Steering Dampener
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Steering Dampener
Hello, Dealership says ours is leaking and wants $300 to replace. What is this part and how important is it that we do this now? Other work recommended is machining rotors and deglazing pads. Said plenty of life left in both so no need to replace yet. Recommended brake flush at same time. How important is it to flush now if fluid is fine? Plus installing our bumpstops and oil change. Altogether they want $915 so trying to determine if we can leave anything out. They are also inspecting steering components while it's up in air. Haven't heard news on that yet.
2001 6.8 V10 4x4.
2001 6.8 V10 4x4.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
A monkey could replace your steering damper. Walk away from that offer. You can get a good damper from Bilstein for about $100.
DO NOT let them turn your rotors! Walk away from that offer as well.
I would take them up on the brake fluid flush if they are offering a good price on it in conjunction with the oil change/bumpstops.
DO NOT let them turn your rotors! Walk away from that offer as well.
I would take them up on the brake fluid flush if they are offering a good price on it in conjunction with the oil change/bumpstops.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
A monkey could replace your steering damper. Walk away from that offer. You can get a good damper from Bilstein for about $100.
DO NOT let them turn your rotors! Walk away from that offer as well.
I would take them up on the brake fluid flush if they are offering a good price on it in conjunction with the oil change/bumpstops.
DO NOT let them turn your rotors! Walk away from that offer as well.
I would take them up on the brake fluid flush if they are offering a good price on it in conjunction with the oil change/bumpstops.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
The dissipation of heat in your brake system is contingent on how much metal is there to do that job. When they turn them, they will be removing metal. You drive a 7500 lb plus vehicle. You need all the heat dissipation you can get. It has been my experience that folks running the lathes rarely remove the bare minimum. They just set the cutter to remove as much as it can without bogging down the machine and let it go. Also, the more material gets removed, the more likely you are to overheat and warp your rotors. I know you pull with your truck. DON'T TURN YOUR ROTORS. Get new ones if there is a problem. They are not that expensive!
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
Only $40 for these (each) 2000-2005 Ford Excursion Brake Rotor - Pronto BR54078 - Front - PartsGeek.com
I used to work in a brake shop. I would NEVER turn rotors on my Excursion.
I used to work in a brake shop. I would NEVER turn rotors on my Excursion.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Quote given to us was 1/2 of replacing them altogether. They said rotors still had a few more machinings left in them.
My husband said he'll give it ago with the steering damper. Thanks for that info.
My husband said he'll give it ago with the steering damper. Thanks for that info.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Only $40 for these (each) 2000-2005 Ford Excursion Brake Rotor - Pronto BR54078 - Front - PartsGeek.com
I used to work in a brake shop. I would NEVER turn rotors on my Excursion.
I used to work in a brake shop. I would NEVER turn rotors on my Excursion.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
What's LE?
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
You aren't buying time by shaving metal you need off your rotors. On smaller cars that don't tow, you can get away with turning the rotors (sometimes). You need all the metal on the rotors that is supposed to be there. If there is something wrong with them, replace them. This is a "any truck that tows a trailer thing" and an Excursion thing since we are so heavy.
I thought you said your husband was LE?
I thought you said your husband was LE?
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
You aren't buying time by shaving metal you need off your rotors. On smaller cars that don't tow, you can get away with turning the rotors (sometimes). You need all the metal on the rotors that is supposed to be there. If there is something wrong with them, replace them. This is a "any truck that tows a trailer thing" and and Excursion thing since we are so heavy.
I thought you said your husband was LE?
I thought you said your husband was LE?
So how many miles should new rotors get if mostly towing? I will spend $ but don't want to have to do that every 2 years! Don't know how old ones on there now are. All I know is they were machined once when we bought it. Thanks for helping us figure this out Nicmike!
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
You should get 40-50 THOUSAND miles out of set of rotors unless you are overweight often or drive like a bat out of hell. I am on my second set of pads on these rotors I am running and about 60 thousand miles. They are still good to go. No deep ruts, gouges or lines in them yet. That is about 4.5 years worth of driving for us.
They don't make rotors like the used to. They are manufactured very close to the minimum thickness allowed right off the factory line.
They don't make rotors like the used to. They are manufactured very close to the minimum thickness allowed right off the factory line.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Okay, cool. Definitely not overweight. Don't drive like a bat either. At least not in the Ex! 
We've only put on 13K miles in the 21 months we've had it.
What about pads now? They still measured fairly new. If they need to be reglazed just replace them too then?
We've only put on 13K miles in the 21 months we've had it.
What about pads now? They still measured fairly new. If they need to be reglazed just replace them too then?
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
If the old pads are still plenty thick, you just need to make sure and bed them into the new rotors properly. They will continue to work just fine if this is done. Lots of info on the web about bedding rotors after a brake job.
What are your pads made of (friction material: metallic, semi-metallic, ceramic)?
What are your pads made of (friction material: metallic, semi-metallic, ceramic)?