Front end trouble

[gharmon]

I have a 91 Explorer Sport 4X4. My oldest son borrowed the little bros truck and wreck it. He went down an embankment kinda diagnally and thus ramming the left front side of the explorer into the ground as it got back to level ground. Well I fixed the flat and now we have more problems. When you go backward the tires bow out really bad (top of tires come in toward each other). When you go back forward they draw back up to beyond normal and will now have a look of the tops of the tires spreading out wider. This is all viewed from the front of the truck?

Any ideas what got screwed up. There are no visual signs of damage.

Would ball joints do this? That's all I can think of? Would just a lick like that blow them out? I was thinking they were long term wear items.

Thanks,

Gerald

 

[DeRocha]

Ball joints.. you need to check them.. They last a 100K+ on the street, but much less when off-roading and taking hard impacts.. Do you know how to check them?

 

[gharmon]

Ball joints.. you need to check them.. They last a 100K+ on the street, but much less when off-roading and taking hard impacts.. Do you know how to check them?

Get the tire off the ground and grab top and bottom of tire and look for up and down movement?

Could that one hard impact ruin the ball joints? The truck has about 130k miles on it..

Never change any before. I've heard they are hard? Is this true?

Thanks,

Gerald

 

[DeRocha]

With the front wheel off the ground grab the tire at 12 and 6 and push/pull. There should be no looseness or movement of the tire/rim.. If there is you can repeat the test and have someone look at the ball joints (there should be ZERO noticeable movement).

 

[DeRocha]

The reason you need to look at the ball joints when doing the test is to eliminate loose wheel bearings. If you grab the tire at 9 and 3 and push/pull it and it has looseness then it points to wheel bearings. Again if you can look at the back of the wheel/steering knuckle you can see where the looseness is.. Once you have done the above test on a vehicles that has worn ball joints or wheel bearings you will be able to tell by feel what the problem is.

 

[little x]

Yes, 1 hard impact can destroy ball joints. I've seen it happen to a van at work, and I just saw a truck at Uwharrie last weekend that had completely broken his ball joints (wheel hanging off truck at funky angle).

That's what it sounds like, but only a good inspection will tell for sure.

 

[gharmon]

Well there is defiantely some ball joint looseness. Some other people say alignment issues. So would say that since the ball joints show signs of being an issue that its probably them and not tie rods or some other alignment part?


Are the ball joints on Explorers hard to change?

Thanks,

Gerald

 

[little x]

If you've never done it I would give yourself a full day. You'll need to rent a balljoint press from advance auto, or someone (basically a huge c-clamp).

 

[safn1949]

If you've never done it I would give yourself a full day. You'll need to rent a balljoint press from advance auto, or someone (basically a huge c-clamp).

Man,I agree with that having beat my brains out replacing them on my ramcharger.(POS)

And make the kid do the bull work and pay for it,he will learn to not wreck stuff that way.

 

[DeRocha]

Well there is defiantely some ball joint looseness. Some other people say alignment issues. So would say that since the ball joints show signs of being an issue that its probably them and not tie rods or some other alignment part?


Are the ball joints on Explorers hard to change?

Thanks,

Gerald

Camber is only affected by ball joints. The upper ball joint contains a camber bushing which is what alignment shops use to change camber. Worn tie rods will effect the toe in/out.

 

[Tbars4]

...Not saying that you don't have a problem with your steering rack also, but it does sound like you have ball joint problems...This should help with them...
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=218254

...Btw, what is your location???..Having your location next to your name allows local members to you, to give you local information on parts, tools, etc...

 

[mikeinri]

1000% agree with all of the above.

That thread almost does the work for you!

Even if "Mario" can't afford the parts, I would definitely have him doing as much of the work as possible, and then he'll owe you other favors for the parts (cleaning the garage, etc.)... I'm sure the kid brother will be looking to have some payback too.

All (half) joking aside, just because the ball joints are obviously toast, that doesn't mean you don't have other broken parts. Do a thorough inspection of everything, and don't be shocked if something is bent enough to affect the alignment, but not obvious to see by a weekend mechanic.

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

[gharmon]

Done some checking and found some other problems. Three of the bolts that hold the suspension lift bracket (drivers side bracket) had been sheared off. So the bracket was rocking back and forth. Hopefully the bracket is bent. This truck had the lift on it when we bought it but do these lifts come with cheap ass regular bolts? I replaced all them with some grade 8 stuff today.

Gonna do the ball joint's the next couple days. But the now tightened susp. bracket did fix a lot of the front end slop.

For the couple that mentioned it you can bet Jr was there helping. Oh he's buying the damn parts too!!

I'm right on the GA/Al (Al side) state line, someone asked where i was located.

Thanks guys.


Gerald

 

[safn1949]

"For the couple that mentioned it you can bet Jr was there helping. Oh he's buying the damn parts too!!"


Right on and hopefully,lesson learned.

 

[mikeinri]

We were just having fun with it, glad you took it that way.

Good catch on those bolts, hopefully it'll be good as new when you're done with the ball joints. I assume (hope) you changed the bolts to grade 8 on both sides?

Mike