trailing arms
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Location, Location.
I did them on my 2000 Expy last summer. One lower trailing arm had rotted out. It was pretty straight forward. Jack it up, unbolt, bolt in. If you jack up the frame and let the axle drop, the arms get at a pretty radical angle and it's hard to re-install. So I jacked up the axle.
The only tricky thing was that on my truck the original part has been discontinued and replaced by parts that are ~1/4-inch longer than the original. This meant that I couldn't release one at a time so that the other held the axle in place. So, with both off, the force of the shocks/springs wanted to rotate the axle. I had to put a chain and hoist on the shock mounts to rotate the axle just slightly to re-align with the new parts. So obviously jack stands under the frame too.
The only tricky thing was that on my truck the original part has been discontinued and replaced by parts that are ~1/4-inch longer than the original. This meant that I couldn't release one at a time so that the other held the axle in place. So, with both off, the force of the shocks/springs wanted to rotate the axle. I had to put a chain and hoist on the shock mounts to rotate the axle just slightly to re-align with the new parts. So obviously jack stands under the frame too.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 637
Likes: 4
From: Media, PA
Is this a common problem with the Expeditions or does it seem to be a more hit-n-miss thing depending on where you live? Mine look fine, but if it's something I should prepare for in the future, I'd like to know now.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 49
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Id say there was a bad run of them(early?)mine is a 3-98
The paint on them seem to be whats causing it,ive had to scale off lots of scaling paint that collects moisture from several parts of the truck.The front torsion bars were the same way.
I despertly need the lower ones,anyone parting one out of can get from a boneyard for cheap?
The paint on them seem to be whats causing it,ive had to scale off lots of scaling paint that collects moisture from several parts of the truck.The front torsion bars were the same way.
I despertly need the lower ones,anyone parting one out of can get from a boneyard for cheap?
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 637
Likes: 4
From: Media, PA
Id say there was a bad run of them(early?)mine is a 3-98
The paint on them seem to be whats causing it,ive had to scale off lots of scaling paint that collects moisture from several parts of the truck.The front torsion bars were the same way.
I despertly need the lower ones,anyone parting one out of can get from a boneyard for cheap?
The paint on them seem to be whats causing it,ive had to scale off lots of scaling paint that collects moisture from several parts of the truck.The front torsion bars were the same way.
I despertly need the lower ones,anyone parting one out of can get from a boneyard for cheap?
New User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Aftermarket??
Does the aftermarket make any replacements? If they do they are probably better quality.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 74
From: Blue Hill Township
I have not seen any aftermarket replacements. IIRC I paid around $65 for Ford parts to replace mine.
Aftermarket parts are not always what they are cracked up to be...
Aftermarket parts are not always what they are cracked up to be...
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New User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 20
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Iirc
Thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 780
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From: merrimack valley
this post is a couple mos. old but did anyone find rear susp. arms aftermarket
and was it much or any difference with revised lower arm
my wifes exp going to need attention before pothole season
and was it much or any difference with revised lower arm
my wifes exp going to need attention before pothole season
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: MA
I replaced my trailing arms a few months ago and I had to buy them from a Ford dealer. I could not find aftermarket arms. I don't remember the exact amount I paid for them, but I have an aquaintance who gets a slightly better discount from a Ford dealer in the south, so I got them for a price slightly less than the best internet price I could find without paying shipping or sales tax, delivered to my front door. The new arms differ in length than the old ones, so they have to be replaced in pairs.
The major pia's were that it is necessary to disconnect both arms because of the length difference before installing the new ones and the bolt holding the arm to the frame on the drivers side, next to the gas tank does not have enough clearnce to remove. I ended up grinding the bolt off with a carbide dremel bit as I could not get in there with a dremel cutoff disc and the bolt is hardened. The Ford dealer gets almost $20 for this nut and bolt. When installing the new arm on that side, insert the bolt from the outside toward the gas tank.
The major pia's were that it is necessary to disconnect both arms because of the length difference before installing the new ones and the bolt holding the arm to the frame on the drivers side, next to the gas tank does not have enough clearnce to remove. I ended up grinding the bolt off with a carbide dremel bit as I could not get in there with a dremel cutoff disc and the bolt is hardened. The Ford dealer gets almost $20 for this nut and bolt. When installing the new arm on that side, insert the bolt from the outside toward the gas tank.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
From: merrimack valley
thanks 98exp
ya last time i searched i remember all 5 parts added up to quite abit
and times are harder now
but it has to be done
ill have to check under again and replace whats worse first
do you or anyone have the part #'s forupper and lower rear trailing/control arms
and track bar
ya last time i searched i remember all 5 parts added up to quite abit
and times are harder now
but it has to be done
ill have to check under again and replace whats worse first
do you or anyone have the part #'s forupper and lower rear trailing/control arms
and track bar
Last edited by joe chevy; Nov 19, 2009 at 07:50 AM. Reason: another ??
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: MA
I only did the lower trailing arms as they were the worst. The other arms even though they have subtantial rust are still ok and I probably could have gotten by I little longer with the lower arms. I notice that you are not too far from me and I still have one of the two old trailing arms which you are welcome to have. If interested, let me know how you can be reached.