Steering/Suspension Problem

[rmrakt]

I have a problem on my 1992 Ford Explorer 4WD. Now that the pot hole season has ended in Mn, I am noticing a slight resistance in my steering while the vehicle is moving. I'm also noticing some sway and play while traveling. I know my ball joints are marginal but can anyone recommend other visual checks to look at before I crawl under her?

Weekend mechanic who hasn't played with front suspensions before.....

Thanks in advance for your help!

-Rick

 

[RON COX]

Jack it up and see if the tire will shake up and down. It is either the ball joints or a bad wheel bearing if there is movement.

 

[rmrakt]

Thanks for the reply Ron.

I have already done that and did notice excessive play when I grab the tire on the top and bottom. My problem is that I noticed that the play was around the same last Fall without a real noticable problem when driving. Now I get the spotty resistance when I turn the wheel while driving and I seem to sway a little.

Could it just be that the joints are now on the hairy edge?

The tie rod seems to swivel on the knuckle ok without any abnormal play (as much as I could tell anyway...)

Any other ideas that I could look at?

Is replacing the upper and lower ball joints reasonably do-able?

Thanks again!

 

[RON COX]

Changing the ball joints is a good 2 hr. job with air tools and you need to rent a ball joint press. It could be dry now and is on the verge of failing. If you remove the tie rods from both knuckles and rotate the wheels side to side you can verify which side of the truck is bad. If they are smooth then start looking at the ps pump or tie rod ends. Hopefully it's not the ps box, mine gave out and I changed to an AGR box. LOL

 

[CHH777]

RON,

How did that AGR box work out for you?

 

[RON COX]

The box went in with no suprises. The hardest part was getting the pitman arm off the old box. I bought it at 4WP Wholesalers. AGR doesn't make a HD pump for 91-94 models though.

 

[CHH777]

They sure do. I have a brand new one on my garage shelf.

I bought one 2 years ago but it burnt up. AGR sent a replacement and I still haven't gotten around to installing it.

 

[RON COX]

What is the part #? They did'nt have a listing in the book. I think they called AGR too. Hope they still make them.

 

[CHH777]

I'll look when I get home today and post it...

 

[OffRoadin44]

hey i just noticed that my ps box is also going on my truck (bad seel or gasket) and was wondering how you liked that agr box and how big a job it is to replace.

 

[clark91Jo]

I just looked up AGR's web page(www.agrsteering.com) and here are the part #'s.

HD Box 5116HD
HC Pump 8020 HD

The good news is ford actually got smart when it came to steering on all 4x4's. From 1986 to 1996 everything from Bronco II's to F350's all had the same steering box and pump. Does anyone have any $$$ for the AGR's? Thanks.

 

[CHH777]

I think I paid ~$125 but it's been so long I'm not sure. I'll look for the invoice.

 

[RON COX]

I must have an odd ball pump then, cause I ordered it at the same time as the box and the pump was huge. Actually it was for an F-150. The only application for me was a std. pump according to 4WP. What gives?