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I' m about to purchase a 99 f550 Fontaine 7.3 and took it for a test ride today. I found that the 6 bushings stabilizing the rear axel were all totally gone, and luckily I did not cause any damage.
This is a leaf over air suspension.
I am hoping to find a solution or parts for these bushings, I have seen the diagrams but they are not specific about the bushing size or part number.
Has anybody had any luck with replacing these and have part numbers they can share?
Thanks
Eric
Originally Posted by InfiniEights
I own a 2002 F550 Classic Traveler and just found this thread. I registered simply to thank Y2KW57 for sharing so much information on a little-known vehicle. This is a great example of the positive that the Internet can bring.
@GGraves:
I am lucky enough to be the 2nd owner of the truck where the original owner kept meticulous records. I even have the original sales paperwork, Ford brochure, and ReycoGranning 345P suspension manual with diagrams. My compressor had also been relocated to the toolbox, but is a Thomas 1/3HP 12v compressor. I've had to replace the head gasket on the compressor as well as replace the pressure switches to control it.
I've had a challenge keeping bushings in the rear stabilizer links; they don't last long. I even broke both links one time and had almost given up finding parts and was about to resort to making my own with all-thread. But then I found some for a Lincoln Towncar that were the right length. So far they've held up for 5000 miles (about 3000 of which was towing my 5th wheel).
Here are two images from the suspension manual; I hope they help someone.
I noticed your post a couple of weeks ago, but have been too busy to circle back to it until now.
You said two key phrases that make me think that the diagram you quoted is not the correct diagram for the suspension under the truck you are considering purchasing.
First, you said "1999."
Second, you said "leaf over air suspension."
The diagram that you quoted is NOT a "leaf over air suspension." Instead, it is a 5 link parallelogram suspension. There are no leaves involved.
The 1999 model year in name encompassed two production years in practice. While the Fontaine Classic Traveler wasn't quite developed in 1998, when Ford began producing early 1999 model year Super Duties, it did debut in time to be a late 1999, but at the time of debut, the rear air suspension was supplied by a different vendor that what is shown in the diagram that you posted.
The initial suspension vendor was Silent Drive, which used a Z beam, that looks like a leaf spring, but is shaped like a Z, where the air bag is aft of axle, rather than over axle.
By contrast, the diagram that you requoted depicts a rear air suspension supplied by Reyco-Granning, without any type of leaf or Z beam, and with bags that were directly above the axle.
With different vendors and different suspension designs, the bushing involved will naturally be different. I recommend searching for Silent Drive, which I believe has changed hands, and under new ownership with different management, who may have abandoned support for legacy suspension systems. However, you might be able to eek out of them some diagrams and a Bill of Materials list from a quarter of a century ago, and from that work out inside and outside diameters, and hardness durometers, to find bushings that are suitably sized for replacement.
Hey new guy here, instead of starting a new thread figured id carry on the convo here. Just recently bought a 99 f450 Lariat classic traveller. Been hauling boats since the early 2000’s until now. Looking forward to bringing it back to
its original glory over the next year or 2 and being a personal truck hauling my own toys.
Hey new guy here, instead of starting a new thread figured id carry on the convo here. Just recently bought a 99 f450 Lariat classic traveller. Been hauling boats since the early 2000’s until now. Looking forward to bringing it back to
its original glory over the next year or 2 and being a personal truck hauling my own toys.
Hi, I’m new here so glad I found this thread… I have a 1999 f450 Fontaine package truck and I’d like to know if my truck has a recall.. I called ford and they said it didn’t but after seeing this I didn’t know I could contact Fontaine.. do you have a number for them or how did you contact them because I can’t find a number… I’d really appreciate any help.. thx in advance This is how it sits currently… I’ve owned it about 8 months and replaced the rear air springs and put the flatbed on.. Before. Before. Before replacing the bags and painted the frame Before. Before.
ance
what replacement air bags did you go with? Mine are getting weather cracked and wanna replace them but having a had time, we deal with air bags all the time at work but this ones proving tricky.
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