super duty front end warning

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Feb 26, 2008 | 08:01 PM

ramprat

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super duty front end warning

well i just totaled out my 99 quad cab diesel. the shop called me and said they found that some bolts were missing in the front end causing my 30 mph slide thru the muddy pasture. the whole front was wiped out. both i beams and the frame was bent. truck has 230000 miles and the tie rods were replaced about 18 months ago. i remember when we bought the truck new the front end would pop every once in awhile when leaving the driveway. the dealer could not find anything wrong with it. i dont know if its related or not, but it may be a good idea for folks to really check out the front end. i really miss my truck. any ideas appreciated

Feb 26, 2008 | 08:30 PM

cartmanea

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From: Corvallis, OR

Do you know what bolts were missing?

Feb 26, 2008 | 08:33 PM

rckrwlr

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From: Canyon Lake

I just started to get this popping sound and coudnt find anything loose of missing untill I started to tourqe my lug nuts and found the bushing gone on the right side of the radius arm. It's good news because now I can lift the truck without my wife flipingout. weel she might but at least I have a reasone now.

225k on the meter and this is the 1st maint. issue.

Feb 26, 2008 | 08:53 PM

F350-6

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From: Texas

If the truck's not gone, some pics of where the missing bolts were sure would be useful. If no pics a description would be nice also. It's not a bad idea for everyone to go and check.

Feb 27, 2008 | 04:06 PM

ramprat

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missing bolts

Quote:

Originally Posted by cartmanea

Do you know what bolts were missing?

called the shop and they said the a frame bracket has 3 bolts and 2 were missing causing the right side wheel assembly to come loose and made the wheel lock in towards the front spring. looking at it makes you think a ball joint gave way. its tough when you try to go left and the truck keeps going straight. it was only a 200 foot slide but the damage is unreal. god was not the copilot, he was in the left seat

Feb 27, 2008 | 04:22 PM

redford

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From: Stephensville WI

I throw the BS flag on this.

How does the repair shop know these bolts didn't break off during your "30 mph slide thru the muddy pasture" when you "wiped out" the front end? Do they have CSI technicians working there?

Also, in 230,000 miles, how many times did you get your truck aligned or the front end worked on? (Shocks, ball joints, tie rod ends?) Not 1 of the technicians that worked on your truck noticed 2 out of three bolts missing on the A-arm mounting bracket?

What do you mean "both I beams and the frame" are bent? Do you have Twin-I-Beam front suspension on your 99 quad cab? I didn't know Ford made a quad cab. Is that bigger or smaller than a crew cab?

Feb 27, 2008 | 06:58 PM

cartmanea

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From: Corvallis, OR

Agreed, I doubt it was a factory error.

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Feb 27, 2008 | 08:14 PM

ramprat

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ease up guys

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpbpulaski

"only" a 200' slide? thats a hell of a long ways if you are attempting to stop. how fast were you going? certainly not 30mph

ok, it was foggy friday nite and i couldnt have going over 35. i knew the curve was coming up so i was prepared for it. hitting wet grass could have speeded me up some, and the pasture was not flat. it had its share of ups and downs including the tree i grazed. checked the tire marks in the mud and you can see the slicing of the front wheel is wider than the rest of the tracks. i didnt say it was a factory problem and i admit i should have put the truck on the rack more often and maybe someone could have seen this coming. this is no bs and all i wasnted to do was warn folks about the front end. i hope i have accomplished that. i called the truck a quad cab but its the one with the smaller rear doors, so call it what you want. the frame was bent a little and both i beams took on some damage. the truck is totaled based on that damage alone, not to mention the right side door and mirror. looking at it in the shop, it looks like a minor deal but get under it on a crawler and you see all the damage that a 30mph slide can do in the mud with no direction. thanks fore the replies gentleman