Radius Arm Nightmare
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Radius Arm Nightmare
Please Help!! I have been without my truck for a month now, due to me breaking the thread off the driver's side radius arm, when trying to install new bushings. I have ordered and returned now two sets of radius arms. The first set I got... I accidentally ordered a 4 wheel drive set, so I returned them and found a set on Ebay that stated they were off an 85 Ford F-150 2WD truck. I ordered them last Tuesday and just got them this evening. I open the box and noticed that they were also wrong. I called the seller and explained and they informed me that I was an idiot...in not so many words, and that they are the correct ones for my truck. My truck is an 83 Ford F-150 2WD pickup. Now when I say they are wrong, they are much larger than the ones that were on the truck. Here are picture I took of my issue...
Pictures by chrisandtiffany - Photobucket
Pictures by chrisandtiffany - Photobucket
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Looking at the parts book, it looks like you could have either a stamped axle or a forged axle.
Radius arms for the two are different.
I can only find pictures of stuff with a stamped axle; does the below look like what you have?
Radius arms for the two are different.
I can only find pictures of stuff with a stamped axle; does the below look like what you have?
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Alberta, Canada
This is my old 85 F150 2wd configuration - does this look like what you got in the mail? Comparing to your picture my radius arm and ibeams are larger, and completely different.
King pin design?
King pin design?
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The ones they sent in the mail do look like yours, and are to large to fit onto my front axle. It appears I have the forged axle. I heard these are hard to find... I hope I heard wrong...Anyone have any of these, or have a part number for these?
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
I think I'm misleading you....
After looking more closely, it looks like the forged axle was 1980/81 with build dates before 8/81.
For your 1983, it looks like:
E2TZ-3A360-B ARM ASSY. (FRONT AXLE RADIUS) Fits 1981/86 (built from 8/81) F150 with 2WD as well as scattered other 2WD F150-350s 1981 - 1991.
Our sponsor Ed Olson at Horizon Ford (www.partsguyed.com) can sell these to you; MSRP $89.05 His discount price for FTE members: $71.24
Sorry for the confusion; I was also looking at part numbers for related parts (nuts & bolts & washers & whatnot) and all that confused me.
BTW the pictures are of a stamped axle setup.
After looking more closely, it looks like the forged axle was 1980/81 with build dates before 8/81.
For your 1983, it looks like:
E2TZ-3A360-B ARM ASSY. (FRONT AXLE RADIUS) Fits 1981/86 (built from 8/81) F150 with 2WD as well as scattered other 2WD F150-350s 1981 - 1991.
Our sponsor Ed Olson at Horizon Ford (www.partsguyed.com) can sell these to you; MSRP $89.05 His discount price for FTE members: $71.24
Sorry for the confusion; I was also looking at part numbers for related parts (nuts & bolts & washers & whatnot) and all that confused me.
BTW the pictures are of a stamped axle setup.
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
BTW the 3A360 listed below is ALL of the radius arms 1980-1989 on all vehicles:
Given your problems, I'm wondering if you really don't have an F250, or if maybe you had 4WD at one time that somebody removed....
Given your problems, I'm wondering if you really don't have an F250, or if maybe you had 4WD at one time that somebody removed....
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Those pics look like the 80/81 king pin I-beams. The bad news, they're the rarest of the bunch. The good news, 80-86 F250 2wd used the same I-beams and radius arms.
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Forged: Illustration Section 30, Pages 4 & 5 
Chris, before 8/81 only pertains to 1981, not to 1982 or later.
Take a gander at this: Text, Section 30, Page 9 = Look at the application charts.
Originally Posted by ctubutis
After looking more closely, it looks like the forged axle was used 80/81 with build dates before 8/81. 
Take a gander at this: Text, Section 30, Page 9 = Look at the application charts.
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Ah ha!!!!!!!!
Thank you!!!!!!!
Forged axle (two pages):
Ya know, another mistake I made yesterday was reading his post too fast; I thought he had a 1985 (the number I saw first) but it turns outhe has a 1983!
So, those part numbers I gave above are wrong for him!
Bill - I'm in a hurry and need to go, could you..................
Thank you!!!!!!!
Forged axle (two pages):
Ya know, another mistake I made yesterday was reading his post too fast; I thought he had a 1985 (the number I saw first) but it turns outhe has a 1983!
So, those part numbers I gave above are wrong for him!
Bill - I'm in a hurry and need to go, could you..................
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From: Simi Valley, CA
The way I interpret it is:
1981 F150 2WD (from 8/81); 1982/86 F150 2WD: E2TZ-3A360-B
1981 F150 2WD (from 8/81); 1982/83 F150 2WD (all-with stamped axle): E2TZ-3A360-B (replaced E2TZ-3A360-A).
Ergo: Since there is no other listing for 1983 F150 2WD's, both the stamped and forged axles use the same radius rods.
Originally Posted by ctubutis
Biil, I'm in a hurry and I need to go, could you....
Join the club! I've been putting off buying new florescent tubes for the kitchen for months, now all are out.So I gotta go get some, so I can find my way around this tomb w/o tripping over one or all four of my Basset Hounds and to get "She, who must be obeyed" to stop nagging me about it.
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Thanks to All. Without you guys...I would have been lost. I took the information you all provided and called the seller. He went out in his junkyard and found a pair of radius arms off of an 80 Ford F-250 2 wheel drive truck. We compared measurements, and pictures and verified he had the right ones. The seller told me to keep the pair I had and make a wind chime out of them, or resell, and agreed to send me the correct ones if I paid shipping charges. I agreed and I should have the correct radius arms on Wednesday.
Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
I took the information you all provided and called the seller. He went out in his junkyard and found a pair of radius arms off of an 80 Ford F-250 2 wheel drive truck.
We compared measurements, and pictures and verified he had the right ones.
These F250 rods are not correct for F150's assembled from 8/81.
2 wheel drive truck. We compared measurements, and pictures and verified he had the right ones.
These F250 rods are not correct for F150's assembled from 8/81.
Applications: 1980 F100/150, 1981 F100/150 before 8/81 // 1980/86 F250 2WD / 1980/89 F350 2WD.
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You have a 1983 F150 2WD, so...you need E2TZ-3A360-B =
1981 F100 from 8/81, 1982/83 F100 / 1981 F150 2WD from 8/81, 1982/86 F150 2WD. Stamped/forged axles use the same radius rods.
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I was google'ing "radius arms, 1983 F150 2wd" and this thread came up.
Does anyone know of a source for radius arms? I need both sides for my truck.
Thanks!!
BTW - I'm not a "New Member" - I had some login issues a couple months ago, and had to set up a new account..
Does anyone know of a source for radius arms? I need both sides for my truck.
Thanks!!
BTW - I'm not a "New Member" - I had some login issues a couple months ago, and had to set up a new account..