1997 FORD F-350 Suspension Problems

DT: CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED OF ABOUT REAR LEAF SPRINGS SPRING HANGER AND SHACKLE. CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE SPRING HANGER CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO HAUL ANY AMOUNT OF WEIGHT UNTIL PROBLEM WAS FIXED. CONSUMER PURCHASED THE PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLE TODAY. FORD DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY SELL A LARGE AMOUNT OF THESE PARTS, THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR STRUCTURAL ITEM, IT WAS RIVETED ON, NOT BOLTED. CONSUMER LOOKED AT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES LIKE HIS OWN, AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER CALLED FORD TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. CONSUMER ESTIMATED THAT IT WAS TO COST $500 TO FIX PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 125,000

VEHICLE GOES FROM SIDE TO SIDE AFTER HITTING A BUMP, VIBRATES, AND IS HARD TO CONTROL. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE NEEDS A STABILIZER BAR, DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH ONE.*AK

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING IT. *AK BEARINGS FAILURE CAUSED STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN AND ON OCCASSION LOCKS IT. *YH

CONSUMER WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR SHARP CURB & APPLIED BRAKES, FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WENT OVER BANK OF HILL, HEADING TOWARD A LAKE & EVENTUALLY STOPPED SLIDING. DEALER AND CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. ROTORS SEEM TO BE WARPED. *AK FRONT WHEELS SQUEAL AND GRAB WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, EXCESS DUST WAS FOUND IN REAR BRAKE DRUMS. DEALER STATED THAT FRONT END COULD NOT BE ALIGNED, AFTER MARKET COMBER BUSHINGS WERE INSTALLED ON VEHICLE WHICH WAS ABLE TO BE ALIGNED. *SLC

AT 15000 MILES, FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL, NOW, 30000 MILES LATER CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACED THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES P235/85R16 DUE TO TIRES CAUSING FRONT END TO WOBBLE AND EXPERIENCE VIBRATION, DEALER STATED THE BELTS WERE COMING APART. CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE LEFT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO FROND END SNAPPING SOUDN AND WOBBLE, CONSUMER WONDERS IF THE PROBLEM THE WHOLE TIME WAS WITH THE TIRES. *SLC

AT 15000 MILES, FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL, NOW, 30000 MILES LATER CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACED THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES P235/85R16 DUE TO TIRES CAUSING FRONT END TO WOBBLE AND EXPERIENCE VIBRATION, DEALER STATED THE BELTS WERE COMING APART. CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE LEFT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO FROND END SNAPPING SOUDN AND WOBBLE, CONSUMER WONDERS IF THE PROBLEM THE WHOLE TIME WAS WITH THE TIRES. *SLC

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING, MANUFACTURER SENT NOTICE INDICATING A DESIGN ERROR IN THE FRONT END STEERING AND CORRECTION OF THE FRONT END COMPONENTS TO REMEDY PROBLEM. *SLC

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING, MANUFACTURER SENT NOTICE INDICATING A DESIGN ERROR IN THE FRONT END STEERING AND CORRECTION OF THE FRONT END COMPONENTS TO REMEDY PROBLEM. *SLC

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WILL DRIFT AND WILL NOT STAY ALIGNED PROPERLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR ALIGNMENT 6 TIMNES FOR PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A NOISE IS HEARD THAT COMES FROM THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO LOCATE PROLBEM.. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK