Yesterday i noticed the steering suddenly becoming vague and that the wheel was no longer centered when driving straight ahead.

Examined the front suspension and discovered that the welds holding the drag link to the frame had failed. A closer loook revealed that most of the bead surface was already rusted, and obviously had failed long before and/or never had any penetration.



Now I need to see what i can have done about it.

I have friends/relatives who are master welders and work building race cars/off-road trucks and doing Aero-space welds on rocket nozzles etc.

Obviously my first choice.

If for some reason I am forced to go through Ford or some commercial frame/suspension shop i would be interested in reccomends for the Greater Orange County area in Southern California.

I would appreciate any advice, and will update as warranted...

LINK to photos etc. :

http://www.martialartsacademy.org/leviweldfailure.htm

_____________________
Quietman
www.roenation.com
2005 EXCURSION LIMITED Eddie Bauer edition 4X4 PSD
4" FabTech lift/level, Bilstein mono-gas shocks, Rancho Steering Stabilizer
Silverstars, BFG 295/75/16 AT KO's on Factory Mags
LANDYOT Generation II Radius Rods, Ford factory hood insulator

 

the ones i have seen broke i rewelded and added a gusset to stiffen it up and they havent come back yet.

 

Isn't that the steering damper that's bolted to the cracked bracket?

 

It is a bit unclear from the picture, but both the drag link and the steering stab are attached to the same bracket. The link is above and parallel to the SS.

_____________________
Quietman
www.roenation.com
2005 EXCURSION LIMITED Eddie Bauer edition 4X4 PSD
4" FabTech lift/level, Bilstein mono-gas shocks, Rancho Steering Stabilizer
Silverstars, BFG 295/75/16 AT KO's on Factory Mags
LANDYOT Generation II Radius Rods, Ford factory hood insulator

 

I have to wonder if that 4" lift is going to get you in trouble with Ford on any warranty claim. I would go with your welding buddies and whatever they suggest, plus gusseting as suggested here. Build it up to deal with that lift and the leverage the lift puts on the suspension, especially side-to-side action. I wheel the h*ll out of my '71 Bronco with 35" tires and the new track bar welds we just put in (71k lbs/sq in.) are stellar. Your buds will do a better job than Ford. Doesn't sound like it's far enough gone that you're going to need some ort of jig or alignment expertise from Ford. -Ken S.