96AWD5.LOL
Elite Explorer
- Joined
- March 14, 2012
- Messages
- 77
- Reaction score
- 44
- Location
- Austin, TX
- City, State
- Austin, TX
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 91 XLT 4x4 - "Red Velvet"
Rants/Ramblings only -
Why does it always seem like first gens need constant attention? I may go a year before something needs repaired/replaced. Most recently I had to replace the oil level sensor. I had just done this a year ago with a smp branded one. Sure enough it was leaking internally as usual. Fine, simple enough, I'll replace it. And this time I'm going to replace it with a NOS Ford part. It was leaking bad enough I had to replace it when I had only just done an oil change...
Next week I notice some odd inner tire wear. I thought it was related to the bumper I built and the winch it now holds being heavy enough to change the alignment. I take it in for an alignment and they tell me the ball joints are toast. I internally call BS but sure enough they are laughably worn. Only 2 years and maybe 10K miles on them. Moog parts are ****e as well FWIW. Tangentially, I'm in the process of replacing these now. I've gotten pretty good at dissembling everything on each arm so it went quickly. I order the parts at Orielly's this time and the parts are finally delivered while I'm working on the disassembly. I go to verify the parts and one is not like the other ffs. I tell them about it and it will take 3 more days to perform the exchange as they have to have the part shipped in from another location. Staying positive, I thought I could put back one side and leave the other for when the part comes in but life decided to have a "hold my beer" moment when one of the wheel bearings was feeling gritty and looked marred on a few rollers. These were put in the same time as the ball joints. All Timken parts and seals.
Prior to these "two" repairs I had odd wear spots on the center of my tire. Shocks were completely gone. No rebound. These were on the car all of 12k miles ish?
The nvh pads between the leaf springs have been cracking and self ejecting over the years following the leaf spring pack replacements. So I continue to replace them. Als if anyone knows a good brand for these let me know. The ones I have I ordered from a suspension shop but they also crack and wear out.
Don't get me started on valve cover gaskets.
I love the truck when it runs. I like being able to work on it and know I did quality work. It's simply having to just re-do everything every few years is just insane. It seems like I can't stop looking for leaks or worn parts. My neighbors probably think I have OCD.
TL;DR - Owning a first gen is a pure labor of love.
Why does it always seem like first gens need constant attention? I may go a year before something needs repaired/replaced. Most recently I had to replace the oil level sensor. I had just done this a year ago with a smp branded one. Sure enough it was leaking internally as usual. Fine, simple enough, I'll replace it. And this time I'm going to replace it with a NOS Ford part. It was leaking bad enough I had to replace it when I had only just done an oil change...
Next week I notice some odd inner tire wear. I thought it was related to the bumper I built and the winch it now holds being heavy enough to change the alignment. I take it in for an alignment and they tell me the ball joints are toast. I internally call BS but sure enough they are laughably worn. Only 2 years and maybe 10K miles on them. Moog parts are ****e as well FWIW. Tangentially, I'm in the process of replacing these now. I've gotten pretty good at dissembling everything on each arm so it went quickly. I order the parts at Orielly's this time and the parts are finally delivered while I'm working on the disassembly. I go to verify the parts and one is not like the other ffs. I tell them about it and it will take 3 more days to perform the exchange as they have to have the part shipped in from another location. Staying positive, I thought I could put back one side and leave the other for when the part comes in but life decided to have a "hold my beer" moment when one of the wheel bearings was feeling gritty and looked marred on a few rollers. These were put in the same time as the ball joints. All Timken parts and seals.
Prior to these "two" repairs I had odd wear spots on the center of my tire. Shocks were completely gone. No rebound. These were on the car all of 12k miles ish?
The nvh pads between the leaf springs have been cracking and self ejecting over the years following the leaf spring pack replacements. So I continue to replace them. Als if anyone knows a good brand for these let me know. The ones I have I ordered from a suspension shop but they also crack and wear out.
Don't get me started on valve cover gaskets.
I love the truck when it runs. I like being able to work on it and know I did quality work. It's simply having to just re-do everything every few years is just insane. It seems like I can't stop looking for leaks or worn parts. My neighbors probably think I have OCD.
TL;DR - Owning a first gen is a pure labor of love.