This is just nuts. These locate the rear end of the truck. Even better they are covered in a plastic coating so unless you are really looking for this it will just look like a bit of surface rust until you poke it with a screwdriver!!!!!
I am surprised that this has not resulted in some accidents. Have one or both of these let go while at speed and bad things could happen.
AND
The bolt on the drivers side was put in before the gas tank. This means getting it out is a serious PITA. Why dont they just put the bolt in from the other side? It would make changing these things not require that you do one of the two following options.
1 remove the gas tank (saves bolt but a serious PITA)
- Cut bolt with sazall (can not use a torch as you are with in an inch of the plastic gas tank). Obviously this means you have to get a new bolt.
I have been a ford guy for a long time but this makes me wonder just what they are thinking. Or if they are really thinking.
Then there is the replacement cost. dealer cost is about 150-200 each. Aftermarket box tube serviceable units are about 550 a set.
I am thinking of cutting on of them apart removing the center section. Then take a piece of 1x2 tube steel. use a hole saw and make the proper cut at each end. Bevel the edges and weld together. I would do one at a time that way I can use the 2nd one as a jig to get the length correct. Using the bolts to hold the end pieces in place while fitting the center section. The overall length of the par is not absolutely critical but making sure that the pair are of equal length is. The only thing stopping me is that I am not sure how to protect the bushings while welding.
I bet I can make a set for less than $30
