2005 Excursion Drag Link Bracket Weld failure

[quietman]

Yesterday i noticed the steering suddenly becoming vague and that the wheel was no longer centered when driving straight ahead.

Examined the front suspension and discovered that the welds holding the Track Bar! to the frame had failed. A closer loook revealed that most of the bead surface was already rusted, and obviously had failed long before and/or never had any penetration.

Now I need to see what i can have done about it.

I have friends/relatives who are master welders and work building race cars/off-road trucks and doing Aero-space welds on rocket nozzles etc.

Obviously my first choice.

If for some reason I am forced to go through Ford or some commercial frame/suspension shop i would be interested in reccomends for the Greater Orange County area in Southern California.

I would appreciate any advice, and will update as warranted...

LINK to photos etc. :

http://www.martialartsacademy.org/leviweldfailure.htm

_____________________

Quietman

http://www.roenation.com

2005 EXCURSION LIMITED Eddie Bauer edition 4X4 PSD

4" FabTech lift/level, Bilstein mono-gas shocks, Rancho Steering Stabilizer

Silverstars, BFG 295/75/16 AT KO's on Factory Mags

LANDYOT Generation II Radius Rods, Ford factory hood insulator

 

[Big K]

YIKES!!!

That isn't good at all!

 

[Crumm]

Unless I am looking at the pictures wrong that is not a drag link but instead the steering stabilizer mount. A drag link is the link that goes from the pitman arm to the axle. Regardless of what it is that broke it needs fixed. If you know a good welder I would have them weld it up. Ford will tell you it failed due to your large tires and lift(warranty void)and who knows how good of a welder there part changing mechanics may be.

 

[Big K]

This is on a 05???

Did the 05 Ex's still use Leaf Springs?

 

[Crumm]

Yes they did. Since Ford had plans of discontinuing the Excursion they never switched them over to the coil setup.

 

[Big K]

Aww, Ok cool, Thought so but wasn't sure!

But they changed everything else LOL Figures!

 

[Crumm]

For 2006 they changed everything for sure. They changed it so much the Excursion totally disappeared.

 

[CHPMustang]

With the amount of rust that's on the damaged area I'd have to assume that it came that way from the production line.

 

[Big K]

Yeap, Or been that way for a while, untreated steel can rust up REAL quick.

 

[CHPMustang]

What type of paint/coating is applied to the suspension parts either at the line or supplier to keep them from rusting?