slenser
Member
- Joined
- December 3, 2004
- Messages
- 43
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Council Bluffs, IA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 94 Limited, 01 Navigator
It's been fun and trying at times getting this front end rebuilt. I have a 94 Explorer Limited with about 147k miles. I'm not sure if anything on the front end has ever been replaced, except the hubs and shocks (by me). This thing rattled and banged over EVERY SINGLE BUMP IN THE ROAD!!! Pulled bad to the right when braking and thrashed the steering wheel on bumps. Also terrible tire wear. I'm happy to say, that so far, most of this has been eliminated.
I haven't received all the parts yet. Some are on back order from the company I ordered from. So far, the parts that have come in are good quality. The parts I have received so far are:
Complete sway bar bushing set, to include stabilizer link bushings
Outer tie rod ends
Upper ball joints
I will be receiving the others in a week or so and they are:
Lower ball joints
Axle pivot bushings
Radius arm bushings
The kit was $259 shipped from PST (Performance Suspension Technology). All bushings are Polygraphite. That is Polyurethane impregnated with graphite. This is supposed to stop the sqeaking that urethane bushings are famous for.
I also purchased from various local parts stores, the inner tie rods or center link or whatever they are called. I got the right inner tie rod from Autozone for $35!!!!! I couldn't pass that up. The left inner was from Napa for $37. These were the only places that had them in stock, so I grabbed them. Unfortunately, the Napa piece is painted gloss black and the others are a silver or grey matte color. No matter.
Day 1: I installed the sway bar and linkage bushings. I took a propane torch to the old rubber bushings and first removed the little metal tube in the center (having a brain fart, can't remember what it's called) and then the bushing would come out quite easily. My screw driver I used to do this is now heavily coated with rubber...lol Removing the front bushings on the bar were simple and installing all the bushings were a snap. Just put some sticky lube they supplied on the bushings and press in.
I noticed an improvement cornering. Doesn't "sway" as much as it did before. I guess they did their job. Still sucked on bumps.
Day 2: I installed the outer tie rod ends. I realized that heat, is very helpful. It doesn't take much as I only have my little propane torch, but it did the job of helping loosen nuts. I also sprayed some penetrating lube.
It did help with the steering some, but there was still quite a bit of slop in the steering wheel. I decided to spring for the inner tie rods.
Day 3: Installed the inner tie rod ends. Man it sucked! I pounded on that damn steering arm with the pickle fork for what seemed like hours. My arm is still sore (not to mention my hand that I hit frequently). I finally broke out the 15 lbs sledge hammer. This was not an easy task lying on your back on the floor with hammer in one hand and pickle fork in the other. That thing was heavy. None the less, I got it!
After installing and greasing everything I drove it. The alignment was WAY off. I had the tires pointing way out. I played around with it some more and WOW, I think I'm dead on! I seriously can go down the highway and let go of the steering wheel. Straight as an arrow. I'll still get it aligned, just not yet. Bumps are so much better. No more rattling and pulling of the steering wheel. Thrashing back and forth over rough roads. So much better. Still some pull to the right when braking too, but only slight.
I still have some clunking on big bumps and a little clunk when stopping. I can wiggle the tire up with my hands up and down when it's off the ground. That will be taken care of with the ball joints. The clunk when stopping should be fixed with the RA bushings. I think the pulling to the right will be solved by both of these.
This has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done to a vehicle. I hated this truck at times and was scared to let my wife drive it. Now I have much more confidence in it and I'm sure even more, when I get the other parts installed.
I'll add to this post after I install the rest. I'll try taking pics as well.
I'm a little frightened by the RA bushings. The RA looks super rusted and I hope I can get that nut off. I'll be spraying penetrating lube on it daily until the parts come. Hopefully that will make it much easier.
This site has be a wealth of information and I want to thank all of you for your knowledge.
Thanks!
Sam
I haven't received all the parts yet. Some are on back order from the company I ordered from. So far, the parts that have come in are good quality. The parts I have received so far are:
Complete sway bar bushing set, to include stabilizer link bushings
Outer tie rod ends
Upper ball joints
I will be receiving the others in a week or so and they are:
Lower ball joints
Axle pivot bushings
Radius arm bushings
The kit was $259 shipped from PST (Performance Suspension Technology). All bushings are Polygraphite. That is Polyurethane impregnated with graphite. This is supposed to stop the sqeaking that urethane bushings are famous for.
I also purchased from various local parts stores, the inner tie rods or center link or whatever they are called. I got the right inner tie rod from Autozone for $35!!!!! I couldn't pass that up. The left inner was from Napa for $37. These were the only places that had them in stock, so I grabbed them. Unfortunately, the Napa piece is painted gloss black and the others are a silver or grey matte color. No matter.
Day 1: I installed the sway bar and linkage bushings. I took a propane torch to the old rubber bushings and first removed the little metal tube in the center (having a brain fart, can't remember what it's called) and then the bushing would come out quite easily. My screw driver I used to do this is now heavily coated with rubber...lol Removing the front bushings on the bar were simple and installing all the bushings were a snap. Just put some sticky lube they supplied on the bushings and press in.
I noticed an improvement cornering. Doesn't "sway" as much as it did before. I guess they did their job. Still sucked on bumps.
Day 2: I installed the outer tie rod ends. I realized that heat, is very helpful. It doesn't take much as I only have my little propane torch, but it did the job of helping loosen nuts. I also sprayed some penetrating lube.
It did help with the steering some, but there was still quite a bit of slop in the steering wheel. I decided to spring for the inner tie rods.
Day 3: Installed the inner tie rod ends. Man it sucked! I pounded on that damn steering arm with the pickle fork for what seemed like hours. My arm is still sore (not to mention my hand that I hit frequently). I finally broke out the 15 lbs sledge hammer. This was not an easy task lying on your back on the floor with hammer in one hand and pickle fork in the other. That thing was heavy. None the less, I got it!
After installing and greasing everything I drove it. The alignment was WAY off. I had the tires pointing way out. I played around with it some more and WOW, I think I'm dead on! I seriously can go down the highway and let go of the steering wheel. Straight as an arrow. I'll still get it aligned, just not yet. Bumps are so much better. No more rattling and pulling of the steering wheel. Thrashing back and forth over rough roads. So much better. Still some pull to the right when braking too, but only slight.
I still have some clunking on big bumps and a little clunk when stopping. I can wiggle the tire up with my hands up and down when it's off the ground. That will be taken care of with the ball joints. The clunk when stopping should be fixed with the RA bushings. I think the pulling to the right will be solved by both of these.
This has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done to a vehicle. I hated this truck at times and was scared to let my wife drive it. Now I have much more confidence in it and I'm sure even more, when I get the other parts installed.
I'll add to this post after I install the rest. I'll try taking pics as well.
I'm a little frightened by the RA bushings. The RA looks super rusted and I hope I can get that nut off. I'll be spraying penetrating lube on it daily until the parts come. Hopefully that will make it much easier.
This site has be a wealth of information and I want to thank all of you for your knowledge.
Thanks!
Sam
