So what goes BANG in the night?

I had been in Hearst Ontario, dropped off another load of building material at the property my wife and I own. Had been heading east back for about 2 1/2 hr. toward Cochrane Ontario, and would have hung a right and headed south, had I got that far. Instead, with about 25 miles to go to Cochrane, I'm tootin along at 65 mph, without any warning, there's a terrific BANG. The steering wheel gets yanked from my hands and I'm heading stage left. Before I can react, I'm over the center line, and have crossed the left lane and hit the gravel shoulder. No sooner had I got there, and there was a reversed course for the right side of the road. By now, I've pounced on the steering wheel with a death grip, and trying to not to get to far off the beaten path, I managed to get the whole works travelling in the general direction that the road was pointing at. With just a light tap on the brakes, it got real interesting all over again, we're going stage left again Clyde. With a few light bunts on the steering wheel to keep some sort of control, I just let it coasting along, while listening to a real loud grinding noise. A quick look at the side mirror showed a real impressive spark show, that was as long as the truck and trailer. By now I'm down to about 30 mph or so, and with just small inputs to the steering, I could keep it in my lane, but it was still like herding an old sow with a stick. Had to keep giving it a little tap on one side and then the other. The weight of the trailer had pushed the truck along for quite a distance before coming to a stop. There was a fairly wide paved shoulder that worked out ok, was able to keep the collapsed suspension on the pavement, while the right side that was still ok, was resting on the gravel shoulder. Between the smell of burning rubber and hot metal, it didn't take long to realise I better be checking for a fire. I'm surprised I could get out as quick as I did, considering my butt was clamped onto the seat upholstery as tight as it was. No fire, didn't even poop in my bloomers!! Since it was midnight, no sense in hitchhiking to town for help, would be no one open anyway. Camped out on the front seat until morning. Stuck out my thumb, and the first vehicle to come along, stopped and gave me ride into town. Even recommended the repair garage to use, and which hotel to stay at. Turned out to be excellent advise. $1288.00 dollars and two days later I was back on the road. Ouch! I will have to say the guys at the garage did bend over backward to help, even if they did get intimate with my wallet. :rolleyes: Sniper

always nice to hear a horror story with a good ending.

wow i would have defintely pooped my bloomers.

I've seen it dozens of times,overlubrication we always called it.Some people pay good money for a thrill ride like you took. Just be very glad you're here to talk about it. Hank

Think maybe a little preventative maintenence might be in order? Next time you might not be so lucky.

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Originally Posted by 61bone

Think maybe a little preventative maintenence might be in order? Next time you might not be so lucky.

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Actually, all the parts involved are just a year old. I did the whole works, bought a kit that had upper and lower BJ. Inner and outer tie rod ends with new sleeves. Stab links, idler arm and sector just so I wouldn't have this kind of problem, or any problem for that matter. The shank broke at the ball surface, when you look at it, you can see where it started at a riser and progressed until it let go. Who looks for it to fail at one year old? My only concern now is, was it a freakish deal, or is the lower balljoint on the otherside of the same quality? Since there is no right or left, it could have been stamped out by the same machine that has caused a riser in the shank? Who knows? The parts guy's are waiting for the manufacturing rep to get back to us. Doubt if anything will come of it, if a string of faulty parts are discovered, I don't imagine I'll be included in the knowledge of it, not the kind of thing they would want you to know. The "not me, not my fault" syndrome should be in full swing on this one. Sniper

I had something very similar happen to me about 3 weeks ago. I was cruising down the 401, doing about 120 KM (70-75mph) in my Explorer when I also heard a large bang, felt the front end drop and the vehicle lurch towards the left. Fortunately, I had both hands on the wheel so I was able (with a lot of corrections) to keep from hitting the shoulder or going completely sideways. I first thought that I had blown a tire, but when I finally got the truck stopped after a very scary ride, I got out and found the front left tire sitting with extreme negative camber. I had also broken a ball joint, but mine was an upper. It had sheared off right at the ball, similar to yours.
I had also replaced my ball joints about 2 years ago and maintenance has always been done regularly. I suspect the problem was the (probably offshore) replacement parts, since this vehicle has not been abused and was traveling on a smooth highway at the time of the breakage. The ball joint has been replaced with a genuine Ford part this time.:)

That's what I was thinking. We may see a lot more of this since just about everything you buy is made in China today. A few years ago I had a pair of pliers (China Sh-t) that resembled Channel locks. I had a USA pipe wrench on the 1 1/2" pipe and the China pliers on the coupling. I have an elbow that needs to be replaced from an injury but I still managed to break the jaw of the pliers.

I made a living as an Ironworker if I had used tools like that in my trade, I would have no need for an elbow replacement!!!! When you trust your life with your tools they better be made in this Country, or an equivalent Country as ours.

Richard

Gotta love them discount auto parts chains parts.Lifetime warranty and by god your gonna need it,
if ya survive !!!!:D :3dSMILE: :)
One word, MOOG.
Not even the OEM stuff is up to par,never seen one break but they wear out within 2-3 years. Ford trucks are the worst, No grease provisions I would guess although Jap vehicles have'nt had fittings in years and ya never have to replace em.

A good buddy of mine had the same thing happen to him in his beautiful 57 chevy but he wasn't so lucky. He hit the side colvert and the car flipped. He came out with only a broken arm Very,Very scary:eek:

well i just put inner and outers on my 90 chevy truck and there made in china well not happy with that but better then the old whip out ones ?? i am thinking i have to keep at below 100 mph. i had a 4 wheel drive S10. that truck like to eat 1/2 shafts and ball joints i had a upper fail in town as i was going faster then i should of going in to a sweeping turn it never made the turn was not something i was planing for you could not turn the wheel just hang on for the ride no fun but lucky i ended up in a empty parking lot

The year was 1962 I was 16 years old driving my Dad’s 57 Dodge 2dr. ht. I went across an intersection there was a dip then a slight rise the A frame hit the black top. I had no control of the steering and lucky for me I was not on a busy highway. My wife was driving an 86 El Camino on the way to church no less when the driver side tie rod let go again we were lucky we were on a county road no traffic. It can happen when you least expect it.

Richard

Sorry to hear about the break down..and even happier that you are ok. Thing is....the parts lok like from the picture that they have many thousand of miles on the them, hard ones at that. Not to doubt that you did replace the ball joints,but is it possible the vehicle is driven overloaded? or on very poor roads? just my two cents ;)

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Originally Posted by moter

Sorry to hear about the break down..and even happier that you are ok. Thing is....the parts lok like from the picture that they have many thousand of miles on the them, hard ones at that. Not to doubt that you did replace the ball joints,but is it possible the vehicle is driven overloaded? or on very poor roads? just my two cents ;)

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This is a work truck, used, but not abused. The thing you have to remember is this, southern Ontario really isn't 'south' anything. It's still Canada, the land of snow, slush, and salt. Mostly salt! You can have a new what ever, but if you drive it year round it will soon look like it. Just a way of life around here. That's why we buy the cherry stuff from you guy's that live in the real sunny south.:D Sniper

I live in the Sunny south, and our stuff ain't that cherry. No salt true, but too much rain. If you want REAL cherry steel, then you shop out of Arizona.

Can you say made in China or other ares near there.