Steering Linkage Question
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 268
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Steering Linkage Question
Good Morning All,
This is about a 04 Excursion, 4x4, 6.0SPD.
Yesterday I was searching for the cause of a slight steering wheel vibration at 70+ mph and discovered a linkage assembly in my steering seemed to be very loose. The picture below shows the linkage in question. It is the lower bar, the one with the notches in it. There is about 1/8" - 1/4" play in the linkage at the joint connection. Other than replacing this linkage is there a fix or is this something which is normal? Or should I get the welder out and just make it a solid bar?
Oh, the vibration was a bad wheel bearing assembly on the passenger side, it was replaced.
Thanks,
Jeff
This is about a 04 Excursion, 4x4, 6.0SPD.
Yesterday I was searching for the cause of a slight steering wheel vibration at 70+ mph and discovered a linkage assembly in my steering seemed to be very loose. The picture below shows the linkage in question. It is the lower bar, the one with the notches in it. There is about 1/8" - 1/4" play in the linkage at the joint connection. Other than replacing this linkage is there a fix or is this something which is normal? Or should I get the welder out and just make it a solid bar?
Oh, the vibration was a bad wheel bearing assembly on the passenger side, it was replaced.
Thanks,
Jeff
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
No joint in your steering should have 1/4 play and the one you show pictured should have zero play since it is a non serviceable swedged joint.
Welding to fix it.
Depends, are your welding skills sufficient that you trust your life on them ?
Welding to fix it.
Depends, are your welding skills sufficient that you trust your life on them ?
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Joined: May 2015
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Front outer connecting tie rod end-Passenger side
MOOG-DS1439 is the moog part number.
Order through amazon. I just ordered all new tie rod ends (left and right outer, right inner, and inner at pitman arm) for about $250. Much cheaper than ordering through moog, and for 100 pounds worth of parts, free shipping was awesome!
MOOG-DS1439 is the moog part number.
Order through amazon. I just ordered all new tie rod ends (left and right outer, right inner, and inner at pitman arm) for about $250. Much cheaper than ordering through moog, and for 100 pounds worth of parts, free shipping was awesome!
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,029
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ES3426S: ADJUSTING SLEEVE
ES3422: ADJUSTING SLEEVE
DS1438: Inner at rie rod (right)
DS1439: Right outer
ES3423: left outer
ES3427T: Left inner (at pitman arm)
that is all of the parts for the steering linkage. All are greasable moog problem solver parts that i bought for less than 300 bucks through amazon.
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MOOG DS1439 vs OTHER AFTERMARKET
Hey Guys/Girls...
Has anyone investigated the difference between the one piece Outer Right tie rod vs the two piece swedge model.
It seems to me that the one piece version would be a more solid choice. One less joint to deal with.
Question: why do the the swedge joint at all? What is the advantage from a consumers standpoint?
From a manufacturers standpoint, I'm sure it make $$$ sense. Easier to make in two pieces.
Has anyone had dealings with the one piece style?
Has anyone investigated the difference between the one piece Outer Right tie rod vs the two piece swedge model.
It seems to me that the one piece version would be a more solid choice. One less joint to deal with.
Question: why do the the swedge joint at all? What is the advantage from a consumers standpoint?
From a manufacturers standpoint, I'm sure it make $$$ sense. Easier to make in two pieces.
Has anyone had dealings with the one piece style?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 10
From: West Virginia
When I swapped to Dana 60, it already had a one piece one on there. No idea why they would swedge them, but sometimes the factory does things weaker for crash reasons (ie the center pins in the leaf springs can break in a crash, grade 8 ones wouldn't, but the factory would rather the axle break off than dig in and flip the truck, or whatever).
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