New to the board!

[Drockhells]

Hello all! Just purchased a new to me 98xlt with a whopping 87000 miles on it. Service records tell me these things eat ball joints, looks like four sets so far, atleast that is what the service records show! Or the stealership was really taking it to them! I have already researched some things I will be working on right away. Inside door locks not unlocking using the door button, led display on the factory radio, and the abs breaks coming on at the very end of braking. Willing to help in anyway i can and desperate for help when I need it! Hopefully I am not on here to often looking for help!! Derek

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Metallic brake dust gets caught on the ABS wheel sensors, and could cause false triggering.

 

[Drockhells]

Well I am goin to just replace the entire hub with the new abs sensors attatched. Thanks!

 

[BrooklynBay]

The sensor is easy to clean. You don't have to replace the hub just because the sensor is dirty. Try cleaning it first.

 

[xpolice-explorer]

Just purchased a new to me 98xlt with a whopping 87000 miles on it. Service records tell me these things eat ball joints, looks like four sets so far, atleast that is what the service records show! Or the stealership was really taking it to them!

I have heard the same thing. A few people have told me, when they found out I bought an X, and my left side up & lwr have both been replaced at some point, and it needs an upper again. Here in about a month or so, I'm going to pull it in the garage and start from square one. New uppers, lower controll arms, spindles, rack, outers, and if I can locate them probably torsions. You can pick it all up from A Z, for about $5-600 with lifetime warr.( - torsions & allignment).

 

[Drockhells]

Yeah only reason I was thinking of doing the hubs was because i am going to do the ball joints and shocks while I was there so figured what's three more bolts!

 

[1Aauto]

Welcome to the site

 

[Drockhells]

So how do I avoid the death rattle? Can't believe I had never heard of this issue prior to buying!!

 

[Drockhells]

Well got everything changed out and no longer abs issue!! But solved a quick issue afterwards from the help of this site. Took it for a test drive, shimmied whenever I would make turns. Thought I messed up the cv shafts. Searching found out you should not turn the wheels without starting the car as just turning the steering by the wheel without the car on will put air in the system. Good to know all I had to do was bleed the system. Good as new yeeehaw!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update!

 

[explorer-aus]

So how do I avoid the death rattle? Can't believe I had never heard of this issue prior to buying!!

You replace the tensioners and guides and replace your timing chains and sprockets while you're at it. Both front and rear of engine. There is no way to avoid it, they will most likely break in time. New updated parts should last a long long time in theory.

 

[Drockhells]

Just found in the paperwork the original owner had the recall done on the cam shaft tenshioner, any idea if this fixed the issue with the death rattle? I am not all that worried about it as the body and other components will probally rot out before the timing chain goes. This is my third vehicle, used for towing a pop up and trailer and used on heavy snow days in vermont.