I am trying to figure out how to remove this part from my 2000 Ex. I think it is a damper/weight of some kind. It is mounted to the crossmember just under the tranmission. You can see the head of the bolts that hold it in and above that (can't see in photo) are two nuts on the top side. If you look closely at the picture and at the bolt heads you can see there is some kind of a metal snap clip that holds the bolt head. Does anyone know exactly what this thing is an how I remove it?



Thanks!

 

I'm curious too. I know its a weight for something not sure though.

 

It is serioulsy in my way and I'm darn close to taking my truck to a friends shop and having him torch it off? Ford calls it an "axle shaft damper" (which makes no sense) as it is attached to the crossmember under the transmission and isn't connected to the axle shaft in any way. It is only attached to the crossmember and is one heavy piece of steel. There is a second one in the rear of the truck bolted to the #5 Crossmember but it's just bolted in and doesn't have the same metal bolt welds/clips that this one does. Anyway if any of you Ford guru's out there can shed any light on this things purpose and instructions on how to get it off it would be much appreciated. If I have to torch it off and it's something important I know I can replace it for about $50 from the stealership but hate to go torching things off without understanding exactly what their purpose is in the first place.

 

If its in my way I cut stuff off lmao

 

Yup, wondered what that was also, why its there, and what would happen if it was removed. Instant rollover like a Suzuki Samurai

 

Lol not sure if that was sarcastic or not - that you think I'm an idiot for contemplating cutting it off or if you really do cut stuff off if it's in your way.

Really just want to know what the thing is for....

Anybody?

 

Was not calling you an idiot by any means. I'm into car audio and when we build large stereos, if something is in the way we move it. Lol

 

I would leave it alone personally, Ford installed it for a reason there is two of them. I would leave them alone

 

This subject has produced two of FTE's all time funniest threads:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...-attached.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...k-is-that.html

I gotta ask, what could it possibly be in the way of?

Mark

 

Those are anti-vibration weights Ford installed in an attempt to minimize vibrations at the u-joint area along with making the splines in the drive shaft slip joint very tight. There are though bolts going through the crossmember with anti-crush spacers inside the crossmember. You just need to get a wrench on both sides of the crossmember to get the nuts off the bolts and tap the bolts out. No need to cut anything and I doubt if they will affect any vibrations as they are probably part of a dream an engineer had and woke up and said; that's it!

 

First link is bad but I agree the second one is quiet the hoot.

I don't need it gone forever just want it off - I will put it back - so my truck stays male. But right now I'm removing rust and this thing is a major pain when trying to do that cross member and get to the tran mount. Not planning to remove the cross member or mount, just need this bad *** dude out of my way so I can read the important things right behind it. Removed more rusted bolts than I can count in the last month with PB Blaster and a variety of methods but the bolts on this thing will not budge. Whatever it's purpose is Ford didn't want anyone every removing it, but then I got to ask "why sell the part" well unless they knew to get it off you have to torch it off or maybe tear it off (off roading) along with destroying your tranny.

Ok off my rant....been up close an personal with this thing for 2 days and has me irritated, still don't get how a 20 lb metal weight hanging from two frame brackets, is going to dampen or balance anything on a truck that weighs 8000 lbs. I could see if it was actually attached to the transmission or some part of the trans axle anywhere - they are attached to solid immobile frame parts. Ok sorry I was ranting again....

 

I have been asking myself the same question......what in the devil is the OP trying to do that would have that vibration dampener in the way?

Edit: While I was typing I find out the answer AFTER hitting the Post button!

 

Even though that crossmember is heavy duty it it long enough to set up some vibrations and you might have to use a 1/2" drive with a breaker bar to get those nuts loose.n The engineer probably encountered vibrations in this area and dreamed up this fix and Ford ran with it. Ford doesn't want anythig getting loose, many bolts and nuts are very tight.

 

Ok thanks I will keep trying tight spaces so hard to get anything too big in there. I may just have to do it the harder way and work around the thing.

 

Ahhh, OK.

The URL is fixed.

Mark