Front End Seems Loose
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Front End Seems Loose
I have an 03' F-150 and I have had an 01', but the 03' is the first one I have had over 40,000 miles on. My question is my front end doesn't feel as solid as it did in the begining and I have had the pitman arm replaced at 25,000 miles(dealer warranty). I know the tires are not as good as before either, but when i go over bumps it just feels a little un-stable, checked tie rods and had the front end up in the air and nothing seems loose. I know there is no grease fittings for the front except the ones on the pitman arm. So the real question is, is there any adjustments or things in the suspension I can tighten down to tighten up the front end? Again this isn't like a major problem, the truck still drives great I sometimes am just a little **** about how my $37,000 truck is driving.
03' Supercrew 5.4L Fx4
03' Supercrew 5.4L Fx4
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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with 40,000 it should not be greatly worn. might check the tires, rotating the better looking to the front can help. ball joints should be o.k., but to test, jack up the tire 2 inches off the ground with a jack under the A frame so tire and frame go up together. stick a broom handle or 2 x 4 about 5 feet long under the tire a few inches. pry up and try to lift the tire with A frame on the jack. if you feel a 1/4 inch slop or so, that is the lower ball joint. if no movement between teh tire and frame, then they are still o.k. --- now grab the tire front and back side. push-pull toward the opposite side of the truck to see any side movement. that is the tie rod slop.--- set ont he ground and do the opposite tire- same checks.
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Thanks for the input. I do rotate the tires every 5,000 miles, but I've only jacked up the truck and tried pulling back and forth on the top and bottom of the tire, never up on the underside with a board, I will try this a see, thanks.
Hotshot
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the torsion bar suspension it attached to the lower A- frame. if you put thejack under the A frame and lift, all the wieght is on the hoist. when you try to "lift" the tire, all you are doing is lifting the tire and top A-frame (less than 100 pounds) and any slop in the lower ball joint shows up real easy.
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From: windsor ont canada
Watch out for those tie rods.The dealer was fooled by mine.Ended up at Banks alignment because of an occasional popping noise three months later.Both sides passed inspection in the air but then they dropped it on to the lift ramps With the engine off and cranked the steering wheel back and forth against the raised lips on the ramps.The right lower had a 1/4" of upward travel and the left almost went 3/4".They stopped because he thought it was going to pop out.Replaced with moogs and i can not believe how tight the steering is now.
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