FordExcursions.com Forums
Nikos
 |
|
• Boston, MA, USA |
|
• Registered on 5/6/2003 |
|
• 15 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
|
|
 Posted:5/7/2003 09:16 |
|
|
Has anyone had a blown steering stabilizer? It looks like a horizontal shock attached to the steering mechanics. Mine was spewing fluid, and I started having all kinds of weird steering sensations, in particular I was hearing a 'clump/thud' sound going over pavement transitions, and having the X wander going over uneven pavement (kind of scary for all the little honda's etc. driving near me on the highway because the thing would almost switch lanes on it's own if the pavement was grooved or uneven.)
Is this a common problem, and if anyone out there has replaced this component, did you go with an aftermarket (like Rancho) instead of the OEM? The dealer is ordering an OEM for me, but I'd prefer something heavier duty since the stock Ford part went after only 35k miles anyway. 
Nikos - 2000 X Ltd, Rancho's, APC Lights, Video, On-board Installed supercomputer G4, 285-75-16s, blah blah blah.... |
|
E. Long
 
 |
• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
|
• Atlanta, GA, USA |
|
• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
|
• 2,229 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
|
|
|
Posted:5/7/2003 10:19 |
|
|
| Quote: | Has anyone had a blown steering stabalizer? It looks like a horizontal shock attached to the steering mechanics. Mine was spewing fluid, and I started having all kinds of weird steering sensations, in particular I was hearing a 'clump/thud' sound going over pavement transitions, and having the X wander going over uneven pavement (kind of scary for all the little honda's etc. driving near me on the highway because the thing would almost switch lanes on it's own if the pavement was grooved or uneven.)
Is this a common problem, and if anyone out there has replaced this component, did you go with an aftermarket (like Rancho) instead of the OEM? The dealer is ordering an OEM for me, but I'd prefer something heavier duty since the stock Ford part went after only 35k miles anyway. |
I replaced my OEM shock with bigger ProComp shock. It's just a shock, if it was spewing fluid then it probably got punctured by debris on the road. If the shock is bad or leaking fluid then it essentially is not working or providing some sort of weird resistance in some regard to your steering which explains why you were having steering problems. I would not worry!
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
|
monsta
 |
|
• The Big Island, HI, USA |
|
• Registered on 1/5/2002 |
|
• 1,056 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
|
|
|
Posted:5/7/2003 13:40 |
|
|
| Quote: | | I'd prefer something heavier duty since the stock Ford part went after only 35k miles anyway. |
"Heavy Duty" may not be needed on a truck ith stock size tires driven on the pavement. However, a good aftermarket replacemnet WITH A BOOT! would be the right way to go. Yours started leaking due to rocks and sand pummelling the exposed piston rod. This more than likely tore the seal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |
|
Nikos
|
|
• Boston, MA, USA |
|
• Registered on 5/6/2003 |
|
• 15 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
|
|
|
Posted:5/7/2003 13:48 |
|
|
thanks monsta, I was going to go ahead with a Rancho for $55, is this something that requires a front end alignment etc., or can it be done pretty easily on my own? I've got 4 new tires that are being installed tomorrow (285/75/16 Dueller Revo's), so the tires are getting bigger and I drive on Sand (beach) a lot all summer. What do you think?
BTW, why on earth would you leave Massachusetts for Hawaii??? Don't you like the 40 degree temperature swings every day...... 
Nikos - 2000 X Ltd, Rancho's, APC Lights, Video, On-board Installed supercomputer G4, 285-75-16s, blah blah blah.... |
|
RS-TX
 |
|
• Little River, TX, USA |
|
• Registered on 11/22/2002 |
|
• 298 posts |
|
|
|
|
Posted:5/7/2003 14:22 |
|
|
Nick, you can replace your SS in about 15 minutes with just a couple of wrenches. It is literally a bolt-off/bolt-on deal. I put the Rancho on my X an have been pleased. I would use the replacement bolts that come with the Rancho. They seem to work better than the stock ones.
Rick
2004 VW Jetta TDI |
|
Nikos
|
|
• Boston, MA, USA |
|
• Registered on 5/6/2003 |
|
• 15 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
|
|
|
Posted:5/7/2003 14:33 |
|
|
Thanks Rick. I see that you up-sized your tires as well, what load rating did you go with? I somehow have a mixed pair (two are "E" and two are "D")
Nikos - 2000 X Ltd, Rancho's, APC Lights, Video, On-board Installed supercomputer G4, 285-75-16s, blah blah blah.... |
|
monsta
|
|
• The Big Island, HI, USA |
|
• Registered on 1/5/2002 |
|
• 1,056 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
|
|
|
Posted:5/8/2003 02:50 |
|
|
| Quote: | | BTW, why on earth would you leave Massachusetts for Hawaii??? Don't you like the 40 degree temperature swings every day...... |
Did you know that Hawaii's temps have larger variation each day/night cycle than throughout the entire year?  But if I get tired of endless 83° days, well the Big Island has 11 of the earth's 13 climates. I can find whatever I need for the day.
You will not need to re-align your truck for the stabilizer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
Nikos
|
|
• Boston, MA, USA |
|
• Registered on 5/6/2003 |
|
• 15 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
|
|
|
Posted:5/8/2003 08:10 |
|
|
I didn't know that. Very interesting info, are you originally from HI? How did you end up in MA, I've been here my whole life and unfortunately have not gotten used to the 30-40 degree daily temperature swings......
Nikos - 2000 X Ltd, Rancho's, APC Lights, Video, On-board Installed supercomputer G4, 285-75-16s, blah blah blah.... |
|
203008581
 |
|
• MONTGOMERY, AL, USA |
|
• Registered on 11/22/2002 |
|
• 73 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
|
|
|
Posted:5/8/2003 08:11 |
|
|
Just rub it in Monsta!!!  I don't see Hawaii in my future...but maybe a spot on the Florida coast one day would be nice!!!  Anyway, its nice today @79 degrees.......but in a month it will probably be 99!!! |
|
RS-TX
|
|
• Little River, TX, USA |
|
• Registered on 11/22/2002 |
|
• 298 posts |
|
|
|
|
Posted:5/8/2003 15:26 |
|
|
| Quote: | Thanks Rick. I see that you up-sized your tires as well, what load rating did you go with? I somehow have a mixed pair (two are "E" and two are "D")
|
Nick, the Discoverers are LR "D" tires. I don't pull a trailer or haul heavy, so they suit me just fine. If you look at the chart (located at www.coopertires.com ) you will see that the weight rating for the 285 LR "D" tire is only a little less than the 265 LR "E" tire. As I understand it, the weight rating is more important than the Load Rating. That said, you can safely air a LR "E" tire up to 80 psi, thus providing a "stiffer" sidewall which some prefer for towing. Sooooooo, it really comes down to what you plan on doing most of the time. If you are going to haul or tow heavy quiet often a LR "E" tire may better suit your purposes. For occasional towing, a larger LR "D" tire might be just the ticket.
Good luck.
Rick
2004 VW Jetta TDI |
|
|
|
