Is this sway bar mount supposed to be bent like this?

 

It’s got a front axle now.



It’s a 4wd kinda day today.

Furniture dollies make moving axle under truck easy.


Jack axle up one side at a time and push leaf spring centering pins into their holes in the axle spring perches.

 

Nope.......

 

Didn't think so. Nice write-up on the 4x4 finish. I'm going to be starting mine this weekend. Once the Axle is in the truck I will fix the sway bar mount. It's too hard to do anything to it when the whole axle can move.

 

 

Tristan worse case you get a metal guy to weld a new bracket or make one.

 

That's what I did with Rich's (Frankenstinky). I cut off the E99 mount and welded on a new piece of 1 1/2" x 1/4" flat bar, drilled new holes (farther apart for his existing bracket), and bolted it up. 10-minute job.

You have found the ONLY reason Ford changed the mounting points after 99.5. The bars are the same size, the bushings are the same, the end links are interchangeable, and they work the same. The only differences are the shape of the bar, the LH lower spring clamp, and the bushing brackets (bolts are farther apart).

 

I just went out to look at the sway bar mounts on both of my trucks - they look like the ones Jason posted in his pictures. Yours passenger side almost looks like an add-on.

 

It's stock. Hence the reason Ford changed it immediately.

 

In other news, the old end Link bushings worked flawlessly for the rear shock bushings. They actually look exactly like the ones that are in the top mount. Of course, I still don't know that I need them anyway. As Jason mentioned, some trucks will sit level after the swap so, I will have to put my front end on and see what it looks like. At the same time when I put a load on it I don't want it to look like it's squatting so, I might want to put the rear blocks on anyway. I will cross that bridge when I get to it. I went and purchased an air chisel as well. I'm going to be starting my swap Friday. I figured I'd like to have an extra day in case something goes wrong so I talk to my boss and got the day off. I will keep you guys up to date when I get started!

 

Good luck to you Tristan! Despite the task you are accomplishing, remember your safety is paramount and should not be compromised for any reason.

 

Absolutely! Thank you very much!

Quick question for you Sous! So I ordered new seals for my steering gear after I just resealed it because it was leaking again. Well I have just learned I need to quit diagnosing leaks by where the fluids dripping from. Of course I knew this but, I just saw a ton of fluid dripping off the bottom of the steering gear and the input seal was soaking wet. The actual leak is not coming from there. I was under the truck this morning just because I wanted to ensure I was right before I pulled the steering gear back off this weekend. The pressure line that threads into the side of the power steering pump is leaking. What made me notice was the bottom of the power steering pump and the line directly underneath it was also covered in fluid. I remember when I put it back on something didn't feel right. Is there supposed to be an o-ring on this fitting? I wasn't sure but, I put one on anyway. The thing that didn't seem right to me was after it was threaded on and tight the swivel fitting could still spin freely. Of course this was a big red flag but I took it back off and put it back on three or four times and could not get it to seat the way I thought it should. Anything you can tell me that might make me feel stupid but fix my problem? And I got to thinking anyway, at the rate that it's leaking I don't think a input seal on the steering gear could leak that much. At least not a misinstalled seal anyway. I made sure to put all the seals in properly. If I drive 10-15 miles I have to put more fluid in. Even if I'm not turning much at all I still run out of fluid.

Any ideas on that fitting?

 

I would have to double check, but I believe the fittings on the gear itself have an O-ring, but the fitting on the pump has a teflon ring. I took a moment and verified this against the Ford Service Manual in section 211-02 and Power Steering Pump.



Here are the teflon rings by Dorman, which are suitable to be used in this application and can be bought at just about any parts store. It may be advantageous to warm the teflon ring prior to installing it to give it a bit more elasticity.

Dorman 82540 is the teflon ring kit you will need.

 

Thank you sir! It seems like you always have the knowledge for just about anything you can do to one of these trucks and as always I very much appreciate you! I will run to the store after work and pick up that kit. And I will heat it up before I put it on like you said. Do you think having the wrong o-ring on there would make the swivel fitting stay loose after everything was tight? I know this is a hard question to answer but I know it wasn't leaking before I took it off to do the steering gear reseal. thanks again!

 

I simply learn from others who have gone before me or have the ability to research what I need. If I don't, I punt and ask for help just like everyone else does.

I am not sure about the high pressure hose hose fitting and cannot remember what mine was like after I installed it. I can tell you that it does not leak though.

Referring back to section 211-02 I see the details in the wording about the teflon ring may not be referring to the high pressure hose to pump fitting, but it might. The only time the high pressure line is mentioned is in step 6 as noted below.


Although, I was/am pretty sure there is a teflon ring at that fitting. I recalled a thread by AKCooper9 a while back where he was looking for a definitive answer. Here is his thread: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-or-oring.html

There is in fact a teflon ring there at the pump to hose fitting based on what I see in the FSM and in AKCooper9's thread.

Also, keep in mind that the reservoir cap has a small hole in it. If you overfilled the reservoir at all, the fluid could run down the side and to that fitting.