Why Drive Ford?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 18
From: Alberta
Why Drive Ford?
My sister has a 2004 Chrysler Sebring that has 196,000 km (122,000mi). About a week ago she was driving down a back road when the lower left ball joint let go.
So we load it on a trailer and take it home.
Today I was gonna replace the ball joint and upon further inspection I find that the upper ball joint is also on its way out. It's dry and small amount of slack in it. The tie rod end is also not far from falling apart. So we'll replace them, and check the right side. But seriously! My dad has a 1994 Ford 12 passenger Clubwagon that currently has 522,500 km (324,000mi) and he says he has never changed them and greased them only a fee times. He has also never flushed or even changed the transmission fluid.
I'll just say, (and it's no secret) all vehicles are not built equal.
NEXUS 4. IB AutoGroup
So we load it on a trailer and take it home.
Today I was gonna replace the ball joint and upon further inspection I find that the upper ball joint is also on its way out. It's dry and small amount of slack in it. The tie rod end is also not far from falling apart. So we'll replace them, and check the right side. But seriously! My dad has a 1994 Ford 12 passenger Clubwagon that currently has 522,500 km (324,000mi) and he says he has never changed them and greased them only a fee times. He has also never flushed or even changed the transmission fluid.
I'll just say, (and it's no secret) all vehicles are not built equal.
NEXUS 4. IB AutoGroup
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Lack of maintenance on ANY brand of vehicle will and does lead to this very same situation. Add to that Ford also uses more than a few questionable quality parts (E-Series ball joints for example) only proves Chrysler isn't the lone practitioner of bottom-line economics. Cheaper for them is okay, end-user lifetime cost not their responsibility.
Sad fact of life is if/when this Club Wagon ever needs work it will be a budget buster due its lack of maintenance. Perhaps that too is just bottom line thinking---if it ain't broke don't fix it right?
They don't call it "preventative maintenance" without good reason.
Sad fact of life is if/when this Club Wagon ever needs work it will be a budget buster due its lack of maintenance. Perhaps that too is just bottom line thinking---if it ain't broke don't fix it right?
They don't call it "preventative maintenance" without good reason.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 18
From: Alberta
Lack of maintenance on ANY brand of vehicle will and does lead to this very same situation. Add to that Ford also uses more than a few questionable quality parts (E-Series ball joints for example) only proves Chrysler isn't the lone practitioner of bottom-line economics. Cheaper for them is okay, end-user lifetime cost not their responsibility.
Sad fact of life is if/when this Club Wagon ever needs work it will be a budget buster due its lack of maintenance. Perhaps that too is just bottom line thinking---if it ain't broke don't fix it right?
They don't call it "preventative maintenance" without good reason.
Sad fact of life is if/when this Club Wagon ever needs work it will be a budget buster due its lack of maintenance. Perhaps that too is just bottom line thinking---if it ain't broke don't fix it right?
They don't call it "preventative maintenance" without good reason.
I was surprised though that ungreasable factory ball joints and tie rod ends would fail so early...
NEXUS 4. IB AutoGroup
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,009
Likes: 1,517
From: Maine, Virginia
Considering the location and the weather extremes, I don't think she got bad service at all.
The ball joints on '86 F-150 were serviceable and were serviced and still failed at around 70K miles.
The non serviceable ball joints on my '88 failed at 120K.
The non serviceable ball joints on my '99 Taurus were replaced at 110K with the tie rod ends.
The owners manual for my 2004 Expy states that the ball joints should be inspected thoroughly at 150K and replaced if any defect is noticed. That alone tells me that there is a predetermined failure rate for these lubed for life parts.
The ball joints on '86 F-150 were serviceable and were serviced and still failed at around 70K miles.
The non serviceable ball joints on my '88 failed at 120K.
The non serviceable ball joints on my '99 Taurus were replaced at 110K with the tie rod ends.
The owners manual for my 2004 Expy states that the ball joints should be inspected thoroughly at 150K and replaced if any defect is noticed. That alone tells me that there is a predetermined failure rate for these lubed for life parts.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
More and more these days cheaper parts are installed---its a bit difficult thinking a grease fitting adds enough cost eliminating it is that big a savings but it must be so.
The ball joints and u-joints of my E-Series vans (before replacing) were OEM supplied without grease fittings. I'm not one to think everything is a conspiracy but less service does mean more parts are sold so maybe that's the thinking here?
I'll also bet Chrysler uses some of the cheapest parts available which would greatly contribute to such an early failure.
Hope the repair goes good---and she lets you take a look-see under this one from time-to-time for her.
The ball joints and u-joints of my E-Series vans (before replacing) were OEM supplied without grease fittings. I'm not one to think everything is a conspiracy but less service does mean more parts are sold so maybe that's the thinking here?
I'll also bet Chrysler uses some of the cheapest parts available which would greatly contribute to such an early failure.
Hope the repair goes good---and she lets you take a look-see under this one from time-to-time for her.
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