2002 Front End Issues
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2002 Front End Issues
We bought our 2002 super crew 4x4 with 5.4 04\20\02 Brand new
in 04-16-03 16000miles had to have steering shaft replaced due to clunking when turning, along with lower ball joints, along with idler arm
then in 04-06-04 35000 miles had to go in for 2nd steering shaft replaced due to clunking when turning along with 1 lower ball joint and idler arm again , then in 11-14-04 had to replace wheel bearing assy. (drivers side) now the truck has almost 50000 miles and i was just looking things over now i have the 3rd idler arm in need of replacement , we do not beat on the truck my wife uses just as a daily driver for work we live on black top rd so chatter bumps are not the cause ,truck has stock tires no lift and no snow plow all repairs have been made at ford dealerships ford has told me this is very uncommon they claim they have nothing on record with these type of repeated issues does any body have any ideas ???
ps i noticed to day that truck is smoking oil when started has there been issues with valve seals or guides in the 5.4l engines ??
any help would be great thank you
mike
in 04-16-03 16000miles had to have steering shaft replaced due to clunking when turning, along with lower ball joints, along with idler arm
then in 04-06-04 35000 miles had to go in for 2nd steering shaft replaced due to clunking when turning along with 1 lower ball joint and idler arm again , then in 11-14-04 had to replace wheel bearing assy. (drivers side) now the truck has almost 50000 miles and i was just looking things over now i have the 3rd idler arm in need of replacement , we do not beat on the truck my wife uses just as a daily driver for work we live on black top rd so chatter bumps are not the cause ,truck has stock tires no lift and no snow plow all repairs have been made at ford dealerships ford has told me this is very uncommon they claim they have nothing on record with these type of repeated issues does any body have any ideas ???
ps i noticed to day that truck is smoking oil when started has there been issues with valve seals or guides in the 5.4l engines ??
any help would be great thank you
mike
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From: Louisville,Ky.
I haven't heard of any problems like that either. Maybe she goes BAJA racing while you're not looking 
Sounds like valve seals if it is blue smoke. Common on the early 90's 4.6L but not on the 99-up for sure.
Sounds like valve seals if it is blue smoke. Common on the early 90's 4.6L but not on the 99-up for sure.
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I've heard of lower ball joints on the f150, but never any of the other mentioned items. As far as the blue smoke, my 99 4.6L does it every once in a great while when it sits long term, but I also have 137,000 on mine. My foreman at a former job told me that was normal. As for 50,000, I've never heard of one of those using oil that early. I'll snoop around and see what I come up with.
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From: Mi
hey guys,
yea i had to get lower ball joints replaced with about 20 thousand miles on it and mine blew out smoke one day as well but hasnt since ive kept a very close eye on it, but that was after it sat for like 2 weeks.....this truck is slowly pissing me off...i got the 5 4 as well also when i turn i feel a vibration once in awhile god only knows what that is... take it ez...
yea i had to get lower ball joints replaced with about 20 thousand miles on it and mine blew out smoke one day as well but hasnt since ive kept a very close eye on it, but that was after it sat for like 2 weeks.....this truck is slowly pissing me off...i got the 5 4 as well also when i turn i feel a vibration once in awhile god only knows what that is... take it ez...
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I'll Keep you guys updated
Thanks Guys for all your imput , i was looking at front end a little closer today
the way things are setup under there its no wonder my idler arm wears out so fast , all the force everytime the truck hits a bump it is going to put a very high load on idler , i'm going to check the after market for replacement pieces , does anyone know if with a lifted truck do they move the idler arm when installing ??? if so maybe i'll lift the truck , if i'm gonna have front end problems i might as well lift it , lol as for smoke its every time when we start it i think i'll just add that to list for my Warranty iteams
mike
the way things are setup under there its no wonder my idler arm wears out so fast , all the force everytime the truck hits a bump it is going to put a very high load on idler , i'm going to check the after market for replacement pieces , does anyone know if with a lifted truck do they move the idler arm when installing ??? if so maybe i'll lift the truck , if i'm gonna have front end problems i might as well lift it , lol as for smoke its every time when we start it i think i'll just add that to list for my Warranty iteams
mike
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Wheatland, Mo
Before you start dumping money into the truck, check on your state's "Lemon Laws". With repeated failure of parts in a new vehicle, it may qualify to get replaced altogether. MY 02' has 90K on it and the suspension and steering parts are all original with the only thing being replaced was the shocks for a diffirent ride. I have taken mine off road when I go hunting, and pull many trailers with horses and boats.
