Stynx
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- April 11, 2022
- Messages
- 284
- Reaction score
- 128
- City, State
- Springfield, PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2005 Explorer XLT Sport
When I bought my 05 explorer the first thing that happened was the transmission crapped the bed. 112k miles oh well, took it in and had it worked over by the transmission guy. He noticed that the left front stabilizer link was missing and offered to replace it. Since he already had it I told him to do it and he put a nice moog unit on there. End of story? Not quite.
I don't drive it much but last week I noticed the steering was a little mushy. It just didn't feel as sure footed in turns. Finally got it jacked up and found the replacement stabilizer link had been pushing through the hole in the lower control arm and the sleeve was all chewed up and rounded off.
How does such a thing happen you might ask? By forgetting to put the metal washer at the base of the bushing like you are supposed to.
And I know he used moog because I just had to buy two shiny new ones and that's what the parts store had. Identical, except mine has a washer on all 4 bushings. Worst part is, if he forgot the bushing on either the top or bottom one it probably wouldn't have caused any problems. But he forgot one of the middle ones and now it's boogered.
Oh well, I guess I'm spending tomorrow morning under the ol' exploder re-doing the job that the professional couldn't be bothered to do right. I hope he did a better job on the transmission.
I don't drive it much but last week I noticed the steering was a little mushy. It just didn't feel as sure footed in turns. Finally got it jacked up and found the replacement stabilizer link had been pushing through the hole in the lower control arm and the sleeve was all chewed up and rounded off.
How does such a thing happen you might ask? By forgetting to put the metal washer at the base of the bushing like you are supposed to.
And I know he used moog because I just had to buy two shiny new ones and that's what the parts store had. Identical, except mine has a washer on all 4 bushings. Worst part is, if he forgot the bushing on either the top or bottom one it probably wouldn't have caused any problems. But he forgot one of the middle ones and now it's boogered.
Oh well, I guess I'm spending tomorrow morning under the ol' exploder re-doing the job that the professional couldn't be bothered to do right. I hope he did a better job on the transmission.
