Well at 81K I'm replacing upper/lower ball joints, tie rods and possibly a steering rack because of a worn bushing, and the geniuses don't make replacement bushings. Go freaking figure.

This Saturday I'll be removing the tires, leveling kit, rear blocks and going back with new Moog uppers and lower ball joints, Moog tie rods, Belltech drop struts, block delete, drop shackles and stock size tires... Both of my GMT800 trucks had double the miles and 10x the abuse and neither had any slack. Pitiful...

Anyone know how to solve the steering rack slop in these things??

 

That sounds about right. I just did balljoints on mine at 88k with moog. My dads 03 ecsb has been through two steering racks.

 

Dealership replaced my lower ball joints at 60k under certified used warranty. My truck is stock and will stay that way. THe ball joints wear out fast enough in stock configuration. I'm not doing anything that will shorten their life.

 

Trade it on a ford will fix it that's the only fix I know of ?

 

I've rebuilt more than my share of Ford front ends in my day...None of them are perfect, they're machines, they wear out. I can promise you. As unhappy with these things as I am, I won't own a Ford. I'll hunt for a low mile GMT800 before that happens.

Almost exactly 10K miles ago I put this front level and blocks on with some 33x12.50x20's and the whole front and was tight as it could be. In a short oamount of time, it's gone to ****. I can't say I had no idea about the leveling kits causing wear but damn, from good to completely shot in 10K?!

Seems like slightly lifting the front ends causes way more issues than slightly lowering them since the ball joint angles get outta whack when you go up so I don't expect to have any more problems after this for a while. It'll need brakes by the end of the yr but that's no biggie, they're not as worn as I previously thought. I'll scuff the rotors and pads and keep rolling till they're shot. They just make noise after they're heated up real good or wet.

 

We did mine a few months ago...at 335,000 miles

 

I'm guessing this was your 2000 truck?

I just hope like crap I don't have to put a damn steering rack on this thing..

 

Yep.

Oops, was responding on my phone-didn't see the gmt900 forum. I didn't realize the gmt900's were that bad up front

 

everything is being made for the lease market these days they dont care if it will last beyond warranty. But the GMs last much much longer.

 

I've replaced more f150 upper control arms then chev

but your right, these new trucks...even dodge has their tie rod recall, the front end sucks!