Name that part.....Help!

[Jkrew]

Howzit! Need some advice, trying to figure out what part I need to replace. The "rubber spring housing" is cracked and split. I just need to know what it's called so I can order the part. I just hate paying to have some mechanic say to me, "yup, it your......... that needs to be replaced, that will be $45 for my time."

More specifically, it is the rubber seat, mount on the bottom of the spring on my passenger's front shock. What is this part actually called???? Not the CV boot, but it's above that actually below the spring and shock. When I turn it makes noise and when I hit a bump, you can feel the right side hit. Throws steering off a whole lot too, obviously. Any help would be awesome. Worse case, I can take a photo of it to make it easier. Thanks everyone in advance!

Aloha


:roll:

 

[Blee1099]

Can you submit a photo? Send it to blee1099@comcast.net

 

[Jkrew]

Name this part, part 2!

 

[uh60james]

Spring Lower Seat....maybe.

 

[pa adams]

yeah....that's gonna be your lower spring seat
i don't know if it matters but you might want to distinguish which side when getting the part

 

[EMG7895]

I bet it is your radius arm bushings and not that.

 

[shamaal]

Mine fell off in chunks sometime ago. I'm sure they have a purpose - stop squeeks maybe? No effect on my steering though.

The RAB on the other hand, as EMG7895 says, is a likely candidate. The one on the passenger side is subject to crapping out from the heat off the catalytic converter. they were a recall item. Symptoms are a loud clunk on bumps like when you enter a driveway.

 

[edhand]

I would agree with the RA bushings...mine make horrible noises. I have new ones, but haven't gotten around to putting them on because it's a PITA.
Nice to see someone else on Oahu, BTW....

 

[shamaal]

The recall replaced the bushing and put a tinfoil heat shield over it. They then had the gonads to insist a front end alignment was necessary and I had to pay for it. This lasted two years.
I drove mine with no bushing for 9 months and darn near punched a hole through the radius arm. The mechanic at the garage was able to put enough weld tacks on the hole to hold it together. The new poly-something bushings I got are still intact. The dealer ones sucked.

 

[cgriffin_5139]

Not the CV boot, but it's above that actually below the spring and shock.:roll:

Correct me if i am wrong but you dont have "CV boots" on a 2 wheel drive explorer.

 

[Exploderpilot]

ra bushings without a doubt. my truck had cast aluminum lower spring seats that provided a little lift, and i shattered and lost one without knowing it was gone. but as soon as ra bushings get loose or wear out, all kinda noises start coming out from under the truck....

 

[edhand]

Correct me if i am wrong but you dont have "CV boots" on a 2 wheel drive explorer.

On a first Gen, they don't even have then on 4WD....

 

[marragtop]

If its' the RA bushings, you should be able to get under and shake the arm enough and listen for the clunk. It sounds like it the RA bushings since it's the passenger side which is the first to go due to the exhaust system.

 

[shamaal]

Excellent writeup from JeffNJ94 with pictures:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171906