After an accident 2 months ago wrecking our 07 Expedition EL, I decided to replace it with a bit older 01 Excursion. I did not want a huge payment again, and wanted something a bit older to ease working on it. I own a 2001 F250, an 04 F350 drw that I pull my boats with. Having been a Ford owner for over 30 years thought I knew what I may get into. I test drove the thing, made the precursory checks, and purchased the Excursion.

It had a slight driveline vibration that I credited to the oversize tires. It needed some work but was a deal I could not pass up. I have bought several vehicles form this lot over the years for the kids, and a few cars for myself. Not one issue.

Then it all starts.

1. Replaced the tires and found wheel spacers.
2. Lift has been done with a cheap kit with the short spring packs on the front and blocks on the rear.
3. Had to replace both front hubs inside of two weeks after a trip to the local dock.
4. Outer tie rods replaced due to wear.
5. Brakes completey done with powerstop kit due to severely warped rotors.
6. AC clutch went out, and replaced. A week later the compressor is toast. Tried to get buy to cold weather/
7. Discovered bolts missing in the front spring perches, that is on the table for tonight to reaplace.

The list goes on.

Just a few words of warning:

1. Do not take for granted buying a vehicle from a reputable lot. Most lots do not have the insight into the heavier vehicles, and the associated problems. They want to make money.
2. Do not take the good deal because of the price, be wary. If a price is to good to be true step back and reflect.
3. Even though you may be knowledgeable about vehicles, take the time to take it somewhere and have a second set of eyes look at it. They may catch something you missed.
4. Test drive the thing for more than a 20 mile deal. Drive it on the roads you normally drive. If they want to sell it the salesman will gladly let you do this. ( I actually drove this one for 4 hours on a short trip and it did not rear anything severely noticeable.) This will not always show problems
5. Put the vehicle on a lift and take the time to look over every nook and cranny under the thing. Do not take anything for granted.
6. Do the carfax deal. Look for multiple changes between dealers in a short time. Usualy indicates a reason the vehicle did not sell at such a good price.

At my age I got complacent, and way to trusting. I thoroughly love my Excursion in light of all the problems I have had. And I am somewhat satisfied with the price I paid. But as the saying goes " Buyer Beware."

Hope this sticks in someones mind and saves them future headaches.

 

The only thing I can add is a rule at my house.
Don't buy anything after dark, no matter how many times you have looked at it in daylight. I was burned 2 times before I learned that lesson.
Glad you are still happy with being an Excursion owner even after the problems getting there.

 

Fairly normal stuff so far really. The lift problems are the exact reason I look for bone stock vehicles. Brakes, AC, u-joints, a leak here and there to fix, all normal stuff really.

While your at it I would flush the trans and do the rear differential service and possibly a power steering flush. If you didn't yet with the brake adventure I would also flush out all the old brake fluid.

Really you don't have a whole lot left to do and should have a good freshened up trouble free X.

 

It could have been a lot worse

 

what did the trip to the dock entail that required both front hubs to be replaced?

 

Im with ycis, there may be a bigger issue to cause both of thehubs to go bad. When i bought my ex it needed both hubs. turned out to be missing spacers on both axles.

 

Not really sure, dont know if it was the water, or the heavy load, but started getting a whine that progressivey got louder. Upon tearing the hubs out the seals were shot, one auto hub nearly melted through but was old damage. I went with warn manual locking and brand new timkens, to solve problems.

I love the thing more than my trucks. I like the way it tows the boats, plus no longer a two vehicle trip to anywhere with all the grandkids. Have alot more to do in the long run, but when I am finished will last me a good long while.

 

why were teh front hubs in the water?

 

still got those spacers? very common for them to be used so we can run the 05+ style rims

those leaf mini-packs are very common lift as well. nothing wrong with them as long as they're bolted down tight.


sorry to hear you had a few issues, but that is the name of the game with a 10+ yr old rig. especially if it's had multiple owners. I got lucky and am only the 2nd owner of my X


got any pics?

 

 

Yes, but only about an inch , not fully submerged. I feel that had some of the contribution to it. I should have been a bit more thorough, and inspected the seals. I am going through every last seal and replacing all of them over the next few weeks.

Tylus- the spacers are still on the truck till I get the new rims. They are the 1/4 universal though and I would not personally recommend them to anyone. When I swap out the rims if ya want the things I will throw them in a mailer and send them to you, otherwise they end up in the scrap bucket in the garage.

 

good call on scrapping those spacers. I was hoping you had the 2" ones. not the crappy ones

 

If I had the hub centric ones would not be switching rims. I may break down and buy a set before it is over.

 

I used to get water in my old hummer geared hubs when submerging in the water after running hard...the sudden change in temp would shrink up the seal enough to allow water in...but it was never anything substantial...and nothing that the hub oil (used in those vs actual grease) couldnt overcome.

either way...id definately avoid submerging your hubs in the water...cant get a longer tongue on the trailer?

thats gotta be a shallow as hell ramp if your excursion has the FRONT wheels in the water.

 

Very shallow ramp. Not a normal ramp we use, but due to the busy weekend we put in and took out elsewhere. Do not like using it due to the nature of the ramp. Had it been the smaller boat not been a major problem there.

Overall it was just a culmination of factors on the hubs, that caused the failure. With the rebuild of front end, and avoiding that ramp should never happen again.