Changed the rear steering knuckle and....

[Anth0ny]

The ABS light is still on. I have a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT. Abs light came on once last year and I changed the front hub assembly and sensor. Hub was definitely smoked. ABS light shut off. Runs great. Very happy. This time around, pretty much the same thing. ABS light came on, could hear the noise coming from the back. It was the rear bearing. I picked up the Dorman brand complete rear steering knuckle assembly because I wasn't about to press out the bearings. I didn't realize what it meant in the part description about a toe link needing to be replaced for this part until I installed it. We ended up putting a bead on the current toe link with my cousins welder and hammering it in. It was out of desperation. It stayed in place and we screwed the bolt in. Done.

There's just a couple problems... the ABS light is still on. And it's weird feeling when I'm driving down the turn pike it can feel like I'm floating or almost like the wind is blowing real hard against the vehicle when I'm turning the wheel slightly.

I'll provide a picture of the part I bought.

Do you guys think it's just gonna have to stay like this until I change the other rear steering knuckle assembly and replace both toe links to proper ones? I don't know what else it would be. Any suggestions or concerns are greatly appreciated.

 

[Mike65]

Welcome to the forum. Did you pull any codes for the ABS light?

 

[Anth0ny]

Welcome to the forum. Did you pull any codes for the ABS light?

Hi, thank you. I did buy a cheap code reader. I'll try that in the morning. Good call.

 

[Rick]

I didn't realize what it meant in the part description about a toe link needing to be replaced for this part until I installed it. We ended up putting a bead on the current toe link with my cousins welder and hammering it in. It was out of desperation. It stayed in place and we screwed the bolt in. Done.

If you did what I am picturing it's doubtful that the stud is centered in the hole. If that's the case the toe will be out of spec. Personally I wouldn't even drive it without the correct toe link. Putting a bead around the toe link stud weakens the stud and it could fail.

 

[Anth0ny]

If you did what I am picturing it's doubtful that the stud is centered in the hole. If that's the case the toe will be out of spec. Personally I wouldn't even drive it without the correct toe link. Putting a bead around the toe link stud weakens the stud and it could fail.

Thank you. That's a good point. I'm going to purchase this one in the picture right now. And I'll try my best not to drive it till replaced.

Do you think it's gonna be funky driving it with one toe link different than the other? I wish I could afford to do the other side, regardless.

 

[Rick]

The difference between the two won't matter as long as you get the toe adjustment correct when it's installed.