1997 Ford F-250 suspension problems

“MY 1997 FORD F250 4WD TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED A POPPING NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HUB AREA. I FOUND THE DRIVE SHAFT FROM THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE COULD BE MOVED IN AND OUT OF THE WHEEL HUB WITH A POPPING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED AND NO ONE CAN FIND PARTS. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND SEARCHED LOCAL PARTS STORES AND CAN'T FINE THEM EITHER. ALL I FIND IS THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS HAD SUSPENSION PROBLEMS ON THIS MODEL. HOW DO I GET IT REPAIRED? *TR”

“WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POP AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE FRONT LEFT SIDE DROPPED SEVERAL INCHES. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO INSPECT WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE, AND DISCOVERED THAT DRIVER SIDE TORSION BAR SNAPPED.*AK”

“PROBLEMS WITH OIL PAN, BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD.*MR THE FRONT END CASING CRACKED. THE OIL PAN, BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION LINES RUSTED OUT. THE BOLT HEADS ROTTED OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, AND THE HEADS CRACKED AS A RESULT. THE REAR END CAP RUSTED ALONG WITH THE POLLUTION CONTROL VALVES. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TILTED AS A RESULT IN A CRACKED FRONT END HOUSING LEAVING A 1" GAP. A FRONT TIRE ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. *PH *JB”

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL LEFT FRONT TIE ROD HAD COME OFF. LEFT FRONT WHEEL ALMOST CAME OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE. MECHANIC REPAIRED TIE ROD AND REPLACED BALL JOINT.*AK *YH”

“BOTH THESE RETAINING BOLTS FAILED. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE I NOTICED A BOLT HANGING DOWN FROM THE FRONT END ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE SHOP OWNER NOTICED THE DRIVER'S SIDE BOLT WAS MISSING. HE COMMENTED THAT HE LOOKS FOR THIS ITEM ON FORD F150 AND F250 UNITS. HE HAS HAD VEHICLES COME IN WITH BOTH BOLTS MISSING! FORD CHANGED THE BOLT MECHANISM RETAINING THE STABALIZER BARS IN THIS MODEL YEAR (1998). THEIR DESIGN APPEARS FAULTY AS THE PLASTIC RETAINING DEVICES ON THE BOLT DO NOT APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY.*AK”

“MY TIRES WERE SEVERELY WORN ON THE INSIDE EDGES. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES AND WENT TO HAVE THE TRUCK ALIGNED. VIRGINIA SPRING AND ALIGNMENT, ARLINGTON, VA, 22213, INFORMED ME THAT MY RIGHT FRONT SPRING WAS DANGEROUSLY WEAK AND HAD CAUSED THE UPPER BALL JOINT TO BECOME LOOSE. THEY SAID EVERY FORD 250 DIESEL THEY SEE HAS THIS PROBLEM AND THAT FORD DID NOT PUT STRONG ENOUGH SPRINGS ON THESE TRUCKS. FORD IN FACT HAD ISSUED TSB-96-23-16 WHICH CALLED FOR ADDING A LEAF TO EACH FRONT SPRING AND REALIGNMENT. THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE DEFECT IN MY TRUCK BECAUSE IT HAS OVER 36,000 MILES ON IT. IF THIS SPRING FAILS, A 3/4 TON TRUCK GOES OUT OF CONTROL. *AK”