Front and rear bushings

[wcoates]

Re: Front and rear bushings

I had to replace my at 16k. Dealer said they just rot from age, not always the miles. Glad I had extended warranty, only cost me the sales tax.

Phil is this the ESP that covers the bushings/suspension?

[Leroy]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Ford Premium ESP covers these parts. I don't know about only paying the sales tax. I think all you pay is the deductible you have.

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[sfbaypaladin]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Adding myself to list of those with this problem. My 2002 with 21000 miles needs all 8 of the rear bushings replaced, but the no problems with any in the front! Weird! I've been quoted $1000 for parts and labor. However, I'm told that the car is not dangerous to drive in it's current condition and that I can wait until the suspension starts making noise. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it doesn't look like there's any great aftermarket solutions/parts here, so I'm just going to go with Ford parts.

[Noel H Cassell]

Re: Front and rear bushings

I bought a suspension kit from daparts305 ebay member for $168.19. It includes- 2 rear toe links, 2 rear sway bar links, 2 front sway bar links, and 2 front lower ball joints. That was prepaid shipment priority mail out of Florida. Sway bar links are made much better than oem. Heavier.

[Noel H Cassell]

Re: Front and rear bushings

I bought a suspension kit from daparts305 ebay member for $168.19. It includes- 2 rear toe links, 2 rear sway bar links, 2 front sway bar links, and 2 front lower ball joints. That was prepaid shipment priority mail out of Florida. Sway bar links are made much better than oem. Heavier.

[AZTB]

Re: Front and rear bushings

While rotating my tires, I noticed the rear suspension bushings had split. Took it to dealer (cuz it's still on the ESP program). They ordered upper/lower suspension arms out of Texas & Cal...will be here on Friday. $100 is total cost (ESP program expires on the car in June 2016)

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Am heading to dealer tomorrow to take care of bushings on Vintage Merlot. At 55,000 miles they were still intact but checked after returning from Black Hills at 92,000 miles and there is nothing left. Will use extended warranty.

[AZTB]

Re: Front and rear bushings

Just picked up car from dealer. They replaced rear upper & lower control arms and both rear toe links. They also checked & corrected 4 wheel alignment. All covered under ESP - cost total for me was $100.

[ewclement]

Re: Front and rear bushings

My 04 bird has 91K miles on it. I keep it in an unheated garage. I use it all year, and since I leave in Chicago temperatures can be extreme. Every time I get the oil changed I ask to check the bushings because of all these posts. Nothing, they are fine. What goes? Ed

[AZTB]

Re: Front and rear bushings

I would not known mine were bad, Ed, if I hadn't rotated my own tires.

The car had JUST been to Ford for a rear brake job - my guess is the protocol with Ford is that since it's covered by ESP, it's MY job to discover it. If it wasn't covered by ESP, they would have notified me it needed repair/replacement (or since it was covered by ESP, Ford could have been hoping it wouldn't have caused a problem until my ESP expired in June 2016).

[surfbeat]

Re: Front and rear bushings

My 2004, with about 23,000 needed the rear bearings replaced. The dealer wanted an outrageous amount, so, I put my foot down and had my hubby replace them-a 3 hour job.

First it was the COPS, then the rear bearings, now my seat belt warning buzzer does no got off and the warning lights for the seat warmer flash off and on without the heater being engaged.

Is it no wonder Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru and most other Japanese auto manufactures take business away from Ford and GM?

I will never purchase another USA auto again.

[ewclement]

Re: Front and rear bushings

My 04 has 91k miles. I keep it in an unheated garage. I live in Chicago so the car experiences extremes of heat and cold. Every time I bring it in for an oil change I ask them to check the bushings. So far, everything is fine. I don't get it. Ed

[Cards]

Re: Front and rear bushings

My 2004, with about 23,000 needed the rear bearings replaced. The dealer wanted an outrageous amount, so, I put my foot down and had my hubby replace them-a 3 hour job.

First it was the COPS, then the rear bearings, now my seat belt warning buzzer does no got off and the warning lights for the seat warmer flash off and on without the heater being engaged.

Is it no wonder Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru and most other Japanese auto manufactures take business away from Ford and GM?

I will never purchase another USA auto again.

I said the same thing until the retro came along. Japanese cars will never be Thunderbirds! However, not all Japanese cars are flawless. I have owned all the brands you mentioned except Suburu. Toyota/Lexus is boring because all you ever do is change the oil. No COPs etc. Nissan has good mechanicals but the dent removers of the world hate trying to get out dents because the paint cracks easily. Had a Dodge with Mitshbishi engine and transmission. Engine seals replaced under warranty along with 4 transmissions. I had to buy the fifth. Plastic radiator cracked leaving me stranded. In short, owning a Toyota leaves you with nothing to talk about on forums.

[AZTB]

Re: Front and rear bushings

... In short, owning a Toyota leaves you with nothing to talk about on forums.

And that, IMO, leaves time for more forum conversations on life enjoyment, not mechanical issues.

[steelblue5505]

Re: Front and rear bushings

I will never purchase another USA auto again.

I suggest you visit some of the other auto forums, read up on the other cars you mentioned. I think you will find the issues owners have with our Retros pale compared today's other vehicles. Especially if you compare cars in the foreign market that are the same age as our Retros.

Yours will soon be 15 years old and apparently of low usage judging by the mileage you posted. You need to drive & enjoy the car more.

By the way, the blinking seat warmer lights are a code to troubleshooting the heated seats. I can't recall exactly what or how one determines the pattern to the lights but I'm pretty certain it has been written up here before. Have you done a search? Search is difficult from my phone.