H
Hippie-Dog
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- Reaction score
- 3
- Thunderbird Year
- 2002
I have replaced all components mentioned here on my 2002. The rubber compound used at the factory was crap and allowed water and dirt into the ball joint components. Have talked or forum'd with many that had these cars with 20 to 30 thousand miles on them and even those that kept then in the garage had the same problems. The rubber simply broke down over time and allowed dirt to ruin the ball joints.
Definitely look at the rubber boots, if they are cracked, replace them with a aftermarket part with the correct rubber boot compound on them.
They are not hard to replace if you are so inclined but ARE a definite safety hazard if you are still using the stock suspension components (on the 2002 for sure). I got mine at 30,000 miles that the suspension was so bad it was a real safety problem.
Sad that it's simply bad rubber protectors that cause these problems. But it is what it is. Cracked and broken rubber boots that allow dirt and moisture to ruin the components over simple rubber boot protectors.
Get aftermarket parts to fix this problem with grease fittings (the stock ones had no way to even grease them).
Replace the upper control arms for each wheel, tie rod ends for the steering, the links for the rear sway bars and any other rubber component that is rotted underneath the car.
The lower control arms don't seem to have that kind of dry rotting problem.
Fairly easy to do under the shade tree in the back yard but the upper left by the master brake cylinder is a pain without the right wrenches.
I did 3 wheels and had a local mechanic do the upper left for me (saved big bucks doing the other 3 uppers, tie rod ends and swaybar links myself).
No squeaks on mine when I got it, rattling like a box of rocks falling down a flight of stairs.
So sad.
Definitely look at the rubber boots, if they are cracked, replace them with a aftermarket part with the correct rubber boot compound on them.
They are not hard to replace if you are so inclined but ARE a definite safety hazard if you are still using the stock suspension components (on the 2002 for sure). I got mine at 30,000 miles that the suspension was so bad it was a real safety problem.
Sad that it's simply bad rubber protectors that cause these problems. But it is what it is. Cracked and broken rubber boots that allow dirt and moisture to ruin the components over simple rubber boot protectors.
Get aftermarket parts to fix this problem with grease fittings (the stock ones had no way to even grease them).
Replace the upper control arms for each wheel, tie rod ends for the steering, the links for the rear sway bars and any other rubber component that is rotted underneath the car.
The lower control arms don't seem to have that kind of dry rotting problem.
Fairly easy to do under the shade tree in the back yard but the upper left by the master brake cylinder is a pain without the right wrenches.
I did 3 wheels and had a local mechanic do the upper left for me (saved big bucks doing the other 3 uppers, tie rod ends and swaybar links myself).
No squeaks on mine when I got it, rattling like a box of rocks falling down a flight of stairs.
So sad.
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