Per Ford parts this is discontinued ('96 AWD front axle). Does anyone have an intact one they could photograph so i can see what it looks like and fabricate my own? I have the steel mounting piece, but the couple of rivets that held a piece of (reinforced rubber?) or whatever is all that's left of the rubber piece. Anyone know what this piece looks like? I guess I could chop up a tire and make something that could work, but it would be nice if I knew how it is configured. Thanks for the assistance.

(BTW, while looking around for this part, I saw a front axle for sale, ostensibly from Ford factory, which claimed a 5:13 gear ratio...wonder if that's a missprint. So far as I know they only came with 3.78 or 4.11 ratios.)

 

Darn, I can't get the pic to show up, are you talking about the mounting bushing, FO9Z 3A443-A, try googling a pic to see if that is what you are looking for.

 

Thanks so much for making the effort...I've searched and can't find a pic anywhere of this part. It mounts below the FRONT (not rear) axle pinion area. It appears to have two rivets that held whatever was there before it disintegrated, and three bolts that bolt it to the crossmember beneath this area. The reference you sent doesn't seem to have a photo. Maybe you can try sending the pic directly to me at maxbarcalounger (at) yahoo (dot) com ?

 

The part prevents rotation of the axle under acceleration load. (Many rear axles on cars have a much larger lump of rubber above them for the same function.)

 

Attached is a schematic of the front axle, and for the life of me, after all the times of being under my 97, I don't recall seeing what I would call a dampener.

 

Thanks for posting that, but the subject part isn't shown on this blow-up schematic. It mounts below the pinion portion of the axle housing and above the crossmember. If you look at your 97 AWD, I'm sure you'll see it.

 

I suppose it might show up on a front chassis or frame drawing--not sure.

 

Ok, I found what you are looking for, the PN is F19Z-3L002-A and is obsolete, nothing on google search, and it has been discontinued for so long Ford doesn't show it out there anywhere on back counter. Attached is the diagram of it.

 

Thanks for all your efforts, 93nighthawk. Although the part you point out does appear to be a rubber stop or snubber of some sort, I think it may be part of the steering rack assembly, as It doesn't appear that even this is the part for the pinion snubber, as the attaching bracket (which I still have) is totally different. In any case, I'll follow my best sense of the thing and get to fabricating something that can likely do the job. Thank you for going above and beyond to help me. I'll take a pic of the remnants I have and try to post it.
Cheers!

 

Here's a picture of mine; sorry I couldn't get a better angle without jacking up the van. It looks like a solid block of aluminum bolted to the cross member, so its bottom is shaped to fit the curve of the member. If you look carefully, you will see a thin strip of rubber bonded to its top where the pinion would hit it.

 

Interesting, since mine doesn't look anything like this...I've gotta go out and get a pic of what I have.
Thanks a bunch for shooting yours. I suppose they could have redesigned them along the way.

 

 

So here's what mine looks like ('96 AWD). It's a formed sheetmetal bracket. One of the three attachment bolts is shown, and one of the two rivets you can just see under the top section. It would seem there is enough consensus now on a thin piece of rubber on top, so I'll find a tire sidewall or something similar to insert here. I'd presume that if the space is totally filled with stiff-ish rubber, that should do the job. Thanks much to those who assisted with this issue!
Cheers!
Max

 

Ford must have changed the design (cheapened it) over the years. This is good to know, so if I ever have to replace mine, I will know that I can't scavenge parts from a 96 model.