- Joined
- January 3, 2003
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- City, State
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- ................ 96 XLT ™
Changed my Moog K700542 endlink and my temporary junkyard OEM endlink for new Moog ones of the same model.
Used a deep socket on the bottom barrel nut. It was rusty, so I thought I just broke the barrel nut loose. Kept turning. Eventually figured out that I snapped the main 3/8" Grade 8 bolt. Pretty disappointing. The other matching Moog endlink I installed either came loose and fell out, or broke and fell out. It was 100% missing, thus the junkyard OEM endlink.
Bushings looked fine. No tears. Not noticeably worn.
Bolt was rusty. Washers were rusty. The best of all metal pieces was the T6 aluminum spacer. Basically only rusty from contact with the metal washers. Might have been rust that could have been wiped off. I didn't look that close.
Keep in mind I live in southern WY. Dry climate. No salted roads in winter.
I still consider these a great option for endlinks. I bought new ones for $8.63 each (http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=439960), so replacing them if they break is not a huge wallet buster. Maybe upgrading to stainless hardware would make these even better
Pictured is the rusty Moog K700542 I broke. Below it is the junkyard OEM endlink of unknown mileage, from a dry climate southern WY junkyard, from a 91-01.
Used a deep socket on the bottom barrel nut. It was rusty, so I thought I just broke the barrel nut loose. Kept turning. Eventually figured out that I snapped the main 3/8" Grade 8 bolt. Pretty disappointing. The other matching Moog endlink I installed either came loose and fell out, or broke and fell out. It was 100% missing, thus the junkyard OEM endlink.
Bushings looked fine. No tears. Not noticeably worn.
Bolt was rusty. Washers were rusty. The best of all metal pieces was the T6 aluminum spacer. Basically only rusty from contact with the metal washers. Might have been rust that could have been wiped off. I didn't look that close.
Keep in mind I live in southern WY. Dry climate. No salted roads in winter.
I still consider these a great option for endlinks. I bought new ones for $8.63 each (http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=439960), so replacing them if they break is not a huge wallet buster. Maybe upgrading to stainless hardware would make these even better
Pictured is the rusty Moog K700542 I broke. Below it is the junkyard OEM endlink of unknown mileage, from a dry climate southern WY junkyard, from a 91-01.