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From: Woodstock, ON
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Hi folks, my names Bill, new to the site here...I love my Ranger! I've had it for 5 years, 200km, any not any problems...except for the clutch, which seems to be a weak point with these trucks. It's got me all over the place, and is a solid work truck for whatever you need it for...which is why Ford still sells a ton of them even after not changing them for the last 30 years!
I logged on to this site...well hopefully to get some advice from the truck gurus here. MY wife got in an accident yesterday, a cop hit her (long story), but the cruiser pushed the front drivers side tire in so far it's on a bad angle. The whole top of the tire is rubbing against the upper control arm. After looking briefly, I can't see anything broken, the CV joint is on a weird angle, and the upper and lower balljoints look off too. It's a 4x4, 2003 model.
The crappy thing is, I have to eat this repair, because our insurance rates are already high, and even though the cop was at fault, you know those guys aren't going to write themselves a ticket. MY wife was distressed and they pulled in the heavies to intimidate her. Add to that I'm laid off, and my wife doesn't work...it's just all bad.
Ok..getting to my question...what's the weak point here? The front, did I bend a control arm? Is the steering knuckle gone? Should I be looking at the lower control arm?
Any help would be appreciated. And...it's good to be here. Seems like a great site with lots of good articles/posts.
Bill
I logged on to this site...well hopefully to get some advice from the truck gurus here. MY wife got in an accident yesterday, a cop hit her (long story), but the cruiser pushed the front drivers side tire in so far it's on a bad angle. The whole top of the tire is rubbing against the upper control arm. After looking briefly, I can't see anything broken, the CV joint is on a weird angle, and the upper and lower balljoints look off too. It's a 4x4, 2003 model.
The crappy thing is, I have to eat this repair, because our insurance rates are already high, and even though the cop was at fault, you know those guys aren't going to write themselves a ticket. MY wife was distressed and they pulled in the heavies to intimidate her. Add to that I'm laid off, and my wife doesn't work...it's just all bad.
Ok..getting to my question...what's the weak point here? The front, did I bend a control arm? Is the steering knuckle gone? Should I be looking at the lower control arm?
Any help would be appreciated. And...it's good to be here. Seems like a great site with lots of good articles/posts.
Bill
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,424
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Welcome to RF.
Sorry to hear about your current situation. From the sounds of it, I'd take the truck to a shop to asses the damage. You may have damaged a lot of stuff, and bent things you can't notice yet. There could even be frame damage.
I don't understand the accident though. If a cop hit your truck and he's at fault, how will that effect YOUR insurance and why would YOU have to eat the repair cost? With an "at fault" accident, and the fault being placed on the OTHER driver, it's the other persons insurance that covers your vehicles repairs. Somethings not right with the story. You'll have to elaborate on it if you'd like. The police wouldn't be at fault and then cover it up and NOT compensate you. Just way too many unknowns and imposibilities.
But hey, anything's possible I guess, especially down in Southern Ontario. LOL
Worse comes to worse, do what our Southern neighbours do, sue the police department.
Sorry to hear about your current situation. From the sounds of it, I'd take the truck to a shop to asses the damage. You may have damaged a lot of stuff, and bent things you can't notice yet. There could even be frame damage.
I don't understand the accident though. If a cop hit your truck and he's at fault, how will that effect YOUR insurance and why would YOU have to eat the repair cost? With an "at fault" accident, and the fault being placed on the OTHER driver, it's the other persons insurance that covers your vehicles repairs. Somethings not right with the story. You'll have to elaborate on it if you'd like. The police wouldn't be at fault and then cover it up and NOT compensate you. Just way too many unknowns and imposibilities.
But hey, anything's possible I guess, especially down in Southern Ontario. LOL
Worse comes to worse, do what our Southern neighbours do, sue the police department.
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From: Woodstock, ON
thanks
Thanks for the warm hospitality, everyone!
It's a long story. The cops didn't charge themselves, so no one was at fault technically. I've looked into it, and the law states technically both parties were in the wrong.
That means our insurance rates will go up, and it makes more sense to me to try and do the repairs myself. I just need to find some cheap parts around here to use, I'm laid off and barely have any cash to go around. I really can't afford to pay shop rates to fix the truck, however I can go without a truck for a little while.
The upper mounts on the control arm look pretty beefy, they have extra gussets, I didn't think the steering knuckle itself was the weak point, but it is cracked, the whole casting. I'm hoping it's the only thing that got mangled however I won't know until I get into it.
Bill
It's a long story. The cops didn't charge themselves, so no one was at fault technically. I've looked into it, and the law states technically both parties were in the wrong.
That means our insurance rates will go up, and it makes more sense to me to try and do the repairs myself. I just need to find some cheap parts around here to use, I'm laid off and barely have any cash to go around. I really can't afford to pay shop rates to fix the truck, however I can go without a truck for a little while.
The upper mounts on the control arm look pretty beefy, they have extra gussets, I didn't think the steering knuckle itself was the weak point, but it is cracked, the whole casting. I'm hoping it's the only thing that got mangled however I won't know until I get into it.
Bill
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From: Woodstock, ON
Thanks all. Tried to get some pics but my camera is crap. Can't get close in enough. It's cracked good where the upper control arm connects to the one piece steering knuckle. Got a better price, 200 at wreckers. Still highway robbery, I'm looking for someone getting rid of an old Ranger as a donor.
BTW...can you use Explorer parts on the Ranger? And, how different are the 4wd steering knuckle to the 2wd? Are they different at all?
Bill
BTW...can you use Explorer parts on the Ranger? And, how different are the 4wd steering knuckle to the 2wd? Are they different at all?
Bill
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From: Ogden, Utah
There was a donor in WY for like 200 bucks. but i think what need was the part wrecked.
it was an 01 i think.
Anyhow welcome. I would see if you cant find a mech to just assess damage like they said. Not repair but just tell you what to repair. or get some pics as you tear it down and im sure we can help.
it was an 01 i think.
Anyhow welcome. I would see if you cant find a mech to just assess damage like they said. Not repair but just tell you what to repair. or get some pics as you tear it down and im sure we can help.
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