.95

Not counting the title and registration fees along with Virginia's outstanding road tax, I'm sitting at $10,306.43 total invested so far including the original purchase price.


Additional Repairs Needed


Clunking sound from front end - I think this will correct itself once I change the ball joints and bearings. The noise happens to be coming predominantly from the same side as the shot ball joints so I'm pretty optimistic.

Stuck passenger side hub - It's completely frozen in the auto position. 4 wheel drive works fine and when disengaged, the wheel spins freely independent of the axle, so I'll fix the hub whenever.

Overhead center console display - Not important, but I'll fix it whenever. It has a broken lid on one of the overhead storage compartments that doesn't close easily so I'll probably replace it when I get around to it.

Once all the maintenance stuff is done and I know that the vehicle is truly sound, I'll get started with the clean up which has yet to be done. Amazingly, I only found one scratch on the front bumper and no dents in the body at all. Everything else will definitely come out with some compound, polish and wax. The carpet is free of tears and bad staining, but the front seats need recovering.


As a bonus, my county requires emission inspections, which is why my Pontiac still has out of state plates. When I was registering the Ex, I found out that it doesn't require an emissions inspection at all based purely on the fact that it's over the weight limit requirement. I've had a hell of a time trying to get some of my previous used cars to pass emissions so that's another reason to keep it running for as long as I can.

 

Order & replace the front sway bar end links while your under the frontend. Very likely the CLUNK mentioned above.

 

Clunking sound from front end: might also be a loose front anti-sway bar link or bushings. Might also be a drive shaft slip joint in need of lube.


While you're in there, pump some grease (down the ABS sensor hole) into the non-serviceable unit bearing for some additional life.


Oh, and Welcome!!

 

Sean,


You were spot on. The sway bar links joints were shot and the bushing on the sway bar were worn badly so I replaced them all. Problem resolved.

 

Woohoo, sometimes we get lucky with a volley of ideas!

 

Welcome to the clan. I'm sure with some research you'll find tons of projects to work on: door lock actuators, rear lift struts, door seals, fuel tank mods...