First non-maintenance repair on the Expedition

[OVERKILL]

I know the Toyota guys like to go on about how the only things they ever have to change are brakes and tires.

Well, at 10 years old, and 241,000Km, I finally had to have the front U-joints changed on the Expedition today. The top one had some slack in it that was causing vibration, so both were done.

Was done by a client dealership, total out the door, both joints, labour-in was $450.00.

Rears are still original. Keep in mind, this thing has towed many cars, u-haul trailers, boats....etc. And I drive it HARD.

Has been a very good truck. I have no complaints.

 

[oggb]

You've never experienced the joy of a spark plug blowing out?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: JRed
You've never experienced the joy of a spark plug blowing out?


Yeah, but I call that one a defect, LOL!

#8 launched last year.

This is the first real drivetrain repair I've had to do on it that wasn't due to some "Ford-ism".

 

[01rangerxl]

Not terrible life out of a u-joint on a truck that gets used.

Most of the "common" problems with popular domestic trucks/SUVs is due to their sheer volume of production. Issues are bound to happen when you crank out millions of the same platform.

I put a 1994 door on my 2002 truck and it latched perfectly the first time I shut it. The look on my friend's face who was helping me was priceless. An 8 year difference between when the trucks were assembled and a major body part fit perfectly. Haters gonna hate, but I think that's engineering excellence right there.

 

[OtisBlkR1]

glad your happy, trucks are meant to be used

 

[msmoke00]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: JRed
You've never experienced the joy of a spark plug blowing out?


Yeah, but I call that one a defect, LOL!

#8 launched last year.

This is the first real drivetrain repair I've had to do on it that wasn't due to some "Ford-ism".


The spark plugs blowing isn't really a defect. It's a misguided torque spec and procedure on the plugs. The new spec is 28 ft/lbs and no anti-seize on the plugs. Hope you used a Time sert on the repair.

 

[Jocephus]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I know the Toyota guys like to go on about how the only things they ever have to change are brakes and tires.


That's only because everything on the Toyota has been recalled already

LOL


[Yes, I'm a Toyota owner]

 

[Chris142]

$450 for $40 worth of joints and an hrs labor!

 

[crazyoildude]

ford trucks are still the best... Sorry guys but they are, toyota is not what they used to be

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
$450 for $40 worth of joints and an hrs labor!


Rust. They factor in having to deal with rust up in the Great White North. Southern Canada is in love with salting their roads in the winter, just like the Northeast is. I like living in the Northeast, and hate the salt with a passion. It turns a simple job into a horribly complex one...

 

[Donald]

Was the original one with a zerk? Did you get it greased once and awhile?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: msmoke00
The spark plugs blowing isn't really a defect. It's a misguided torque spec and procedure on the plugs. The new spec is 28 ft/lbs and no anti-seize on the plugs. Hope you used a Time sert on the repair.

Everything I've read says 14ft-lbs, no anti-seize. The lock-N-stitch insert was used, which is the only one approved by Ford. Repair was done at Ford by a mobile machine shop.

I would say three threads on a plug hole is a "design defect" in the sense that it is supposedly the bare minimum required for the stresses experienced. Had they used sometime like 6 threads, the problem would never have existed.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
$450 for $40 worth of joints and an hrs labor!


Joints were OE Ford, so they were about $75/each. Yes, we could have gone cheap white-box Chinese specials, but I don't do cheap white box Chinese specials.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Was the original one with a zerk? Did you get it greased once and awhile?


No sir, Ford hasn't used greaseable U-joints since like the 80's AFAIK.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Well, at 10 years old, and 241,000Km, I finally had to have the front U-joints changed on the Expedition today. The top one had some slack in it that was causing vibration, so both were done.


Back in the day, if I had taxi U-joints last that long, I would have been dancing in the streets.

 

[Rocko1]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Donald
Was the original one with a zerk? Did you get it greased once and awhile?


No sir, Ford hasn't used greaseable U-joints since like the 80's AFAIK.


Yep. They realized parts were not wearing out fast enough and eliminated the fittings.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

U Joint or CV joint?

I'm assuming the driveshaft u joints went bad?

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Everything I've read says 14ft-lbs, no anti-seize. The lock-N-stitch insert was used, which is the only one approved by Ford. Repair was done at Ford by a mobile machine shop.

I would say three threads on a plug hole is a "design defect" in the sense that it is supposedly the bare minimum required for the stresses experienced. Had they used sometime like 6 threads, the problem would never have existed.

The 3V plugs might be 28ft-lbs or close, but the 2v ones are still 13-15 ft-lbs with no anti seize. The 3V you put anti-seize on the interference fit portion of the plug per the TSB.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: Rocko1
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Donald
Was the original one with a zerk? Did you get it greased once and awhile?


No sir, Ford hasn't used greaseable U-joints since like the 80's AFAIK.


Yep. They realized parts were not wearing out fast enough and eliminated the fittings.

You seriously think that was the reason? They went to non-greasable because they wanted to eliminate one more maintenance item. The average person barely gets their oil changed, you really expect them to grease their u-joints regularly too? The automakers do NOT "want" their parts to fail often and early. Having a reputation of building long lasting, reliable cars sells vehicles, not junk that breaks constantly.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Donald
Was the original one with a zerk? Did you get it greased once and awhile?


No sir, Ford hasn't used greaseable U-joints since like the 80's AFAIK.


FYI I hardly ever sell u-joints. Literally I have maybe sold 8 or 10 u-joints in the 5 plus years I have been doing this.