When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have an 86 F150 and it looks like someone tried to tow it from the front and bent the crossmember thats located under the radiator. It's not the radiator support, it's the one below it that bolts to each side of the frame with 2 big *** bolts on each side. i'm trying to search junk yards for a replacement. What exactly is this part called? Anybody junking one out? Thanks, Keith
Not sure what you are talking about. I didn't know there was a crossmember up there, I had to put a support piece across the frame when put a snowplow on my old truck and I took the bumper off. Here's the radiator support.
It's the bolt-on cross member that the front sway bar bolts to. I really don't know what it's called either. The part is not shown in either link Franklin put up.
Thanks for the replies. It does look like 5C128 but there isn't a sway bar and there doesn't appear to be any place to mount one. There isn't a mounting tab on the passenger side like in the diagram and I don't see where it would mount on the drivers side. Attached some pictures.
Is it possible that this truck was manufactured without the sway bar? This is a bare bones model, no A/C. Was the sway bar only with the towing package?
For how the sway bar mounts, there's two brackets (5D485) that bolt on with the two smaller holes on each side of the cross member. I'm not sure why they even put that cross member on trucks that didn't come with a sway bar...unless it's also used a guard for the steering linkages. You should be able to pick up a used one for under $20.
I have an 86 F150 and it looks like someone tried to tow it from the front and bent the crossmember thats located under the radiator. It's not the radiator support, it's the one below it that bolts to each side of the frame with 2 big *** bolts on each side. i'm trying to search junk yards for a replacement. What exactly is this part called? Anybody junking one out? Thanks, Keith
Hi Keith,
Did you ever find out what that part is called?
I dont know if anyone has come up with a name for it but I can tell you 99% of them will be bent.
I have 2 81 F100's and both were bent. I took the better one and hammered it straight to use in my rebuild.
Only difference between the sway bar and non-sway bad ones that I know of are the holes for the sway bar brackets and you can drill them if you need to.
Dave ----
I dont know if anyone has come up with a name for it but I can tell you 99% of them will be bent.
I have 2 81 F100's and both were bent. I took the better one and hammered it straight to use in my rebuild.
Only difference between the sway bar and non-sway bad ones that I know of are the holes for the sway bar brackets and you can drill them if you need to.
Dave ----
Ford doesnt have a name for it besides "Front Crossmember".
I havent seen many of them bent how ever. Mine isnt bent and the '82 F150 work truck I did a 5.0 coyote swap on at work some 12 years ago now wasnt bent either.
For how the sway bar mounts, there's two brackets (5D485) that bolt on with the two smaller holes on each side of the cross member. I'm not sure why they even put that cross member on trucks that didn't come with a sway bar...unless it's also used a guard for the steering linkages. You should be able to pick up a used one for under $20.
Could be to allow the dealership to install the swaybar later on.
There where other posts if not on here then Gary's site about this cross member and it seemed most were bent so you were lucky to have & seen 2 that were not bent.
There had to be a good reason why the factory added that crossmember to all 80 - 86 4x2 & 4x4 trucks and I dont think it was so the dealer could add a sway bar.
If that was the case I would think it would have been drilled for the sway bar brackets.
My .02
Dave ----
There where other posts if not on here then Gary's site about this cross member and it seemed most were bent so you were lucky to have & seen 2 that were not bent.
There had to be a good reason why the factory added that crossmember to all 80 - 86 4x2 & 4x4 trucks and I dont think it was so the dealer could add a sway bar.
If that was the case I would think it would have been drilled for the sway bar brackets.
My .02
Dave ----
Mines not bent, I also havent seen one bent at work but I havent seen but probably six 80-86 trucks in a span of 10 years at work and I didnt see under all of them. Only thing Im on the fence on is attachment of the tow hooks that was on the 4x4 trucks. I see no way of mounting it until I get the hooks so I can see which holes its supposed to use.
