I hit a pretty big rock last week with the 99 SD and bent the steering stabilizer almost into a "L" shape. I had a friend bring a replacement down today but it is not the correct part number. I hope someone can help since I can not just run to the store and exchange it. I have three questions:

The part I got is a Rancho RS 5401 and that is for a 99 250 light duty (and F150 I think). The correct part is the RS 5410. Could anyone tell me the difference. It looks like it will fit and maybe it is just not as strong. I will not be able to use the truck for a while unless I can make this work so if it is usable I will go for it.

Second, the part I took off was a wimpy thin shock and I am not sure if I need to re-adjust the bracket in the center of the truck? Do these need to be adjusted and if so how do you tell where it goes?

Third it looks as if I bent the sway bar on the right side. I assume this is a sway bar runs right under the oil pan. I have some pics here, looks like it was bent back about a half inch where the bracket attaches to the frame. On the left side I can see the bar moved a little since it has a nice shinny area showing that was under the bushing. Will this be a problem if I leave it like that or will I need to fix it?


Right side or sway bar from front looking back, more or less.


Same right side more of a side view looking from the left side to right side.


Left side of sway bar where it looks like it moved a bit.

Any help will be appreciated since I am far from any real help, thanks
Scott

 

There's no problem driving the truck without a steering stabilizer until you can get the correct one. Steering stabilizers are optional equipment and not standard on every SD. I really couldn't tell you exactly what the differences are between the 2 Rancho's, since I've never actually compared the 2. Since the F-250LD is basically an F-150, and the SD is a much bigger animal, I would guess that valving, shock body length, extended and compressed lengths are probably different. To mount the 5410, you just remove the old one and slap the new one in there using the same mounts in the same place.

I really don't know if that bent sway-bar mount will cause a problem or not. I would imagine that since the bar is no longer running parallel to the axle there may be some binding. You could try just disconnecting the sway-bar and knocking the bracket straight with a hammer.

 

Actually, I doubt the F150 stabilizer is much different than the SD one.

HOWEVER: The only difference might be the travel, the amount the shocks extends from compressed. Which means you might be limited in steering one way

You can easily run without the stabilizer in place, ESPECIALLY as it was the stock one, which doesn't do a whole lotta good in the first place ...

The mount for the sway-bar: It's bent back, which doesn't do much overall to the sway bar, the end-link moves back a little, that's all. It's OK to drive it like that for a little while, but I'd get it fixed so that the front-end sits level. Right now, you might be down on the right side a little, compared to the left.

 

Thanks much for the replies guys. I figured I would need to bend the mount back a bit. I need to measure the height of the truck left and right.

I ask about moving the mount for the stabilizer since the one I took off was most likely not stock. It has these numbers on it:
EG2
26 9
TOKICO
JAPAN
Although the truck was previously maintained at the Ford dealer here they do not always use Ford parts or the right parts for that matter.

I am guessing that the mount should be somewhere in the middle of the travel of the stabilizer? Is that correct?

Still hopeing that someone may know what the difference is in the two shocks (5401 vs. 5410) If someone has a trip to a parts store planned soon maybe they can look at the two side by side, I would be very greatful!

Thanks again
Scott

 

I would go to Rancho's website (www.gorancho.com) and shoot them an email explaining your situation. They could probably get you answer pretty quick.

You're right about the bracket that goes on the tie-rod. If you need to figure out where the bracket should go just extend the stabilizer rod out half-way and there you go.

 

The 5410 is for 99-04. The 5401 is for the '05-'06. I'm looking into the fabtech fts7009 or the rancho 5401. Don't really know if one is better than the other.

 

I just put a steering stabilizer on my 2003 F250 and the instructions said to install on the bracket that uses the bolt and then extend 4.5" and attach the U bolt end.

 

It seems to me the difference is in the piston lenght. The 5401 for the F150 is shorter then the one on my truck now. I do not know for sure since the one on the truck may not be correct.

I did order one and now I am just waiting for a friend to visit to bring it here. I may have been able to use this but I like the 100% correct parts for my truck.


Thanks Envirocon but I had done that and never received a response from them. I figured that someone here may know.


Scott