Front end job
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 311
Likes: 19
Front end job
So I’m planning on replacing front end components due to squeaks, squeals, vibration and popping sounds. The vehicle has also started handling different in the turns as well. On the list is upper and lower control arms so that the ball joints and bushings are replaced, inner and outer tie rods with adjusting sleeves and front shocks. All of this should run me about $500 on rock auto using moog parts and Monroe shocks. Should I add any other parts to the list or avoid either brand? The boots on the lower ball joints have been torn since I bought the truck and I figure that since it’s not much more to buy an entire lower control arm that I should just do that so the bushings are also replaced.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,565
Likes: 2,677
From: Near Salt Lake City
Sway bar end links is all
Looks like you will have your work cut out for you
You will love it when you are done
A thing to remember
The A arms thru bushing bolts need to be tightened with the vehicle at the normal ride height
This is part of what they call neutralizing the suspension
Do that while you are down there and be that much more happy!
You could also neutralize the exhaust
You should have no trouble with Moog parts or Monroe shocks
Looks like you will have your work cut out for you
You will love it when you are done
A thing to remember
The A arms thru bushing bolts need to be tightened with the vehicle at the normal ride height
This is part of what they call neutralizing the suspension
Do that while you are down there and be that much more happy!
You could also neutralize the exhaust
You should have no trouble with Moog parts or Monroe shocks
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 311
Likes: 19
Sway bar end links is all
Looks like you will have your work cut out for you
You will love it when you are done
A thing to remember
The A arms thru bushing bolts need to be tightened with the vehicle at the normal ride height
This is part of what they call neutralizing the suspension
Do that while you are down there and be that much more happy!
You could also neutralize the exhaust
You should have no trouble with Moog parts or Monroe shocks
Looks like you will have your work cut out for you
You will love it when you are done
A thing to remember
The A arms thru bushing bolts need to be tightened with the vehicle at the normal ride height
This is part of what they call neutralizing the suspension
Do that while you are down there and be that much more happy!
You could also neutralize the exhaust
You should have no trouble with Moog parts or Monroe shocks
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,565
Likes: 2,677
From: Near Salt Lake City
Neutralize the exhaust
It's the same as the suspension
It means to let loose (loosen) all the clamps and the Y pipe to manifold bolts
Then retighten them all with the car on the ground (at the proper ride height)
Used to do this over the pit at the dealer or on a drive on rack
This neutralizes the exhaust and is better for ride quality and NVH
I used to do this mostly to the suspension
Paid well and made the cars / trucks drive like a dream
It's the same as the suspension
It means to let loose (loosen) all the clamps and the Y pipe to manifold bolts
Then retighten them all with the car on the ground (at the proper ride height)
Used to do this over the pit at the dealer or on a drive on rack
This neutralizes the exhaust and is better for ride quality and NVH
I used to do this mostly to the suspension
Paid well and made the cars / trucks drive like a dream
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 311
Likes: 19
Did not know that was a thing, as far as I can tell I don’t need to touch the exhaust in this job. I will order the sway bar links as you suggested since I’ll have to disconnect that to remove the control arm. I’m also considering replacing front driver wheel bearing as that one is still original and the other three were replaced last October.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 314
I think the “bigger” idler arm pattern was for the 7700 package trucks. Those of us with 4.2s don’t have that issue. Or maybe it was for 4x4s? I swear I found something definite back then. Some old posts say it’s a random draw. No big deal to buy both and return the uninsured one like I did, but I hit up Oreilly’s for mine in a quick pinch.
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 311
Likes: 19
I may just get it from AZ or some other parts store when I get started. I don’t like dealing with returns. I should have put in the original post that my truck is a 4.2/5spd rwd but somehow forgot to include that important information. Perhaps the sizes are dependent on rwd or 4wd then as mine isn’t a 7 lug wheel.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,920
Likes: 515
I'd run just about anything other than Monroe for shocks, but if you've already ordered, they'll work....kinda....for awhile. Even Gabriel tends to be better, but you've gotta be sure you're comparing apples to apples as each brand offers different "levels" of quality
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 311
Likes: 19
It was either the Monroe Reflex or Oespectrum I was looking at, I don’t recall off the top of my head but they’re about $40/shock so not the cheap $18 ones. Bilsteins 4600s are what I want but that will have to wait. I installed a set of Monroe coil spring assemblies on a friends Flex and they seem to be just fine, what’s wrong with them?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,565
Likes: 2,677
From: Near Salt Lake City
Get a Ford Idler arm. It's worth the extra 40 bucks. They last so much longer
IMHO that it is better than getting a lifetime one from say Autozone that wear out
That is just the idler arm
I would run the rest of the aftermarket parts in the kit
IMHO that it is better than getting a lifetime one from say Autozone that wear out
That is just the idler arm
I would run the rest of the aftermarket parts in the kit
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 311
Likes: 19
I was looking at Moog for all the suspension parts. Is the motorcraft one that much better than moog?