Ford Expedition Tie Rod Failure - Page 2

hunster · 07-17-2006, 08:49 PM

My 2000 expy went through 1 ball joint ( got really squeaky) and 2 tie rod ends @ 65k. The sway bar end links are also crap, I was talking to a friend in fla on the phone telling me of his experience with his used expy missing the end links. I had a customers car in the shop and looked underneath the front end , bam, no end links. Went to the parking lot and looked under my truck , bam again, I had one missing and just the top of the bolt in the bar on the other side. My truck had the 6/75k warranty which just expired may 31. On 7-11 i hear a bad bearing noise , transfer case is shot! Should have gotten rid of it last winter before the warranty was out! $1950 for that transfer case and labor , front u joints were gone too! I just hit 70k miles!

Lmarth · 07-18-2006, 05:14 AM

I neglected to mention that both sway bar links had popped through the end of the sway bar. I attributed that to the violent bouncing/shaking when the tie rod let go. The factory links appeared to be stainless as I cut them off with an air cut off tool. Why couldn't I run the nuts off with an impact wrench? Because the idiots at the factory have the nut exposed at the bottom of the A-frame with at least a half inch of thread exposed to the elements to insure that the nut will never come off again. I actually spent almost as much time messing with the sway bar as I did with the tie rods.

sleeper_dave · 07-18-2006, 08:35 AM

Fords run forever if you beat the piss out of them.

Take care of them and they'll lose respect and break on you.

You're not doing enough burnouts.

wannabe · 07-18-2006, 01:33 PM

Tie Rods prematurely wearing out is an issue on the big Fords, especially the 250/350/'s from 99 on. Expect the ball joints next.

Wannabe

Full Force · 07-18-2006, 04:45 PM

I have all Fords,I have an 97 5.0 explorer with 140,000 and only had one ball joint need done,my second factory one is starting to feel a little loose,did the first at 130,000 not bad mileage I think,I have a 94 f-250 that has 214,000 on it and the lowers are still factory and still check out OK.The uppers have been doe so they have grease fittings now,lowers do not.
I say its all luck and driving style,I hjave had chevys and dodges with same results.
I refuse to buy a any other that american (well most of it is!!)

Chris Sunkin · 07-18-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleeper_dave

Fords run forever if you beat the piss out of them.

Take care of them and they'll lose respect and break on you.

You're not doing enough burnouts.

I believe these are direct quotes from the Ford manual, correct?

Zudnic · 07-19-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lmarth

I really appreciate all the feedback. One reason I bought the Expedition over the Explorer,Blazer,etc. is that those mid size SUVs were on light platforms.

I bought a Navigator in 98 because it was not much more than the Expedition and came with free service until 80K. At 80,004K had a tie rod failure that happened lucky me in a parking lot and not going fast. The dealer refused to warrantee the repair because I was 4 kilometers out of warrantee and complained to Ford and discovered the dealer did put in a claim and billed me as well.

My biggest complaint apart from the air filter in my Excursion being a expensive beach to change, is Fords components that wear over time fail early. Front rotors to tie rods!!!

Full Force · 07-19-2006, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zudnic

I bought a Navigator in 98 because it was not much more than the Expedition and came with free service until 80K. At 80,004K had a tie rod failure that happened lucky me in a parking lot and not going fast. The dealer refused to warrantee the repair because I was 4 kilometers out of warrantee and complained to Ford and discovered the dealer did put in a claim and billed me as well.

My biggest complaint apart from the air filter in my Excursion being a expensive beach to change, is Fords components that wear over time fail early. Front rotors to tie rods!!!

They all have brake problems!! I have a 05 astro for work and the rotors were just all replaced at 18,000 miles!! All 4 rotors were pitted and pulsating!!

Pure Energy · 07-19-2006, 10:09 PM

My '92 F-250 dropped a tie rod.

Zudnic · 07-19-2006, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 245 limited

They all have brake problems!! I have a 05 astro for work and the rotors were just all replaced at 18,000 miles!! All 4 rotors were pitted and pulsating!!

True, I have a 04 Ranger that I just changed the brakes on with around 18K miles on it. Seldom use this vehicle its primary usage is yard work!!!