Repairs id like to do

[Art Garcia]

just bored and thought id list some repairs i got to do so maybe i can get some heads ups or suggestions.



Body Mounts.

The front driver side is severe. Just a simple touch will make it fall apart. Its deteriorating badly. The other ones are getting there but not as bad as that one. Could that be the reason why some Ford trucks have that ranger lean?



Shocks

At 164k its about time i need to upgrade from the OEM ones. I have the Sensa Tracs in mind. I am aware NAPA brand are the exact same but i find better deals on them through an online site.



5R55E OEM Valve Body

I got the O/D flashing light around 120k-130k. Now at 164K the tranny has ran smooth. I have recently noticed a hard engaging when put in Reverse and every once in a while the light bump/flare at 2nd and 3rd. Normally at 20-40MPH. Its not a slip with the hard jerk. Its the flare with bump like feeling thats hardly noticeable. I havent done a tranny filter or oil change so that could be it instead. A dirty filter will give you bad tranny symptoms. I might just order the valve body and have it around til i save up for the labor cost.



Serpentine Belt

For a while now when i start up my ST it squeaks pretty loud. Then as it warms up it quiets down and goes away shortly after. Sometimes i dont hear anything. Sometimes when driving and quickly accelerate hard it makes a weird sound, not squeaky but almost growling. Its also done that when revving .I am more than sure its the belt. Im going to replace it with one .5" shorter as it has been recommended. I will also be changing out the Idler and tensioner.

 

[EddieS'04]

I will also be changing out the Idler and tensioner.

I would verify the bearings are bad first. Also if the tensonior has a good tight spring, dont replace it. With the .5 shorter belt, the spring will be very tight anyway. You can reaplce the pully on the tensonior @ 1/3 the cost if needed.



No point in spending $$ not necesary.



Sometime in spring monroe has a buy 4 for 3 price. I got 4 sensatracs for a grand marquis for $108 deliverd before rebate at site below.

 

[Kevin Lang]

I had the same problem with the squeaking, and the belt fixed it. Didn't have to mess with the tensioner & such. I didn't go for the shorter belt though, I hadn't seen those threads here when I did the swap.



Shocks are easy enough--as evidenced by the fact that I changed mine--and you don't have to drop the emissions box in the rear.



While you're doing all of this, have you thought about upgrading your front endlinks to Moog's superior product? The front OEM endlinks are horrible & aren't even durable--they're just a thin metal rod in a plastic tube. When I removed mine, the rust on the drivers' side was so bad that I actually snapped the rod during removal.



Replacing the endlinks with the aftermarket one is cheap and easy--the hardest part is lining all the washers and bushings up correctly, and the difference in handling is immediately noticeable.

 

[EddieS'04]

Replacing the endlinks with the aftermarket one is cheap and easy--the hardest part is lining all the washers and bushings up correctly

The easiest way to keep it all together during assembly,is. Drop the bolt in from the top as you put the pieces on. Then everthing stays in place. All you do then is put the bushing,washer and nut on at the bottom, while holding the bolt down.



Top down is much easier than bottom up.

 

[Jerry Gerner 2]

Could that be the reason why some Ford trucks have that ranger lean?

All trucks that have the fuel tank on the driverside have whats called the "Ranger lean" because of the extra weight from the gas on one side and usually only the driver is in the truck all the time when driven, thus the left side lean. All my Chevy S-10's had it as well as my GMC Sonoma.