Lower Wishbone Arm: Premature Failure

[Tarran]

Hi,

I'm a British Ford Explorer owner (and a mechanical novice - so please overlook any naivity I display in this regard) with a query about premature failure of front wishbone arms/ball joints.

After 31K miles over 3 yrs 4 months I'ver been informed by my garage that this part has failed and needs replacing. The car is only used for school runs (the front tyres were only changed for the first time 2K miles ago) and does not go off-road.

I've also been told by the dealership that all UK Explorers display this fault and 31K miles is "pretty good"!

UK Ford Explorers are actually built in the US and are (supposed to be) identical except for larger tyres (16 inch?) which is why - say Ford UK - we don't have the tyre failure problems you have had in the US).

Ford UK say that the failure after 31K miles is "within the normal range" for this part and refuse to offer any compensation. They also say that no-one in the US has seen this problem - in the "most consumer orientated market in the world" (sorry about all the quotes).

Has anyone in the US come across this problem? Are we just unlucky in the UK? Could the larger tyres be having an affect?

Also - and I know this sounds a little crazy - does the fact that a UK Explorer has to make more turns, travel down winding roads and even go around roundabouts (with all the stresses that such a heavy truck must be under when doing such manouvers) be related to the failure. The Explorer was, after all, designed for the American market with its long, wide, straight roads. And I've yet to encounter a roundabout in the US on my travels!

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated. The dealership want ~$600 to replace the part - which is only going to fail in another 30K miles!

Tarran

 

[Stephen]

Tarran, I'm gonna move this over to the "General Explorations" forum for you. This forum is for website feedback only, while General Explorations is for general Explorer related questions.

Good luck and welcome to the site!

 

[01EB5.0]

Tarran,
Welcome to the site! I was in the UK for 3 weeks last summer. i must say the explorers there are cool. I saw a few and the steeringwheel on the opposite side just looked really cool.

Anyway is the 31K in miles or kilometers? If it is 31,000 miles, then it would still be under warentee (at least for us). My upper passanger side ball joint went out at about 75,000 miles. They had to replace the whole A-arm and it was around $175 for the part and a lot for installation. I had 2 ball joints replaced while they were working on it and mine was around $700. it may be more expensive over there for the parts. If you need any other help or questions let me know!

 

[Robert]

Tarran,

We get the 16" tires here in the US also and I haven't heard of it causing any premature failures on A-arms or ball joints. In fact, I have 16 " tires on my '97 and have almost 67K miles on it. 31K miles is early for this type of failure however maybe you are on to something regarding all of your sharp turns and round-abouts (we have them here, just not as many). Here in the US it would still be covered under warranty for 36K miles. I thought you got an equivallent warranty overseas? It doesn't sound like something that should have happened nor something you should have to pay for.

 

[Joker Joe]

I live in South Yorkshire Uk, I have the same problem with both front lower wishbone ball joints, having approx 2mm to 4mm of lift in each after 30,000 miles and the explorer being 4 years old. I can't get an answer as to wether this is normal, is there an allowance for lift in these joints or should there be no lift whatsoever. The local Ministry of Transport test station has failed the vehicle as not roadworthy because of this but I believe this should not be the case. Can anyone throw any light on this subject.

regards

 

[01EB5.0]

I have never heard of the ball joints going out because of a lift. all I know is that you don;t want to lift more then 1.75 or 2 inches. Especailly if it is a 4WD. the front CV joints will go out if you lift it too high. As for the bad lower ball joints, i would replace them with a set of Moog ball joints. The Moog are higher quality and can also be greased for longer life. The lower ball joints can be purchased here in the US for about $25-$30 each. If both of your lower ones are already worn, I would also consider just replacing the top ones also. I had 2 of my ball joints replaced 2 years ago and now the other 2 are worn, so I'm just having all 4 replaced with Moog joints this spring. The total cost for parts for all 4 is about $250 here. I am not sure on installation, but you'll also need a amingment after the installation of the new joints.
Good luck!

 

[Joker Joe]

Thnx 4 ur reply

Interesting to note that lower ball joints can be purchased in the USA. My Ford main dealer says u have to by the complete lower wishbone at a cost of $170 each.

I think u missunderstood what I meant by lift, the wear in the lower ball joint is between 2mm - 4mm (2.5mm = 0.10 inch) vertical movement.

Do Ford allow this movement ?

Regards

 

[01EB5.0]

Your ford dealer has it switched up...the upper wishbones have to be replaced when the upper ball joint goes out. the lower can be replaced like any other vehicle. they just get popped out and new ones press in. Also I didn;t know ball joints got measured for verticle movement...all I do to teat my ball joints is set the truck on jackstands in front and grasp at the bottom of the tire and the top of tire and push in and out. if you can feel it clunk or move then it is a bad joint...when you drive do you hear any clunks at all? Anyway let me know what you find. also the Moog upper A-arms/ball joint thing is about $100 each...don;t pay $170 for one from ford...