Can't explain...just feels wrong

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blert

Well-Known Member
1st Gen Owner
2 wheel drive
2001 job 2
Joined
Oct 2, 2006
Messages
612
Reaction score
306
Location
Titusville, FL
What engine do you have?
V6 engine
What year is your Sport Trac?
2001
What Generation is your Sport Trac?
1st Gen Owner
So a short while ago I was driving down 528 heading to Cocoa. It was raining and they are doing construction on the road. I hit a pot hole with the right front wheel. The steering wheel practically jumped out of my hands and I felt like I was going to lose it at 70mph. Now, maybe I am overreacting but that right front wheel still feels a little squirrelly to me. The truck doesn't seem to track as well as it should at highway speeds and I just don't have confidence in it all. I took it to the shop a couple of days ago for an oil change and asked them to inspect the front suspension... the tech found no issues to report.
About 13 years ago I had the front end rebuilt and then shortly after slapped on a set of Monroe Reflex. Thinking maybe it is time for a new set of shocks. I have bushings for the rear sway bar and body mounts on the way and will hopefully be able to install next week.
So, not really sure what I am asking here but... any thoughts?

Also, I spend most the time driving my 2019 Murano. When I do drive the ST maybe my expectations are too high?
 
Its a sucky thing... It could be a slight shift in the tire belt, Slight bent rim, slight bent or just "damaged" part. Without looking and testing the front end the right way, shops just "look" and say its good. I hate that. tires should be taken off and re balanced, Bal joints checked for ply, arms, and stuff too... Could be a damaged body bushing too now....
 
Its a sucky thing... It could be a slight shift in the tire belt, Slight bent rim, slight bent or just "damaged" part. Without looking and testing the front end the right way, shops just "look" and say its good. I hate that. tires should be taken off and re balanced, Bal joints checked for ply, arms, and stuff too... Could be a damaged body bushing too now....
Body bushings aren't just damaged... B and C don't exist anymore, both sides. Have those on the way and hope to replace next week. After I do that I may take it to a different shop and get a second opinion.
Really, it drives nice around town but at this point I'm not comfortable taking it on the highway much.
 
My 2 thoughts from experience, are. Busted right front shock. Still a shock but the seal is busted and the shock de-gased. Or a tie rod. It some times can be hard to tell with our rack and pinion steering. Check for the slightest steering shake at various speeds. only hold one finger on the wheel for the feel.
You know your Trac. If it feels wrong it is.
 
My 2 thoughts from experience, are. Busted right front shock. Still a shock but the seal is busted and the shock de-gased. Or a tie rod. It some times can be hard to tell with our rack and pinion steering. Check for the slightest steering shake at various speeds. only hold one finger on the wheel for the feel.
You know your Trac. If it feels wrong it is.
Thanks for the tips.
Tomorrow I'm going to try and raise the front up and start tugging on things to check for play.
Any way to check the shock short of removing it?
 
Any way to check the shock short of removing it?
While on the ground or lifted slightly. remove the top stud nut and washer and rubber. See if you can pull down on it. If you can, and it extends back on its own. It is not busted or de-gased. you might have to wiggle or turn it. the under side washer and rubber might be stuck. Also inspect the the lower connection for damaged buffer..
 
What I have found so far...
The sway bar links were loose AF. I mean I could literally jiggle them. The right(pasenger) was worse than the left(driver). Found torque specs at about 15-21 lbs/ft online. Tried setting that but they just kept on tightening. Found Moog instructions that said to tighten until the bushings squish and then back off 1/4 turn. Did that. Now they don't rattle around anymore. Should I have kept going with the torque wrench?
The shock seems to be fine. I could only get the nut about halfway up the post before the corrosion stopped the process. It pushed down fairly easily but I did have to use both hands (I'm just a small fellow though). It popped right back up.
Can't test drive yet as I can't get the shock tightened back up because I don't have a thin enough wrench to hold the shock and the flats at the top of the bolt post are no good. Gotta wait until my neighbor gets home to see if he has a wrench that will work.
 
Use vise grips.
Yeah, I couldn't wait and went this route. Don't like to take the chance of chewing things up if I don't have to though. Anyway...

Got it tightened up and went for a ride around the area. Feels much better as far as cornering is concerned. I hit as many bumps and holes as I could find with both wheels and separately when I could. The left still feels much stiffer than the right, the right just feels kinda mushy. Hit I95 and it tracks much better, doesn't drift around like it did before. Did not feel any shaking or irregular movement with the 'one finger on the wheel' test. Hit a rather messed up section of road at about 75mph with the right side and it did pull me to the right though it was controllable.
Stopped at the shop that did the inspection and told them what I found. I didn't get pissy but told them that if I (someone with only a basic understanding of this stuff) could see this as soon as I scooted my butt under the truck I would expect a trained tech to be able to spot it. Seriously, you could move the link on the right side up and down it was so loose and four of the eight body mount are gone. Also told them everyone has bad days and they have done me good more than done me bad (just this once).
This has definitely raised my trust in the truck but even still, after I do the body mounts and rear sway bar I'm taking it in for another inspection, just in case.
 
Rear sway bar/link bushings replaced, body mount bushings replaced, front sway bar links tightened again (going to replace).
Drove it around the block a few times, aggressively, felt good. Went out to the highway, 45-55mph, felt much better. Hit i95 today and found that messed up spot from before. Aimed the right wheel at it, barely rested my hands on the steering wheel and the truck cruised right over it. No major pulling to the right, not much movement from the steering wheel at all. Seems much of my issues have been addressed. Going to do the brakes and shocks and then address the doors and windows.
Thanks for all the input folks.
 
Good job! I'm doing 4 wheel brakes today. Pray for me!
 

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