2002 Ford F-150 suspension problems

“I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD F-150 VIN # ([XXX]) DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 45MPH WHEN IT STARTED WHEEL HOPPING FROM THE REAR VERY BAD, THERE WAS A SCHOOL BUS STOPPED LETTING CHILDREN OFF & AS I WAS BRAKING IT WAS HOPPING & WAS A NEAR MISS, THIS WAS CLOSE. I PULLED THE TRUCK OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT AS I AM MECHANICALLY INCLINED & RETIRED, FOR THE FIRST 10 YEARS OF MY LIFE I WORKED IN THE AUTOMOBILE FIELD BECAUSE I HAD SCHOOLING FOR IT, ANYWAY I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK & SPOTTED THE PROBLEM RIGHT OFF THE BAT, BOTH REAR CENTER LEAF SPRINGS ARE BROKEN BIGGER THAN CRAP. I AM 54 AND A DIE HARD FORD FAN AND HAVE BEEN SINCE THE AGE OF 16, THAT IS ALL I HAVE OWNED & I AM THINKING ABOUT SWITCHING BRANDS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS TRUCK. I AM THE SECOND OWNER, I BOUGHT IT IN 10/2004 WITH 13,000 MILES. IT HAS NEVER HAD ANYTHING OVER 100 POUNDS HAULED IN IT AND I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS DRIVEN IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IS THERE ANY RECALLS FOR MY TRUCK ON THIS PROBLEM? CAN FORD MOTOR COMPANY DO ANYTHING FOR ME? THANK YOU [XXX] *TR”

“THE REAR PORTION OF THE FRAME IS ROTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THE LET SPRINGS HANGERS ARE READY TO BREAK OFF THE FRAME AND THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER IS ALSO READY TO FALL OFF. I JUST REPLACED THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES DUE TO THE WERE ALSO ROTTEN AND BROKE. THE GAS TANK STRAPS WERE ALSO A PROBLEM DUE TO RUST BUT FORD THOUGH ENOUGH OF THE PROBLEM THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT, TOYOTA HAD A PROBLEM WITH RUSTED FRAMES AND DID A MASSIVE RECALL ON THAT ISSUE. WHY HASN'T FORD DONE THE SAME THING? THE FRAME SHOULD BE THE LAST THING ONE NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT WITH ANY VEHICLE. THE TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS 146000 MILES AND NOW WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT MOVE WILL BE WITH THIS VEHICLE. REPAIR IT, JUNK IT OR TRADE IT ????? *TR”

“MY TRUCK THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IS A 2002 FORD F150 SUPERCREW THAT I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF. THE TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 64,000 MILES ON IT. ON OCCASION I DO USE THE TRUCK LIKE A TRUCK AND TOW A 19' BOAT WITH IT AND I USE IT TO PICK UP LUMBER ETC... THREE WEEKS AGO I BEGAN TO HEAR AN ODD METALLIC SOUND FROM THE BACK OF THE TRUCK WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I CLIMBED UNDERNEATH AND GRASPED DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVE TRAIN AND PUSHED AND PULLED ON THEM EXPECTING TO FIND SOMETHING LOOSE. I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HEARD A VERY LOUD BOOM! I PULLED OVER AND AGAIN LOOKED AT THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK AND FOUND THAT THE MOUNT THAT HOLDS THE REAR LEAF SPRING TO THE FRAME BODY HAD BROKEN RATHER VIOLENTLY AND SENT THE END OF THE SPRING WITH HALF OF THE MOUNT THRU THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK BED. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL BODY/ FRAME SHOP AND THE OWNER TOLD ME THAT HE HAS BEEN SEEING ALOT OF THESE LATELY AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. AFTER INSPECTION HE FOUND THE OTHER SIDE WAS EQUALLY RUSTED AND READY TO LET GO, WHICH CONCERNED ME SINCE THAT IS THE SIDE WITH THE GAS TANK ON…”

“BOTH THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED ON MY 02 FORD F150 DUE TO RUST AND THIS IS A COMMON CONCERN. I AM A SENIOR MASTER TECHNICIAN FOR FORD AND WE REPAIR THESE ON A REGULAR BASIS DUE TO RUST. BOTH ARE CLEAR SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN THEY FAIL AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. AND WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR AXLES AND SUBFRAMES BEING COVERED BY A RECALL DUE TO RUST I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY OTHER RUST RELATED SAFETY CONCERNS ARE NOT RECALLED. IF ONE RUST RELATED CONCERN IS RECALLED THEN ALL OTHERS SHOULD BE AS WELL, IT SHOULD BE ALL OR NONE. ON THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES, THEY WILL SNAP IN HALF AND THE REAR EYELET OF THE LEAF SPRING JAMS INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK BED, WITH THE BED BEING THE ONLY THING KEEPING MAJOR DAMAGE OR AN ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING. ON THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, THE RUST AND SWELL UP UNDER THE RUBBER PART OF THE LINE WHERE THE LOWER STEEL LINE IS INSERTED INTO THE RUBBER. ON HARD BRAKE APPLICATION THE LINE BLOWS AND YOU LOSE FRONT BRAKES. BOTH ARE COMMON CONCERNS ON TRUCKS IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE RUST IS A PART OF LIFE. IF I WASN'T A TECH THAT DRIVES VEHICLES WITH FAILED BRAKES AND BROKEN SUSPENSIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS, BOTH OF THESE…”

“I HAVE A 2002 F150 WITH ABOUT 90,000 MILES ON IT. ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AT ABOUT 45MPH. IT WILL NOT STOP SHAKING UNTIL YOU PRETTY MUCH COMPLETELY STOP. STARTED OUT JUST DOING IT EVERY NOW AND THEN. NOW I CANT GET OVER 45MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 4 DIFFERENT FRONT END SHOPS AND THEY ALL END UP SAYING THE SAME THING. DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR”

“2002 FORD F-150. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH REAR AXLE AND BEARING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT REAR AXLE WAS WORN AND THE BEARING WAS BAD. *JB”