I took my 1990 F250 to a shop to have an alignment and a front end check done, I got the phone call a few hours later, that there were a list of things I needed . This is what was listed:
1)Lower ball joints have play, Recommend upper at same time.
2)Apparently the tie rod on the drivers side is the same as the passenger side (is this even possible? the threads are reversed right?)
3) Axle Pivot bushings
4)Leaf spring shackle bushing
5)Some other bushing with no indication of what it is for!

The total with labor, and alignment is $960 The ball joints are understandable, but the rest? Is it really necessary? my truck has 150,000 miles, and I would expect things to be worn, it is eating my passenger front tire up, and pulls left. Anyone have any input on this? After seeing the estimate, I wanted to trade it in on a 96 Full size Bronco! ( I know its not quite the same) Any help is appreciated.

 

It's entirely possible for that many things to be worn out on a truck that old. When you get that many miles on it, you're lucky if it drives straight without replacing half the front suspension.

Mine tracks straight down the road, but pulls right when I hit the brakes. Complete new brakes in the front, so I think it's something worn out in the suspension. I just live with it.

 

I used to work in a shop, so I know how they try and get you to fix evey little thing, But I want i fixed, but if all I need is ball joints to have an alignment done, then I'd do it. Anyone have any mechanical backgroundin 4x4's that ca help on this one? Thanks.

 

very possible. to replace a lower bj with doing the upper is rediculous, most of the labor is removing the steering knuckle, which you have to do for upper or lower, so might as well do both. i believe the tie rods dont have to be reversed thread, there is a drag link so an outer tie rod is an outer tie rod, i think. to go and buy that bronc is kind of rediulous too, since it might need the same stufff soon, the job is almost identical to do both trucks. i got rid of my 86 f 150 beecause it neede ball joints, and i didnt feel like doing the job. i veen went and bougth all the parts, just decided the truck wasnt worth the effort to me and i bought a new ranger. you can probably spend around 300 bucks on parts and buy or rent the ball joint press to do the job. its kind of like a c clamp with all different cups and attachments.

 

I have a 91 F250 4x4 couple years ago I had to do some front end work my pass. side tire kept wearing out took it to one of those shops BIG bucks for them to do the work but even doing it myself it still wasn,t cheep . IF you have the time go for it better just to spend the extra money I think than a day of cursing and bloody knuckles good luck

 

Well there are a few things for me to consider, and from what experiences I've had with this site, I am very happy. My F250 has a 460 which has plenty of power, however, it has the E40d tranny, and I know in the early years they have issues, mine is doing the shudder when going into OD
but otherwise works fine. If it was a manual trans I would keep the truck for sure. However, this bronco I was looking at has the E40d too, but they are updated by then and should be more reliable. The bronc also has a 351. I know I am comparing apple pie to banana's but anyone have a view on this? I rarely tow anything, and both vehicles are a little challenging loading the baby in the back (mine is the ext. cab, not the crew) But I want a 4x4 to do some minor off roading from time to time. Neither can brag on the MPG but the 460 is a guzzler! Anyone? Thanks!

 

Well, if you don't use the 3/4 ton truck for hauling or pulling, then it might be worth getting rid of. Just don't expect the 351 Bronco to get spectacular mileage compared to the 460.

I agree with what you're saying about the trans, but sometimes ideas look good on paper, but don't work out in the real world.

 

the bronc is a nice vehicle, there is one around the corner from me 4 sale looks tempting, but i tow a race car. if you dont need the 250, then you should be fine with the bronc. a pickup is really handy though. keep in mind what you ask with what it needs.

 

the ball joints in the i beam setup suck *** and those would cause the slop you prolly have and also since the bronco will have the same setup it will prolly have some slop if not the same amount even though its newer. its something these trucks are known for. also the mpg for that bronco should be like around 12 to 14 city and like 14 to 16 highway. after all its got efi and a 5spd. my dads truck is a 87 f150 351w 4 bbl 4x4 with a c6 and we average about 12 to 14 in that thing. oh also on a stock bronco if you can fit 31's on it then you can go almost anywhere. one thing though these trucks have weak frames and like to twist alot so dont tweak it doing anything too crazzy. your suspension should be the dual shock setup and if it is as long as you can life with some stiff suspension then its a great truck (full size rear seat too) good luck with whatever you decide.

 

I don't want to pick apart your entire post, so...

A Bronco with a 351 will be an automatic.

The ball joint setup used on the TTB front end doesn't suck. It works fine - but when the ball joints wear out, there will be slop, just like with ANY front end design. They way you talk, you make it sound like every TTB has slop in it because of a bad design, which just isn't true.

 

I appreciate al the replies! I am leaning towrd just keeping the truck now, and having it fixed. I do not have a pile of money waiting to be spent, so it really would be smarter to just keep it. It took me from oregon to minnesota and back, without any trouble at all! And the whole trade in thing sucks, most lots only give you the trade in value, regardless of new parts on the vehicle or very good condition, BUT If it is a vehicle already on there lot, then hey those parts just became selling points! Same with aftermarket wheels ,A salesman at a dealership told me that aftermarket wheels add no value at trade in, but once on the lot they polish the wheels up and armor al the tires and Bam Aftermarktet wheels is written on the windshield! So I guess I should just keep it, there is no rust on it, but it has a bench seat which I will change once I make my final decision. Thanks again guys, keep up this awesome site!

 

Considering your initial post RX, that's probably smart (keeping the truck). WHen you trade trucks in generally you take a beating, and have you seen the price of new trucks?

I debated (momentarily) trading in my 93 F350 crewcab for a shiney new F350 crewcab, and I determined it was by far cheaper to remove what little rust I have, upgrade the engine to a twin-turbo 500cid stroker, rewire the entire truck to add in air, power windows, locks, cruise, tilt, etc.

Around here, fully loaded F350's go for a mere $45K and up, with leather.
Cough.
Gasp.
Wheeze.
Cough.
Gasp.
Wheeze.

What triggered my considering trading it in was the front ball joints actually... on an F350 here in NJ, I was going to get clipped for about $1300 to have a competent shop do the job. I had steering slop like you would not believe, and after 280K (at the time) dead ball joints is a reasonable thing to have to replace. So, I bit the bullet and now my steering and suspension is nice and tight, and I'm working on building the stroker motor. I just couldn't swallow $45K for something I'm going to beat the living hell out of hauling rocks, junkyard parts, engines, riding lawn mowers, plywood, old furniture, large piles of steel, etc. Bedliner or not, a new truck would look like hell very quickly for my purposes. So, since its cheaper to upgrade my old truck, that's what I'm doing.

 

Agreed. I don't know how someone goes about justifying $45k for a new work truck these days. I guess if you going to drive it around for show, sure. But then why buy a truck?

 

keeping the truck sounds like a good plan. after all if you ever do need it atleast you got it. btw the i beam setup rocks, its one of the best 4wd setups ever made. people have gotten insane amounts of wheel travel out of them 2 and 4 wheel but the fact is when for built the f150's they didnt use ball bearings that were made to handle any bigger tires or heavier loads on the front end. they just werent strong enough. i know this for a fact because just putting 31 inch tires on the front of my dads f150 caused this slope to develope on a truck that only has 62000 miles. this problem was fixed for the rangers i beams (not sure if its the same bearings or not) if they are using the same bearings it makes sense they would hold up better because the truck weighs 2000 pounds less than an f150. either way i know that my ranger has i beams and 123000 miles and it has no slope my f150 has 62000 miles and does. im not trying to knock the i beams here they rock.