Underbody part - need help removing?
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
Underbody part - need help removing?
I am trying to figure out how to remove this part from my 2000 Ex. I think it is a damper/weight of some kind. It is mounted to the crossmember just under the tranmission. You can see the head of the bolts that hold it in and above that (can't see in photo) are two nuts on the top side. If you look closely at the picture and at the bolt heads you can see there is some kind of a metal snap clip that holds the bolt head. Does anyone know exactly what this thing is an how I remove it?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
It is serioulsy in my way and I'm darn close to taking my truck to a friends shop and having him torch it off? Ford calls it an "axle shaft damper" (which makes no sense) as it is attached to the crossmember under the transmission and isn't connected to the axle shaft in any way. It is only attached to the crossmember and is one heavy piece of steel. There is a second one in the rear of the truck bolted to the #5 Crossmember but it's just bolted in and doesn't have the same metal bolt welds/clips that this one does. Anyway if any of you Ford guru's out there can shed any light on this things purpose and instructions on how to get it off it would be much appreciated. If I have to torch it off and it's something important I know I can replace it for about $50 from the stealership but hate to go torching things off without understanding exactly what their purpose is in the first place.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
Lol not sure if that was sarcastic or not - that you think I'm an idiot for contemplating cutting it off or if you really do cut stuff off if it's in your way.
Really just want to know what the thing is for....
Anybody?
Really just want to know what the thing is for....
Anybody?
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,152
Likes: 4
Was not calling you an idiot by any means. I'm into car audio and when we build large stereos, if something is in the way we move it. Lol
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,693
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From: West of Chicago
I would leave it alone personally, Ford installed it for a reason there is two of them. I would leave them alone
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,466
Likes: 162
From: Sedalia, CO
This subject has produced two of FTE's all time funniest threads:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...-attached.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...k-is-that.html
I gotta ask, what could it possibly be in the way of?
Mark
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...-attached.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...k-is-that.html
I gotta ask, what could it possibly be in the way of?
Mark
Last edited by ScaldedDog; Sep 13, 2012 at 09:01 PM. Reason: Fixed URL
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Those are anti-vibration weights Ford installed in an attempt to minimize vibrations at the u-joint area along with making the splines in the drive shaft slip joint very tight. There are though bolts going through the crossmember with anti-crush spacers inside the crossmember. You just need to get a wrench on both sides of the crossmember to get the nuts off the bolts and tap the bolts out. No need to cut anything and I doubt if they will affect any vibrations as they are probably part of a dream an engineer had and woke up and said; that's it!
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
This subject has produced two of FTE's all time funniest threads:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/574354-what-is-this-pic-attached.html\
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...k-is-that.html
I gotta ask, what could it possibly be in the way of?
Mark
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/574354-what-is-this-pic-attached.html\
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...k-is-that.html
I gotta ask, what could it possibly be in the way of?
Mark
I don't need it gone forever just want it off - I will put it back - so my truck stays male. But right now I'm removing rust and this thing is a major pain when trying to do that cross member and get to the tran mount. Not planning to remove the cross member or mount, just need this bad *** dude out of my way so I can read the important things right behind it. Removed more rusted bolts than I can count in the last month with PB Blaster and a variety of methods but the bolts on this thing will not budge. Whatever it's purpose is Ford didn't want anyone every removing it, but then I got to ask "why sell the part" well unless they knew to get it off you have to torch it off or maybe tear it off (off roading) along with destroying your tranny.
Ok off my rant....been up close an personal with this thing for 2 days and has me irritated, still don't get how a 20 lb metal weight hanging from two frame brackets, is going to dampen or balance anything on a truck that weighs 8000 lbs. I could see if it was actually attached to the transmission or some part of the trans axle anywhere - they are attached to solid immobile frame parts. Ok sorry I was ranting again....
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
This subject has produced two of FTE's all time funniest threads:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...attached.html\
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...k-is-that.html
I gotta ask, what could it possibly be in the way of?
Mark
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...attached.html\
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...k-is-that.html
I gotta ask, what could it possibly be in the way of?
Mark
Edit: While I was typing I find out the answer AFTER hitting the Post button!
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
First link is bad but I agree the second one is quiet the hoot.
I don't need it gone forever just want it off - I will put it back - so my truck stays male. But right now I'm removing rust and this thing is a major pain when trying to do that cross member and get to the tran mount. Not planning to remove the cross member or mount, just need this bad *** dude out of my way so I can read the important things right behind it. Removed more rusted bolts than I can count in the last month with PB Blaster and a variety of methods but the bolts on this thing will not budge. Whatever it's purpose is Ford didn't want anyone every removing it, but then I got to ask "why sell the part" well unless they knew to get it off you have to torch it off or maybe tear it off (off roading) along with destroying your tranny.
Ok off my rant....been up close an personal with this thing for 2 days and has me irritated, still don't get how a 20 lb metal weight hanging from two frame brackets, is going to dampen or balance anything on a truck that weighs 8000 lbs. I could see if it was actually attached to the transmission or some part of the trans axle anywhere - they are attached to solid immobile frame parts. Ok sorry I was ranting again....
I don't need it gone forever just want it off - I will put it back - so my truck stays male. But right now I'm removing rust and this thing is a major pain when trying to do that cross member and get to the tran mount. Not planning to remove the cross member or mount, just need this bad *** dude out of my way so I can read the important things right behind it. Removed more rusted bolts than I can count in the last month with PB Blaster and a variety of methods but the bolts on this thing will not budge. Whatever it's purpose is Ford didn't want anyone every removing it, but then I got to ask "why sell the part" well unless they knew to get it off you have to torch it off or maybe tear it off (off roading) along with destroying your tranny.
Ok off my rant....been up close an personal with this thing for 2 days and has me irritated, still don't get how a 20 lb metal weight hanging from two frame brackets, is going to dampen or balance anything on a truck that weighs 8000 lbs. I could see if it was actually attached to the transmission or some part of the trans axle anywhere - they are attached to solid immobile frame parts. Ok sorry I was ranting again....
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 23
From: Westfield, Indiana
Even though that crossmember is heavy duty it it long enough to set up some vibrations and you might have to use a 1/2" drive with a breaker bar to get those nuts loose.n The engineer probably encountered vibrations in this area and dreamed up this fix and Ford ran with it. Ford doesn't want anythig getting loose, many bolts and nuts are very tight.