1996 Ford F-150 Suspension Problems

1996 FORD F150 4 X 4-BOTH REAR BRACKETS CONNECTING THE LEAF SPRINGS (REAR OF VEHICLE) TO THE FRAME WERE TERRIBLE CORRODED AND CRACKED. MECHANIC WAS FEARFUL OF FAILURE WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS ASSURED PARTS AVAILABLE. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DEALERSHIP, NOT ALL PARTS AVAILABLE AS DEMAND HAD BEEN SO GREAT THEY KEPT RUNNING OUT OF THE PARTS. I HAD TO GO TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP TO OBTAIN THE REST OF THE PARTS. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE OF SIGNIFICANTLY HEAVIER BUILD THAN ORIGINAL PARTS. HAVE SINCE BEEN INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC AND OTHERS THAT MID 90S FORD 150S AND EXPLORERS ARE LOSING THE BRACKETS EN MASSE. I CONSIDER THIS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS AN IMPORTANT CHASIS COMPONENT IS MORE THAN LIKELY TO FAIL. THESE OLDER TRUCKS ARE NOW BEING HANDED DOWN TO HIGH SCHOOL KIDS. A FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WILL SURELY LEAD TO INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS PANICKING AND OVER CORRECTING AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT BASED ON THE DEMAND AT A SINGLE DEALERSHIP (I WAS TOLD AT THE PARTS DEPARTMENT THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED 12 REQUEST FOR THE VERY SAME PART IN ONE DAY. ALL REQUESTS WERE FOR EITHER 1996 F150S OR 1996 EXPLORERS). I CONSIDER THAT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT AND WISHED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. *TR

OCT 4, 2005-DURING ANNUAL STATE SAFETY INSPECTION, THE INSPECTOR DISCOVEREWD THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE BREAKS WERE APROXIMATELY 90 FROM THE TOP END OF EACH COIL, LEAVING THEM UNATTACHED. THE BROKEN ENDS WERE RUSTY, SO THEY HAD BEEJN IN THIS CONDITION FOR SOME TIME. THE SPRINGS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES.

NOTICED REAR OF TRUCK WAS NOT LEVEL-NOTICED CONTROL DIFFERENCE ON CURVES IN ROAD. INSPECTED TRUCK AND FOUND RIGHT REAR SPRING SHACKLE RUSTED AWAY. PARKED TRUCK UNTIL REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE OLD PART IS STILL ON TRUCK. *NM

FRONT LEFT SPRING COIL BROKE, CAUSEING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, BRAKE/ROTOR FAILURE, AND DIMINISHED VEHICLE CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EXPENSES TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE SPRING AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO BRAKES/ROTORS IN EXCESS OF $500.00. *AK

PUT IN NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS BUT BRAKE LINING RESTED AGAINST THE SHOCK ABSORBERS WHICH RUBBED A HOLE THROUGH THE METAL, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK *ML

LOUD POPPING NOISE. DEALER WAS NO HELP. INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOP FOUND AND REPLACED CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. ORIGINALS HAD CHEMICALLY DETERIORATED FROM APPLICATION OF SLOVENTS AT SOME POINT AT ASSEMBLY. REPAIRS COST ME $400. ATTACHMENT POINTS WERE WORN TO THE POINT OF BEING OBLONG.

REAR LEAF SPRING APPEARS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. BRACKET REPLACEMENT WAS DONE TO 1997-1998 VEHICLES , WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 1997-1998 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED ONLY. *AK

LEAF SPRINGS DAMAGED CAUSING POOR STABILITY.

WHEN HITTING A BUMP WHILETURNING A CORNER OR HITTING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND JERKS. *AK

FRONT END SUSPENSION MAKES LOUD CLUNCKING/KNOCKING NOISES WHEN DRIVING AT 25-50MPH, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AND HITTING A ROUGH SERVICE OR POTHOLE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES TERRIBLY, IT WILL JUMP OUT OF DRIVER'S HANDS.*AK

SUSPENSION FRONT I BEAM BENT, CAUSING WHEELS TO GO OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND POOR STEERING. *AK

DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING, IN FOR REPAIR, REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARNING, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUES HAVE A PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT AND OR RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE TENDS TO VEER LEFT WITHOUT TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TT

WHILE EITHER TURNING OR BACKING UP AN UNKNOWN BANGING SOUND IS HEARD. HAGERSTOWN FORD UNABLE TO DETECT WHAT CAUSE IS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKE A TURN STEERING WHEEL SHAKES TERRIBLY. *AK

WHEM MAKING TURNS (MOSTLY NOTED AT SLOW SPEEDS) TRUCK MAKES LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH