YACT: Ideas on this damage?

[SportSC4]

My dad has a '97 Ford Expedition, some 65k miles or so. Anyways, he was pulling into the driveway when he heard a loud sound and the front driver side "fell" down. I'm glad this didn't happen when he was on the highway earlier... Well not really glad at all but better on the driveway.

this evidently happened

any ideas on what this part's name is and typically what it costs to repair? or a general idea?

 

[swtethan]

what ami looking at

 

[SportSC4]

under the expedition by the front driver side suspension arm. it's the black bar that comes from the right side of the picture to the suspension arm and then abruptly ends with a big break (in white)

 

[swtethan]

thats what i thought

 

[jagec]

Man, quality built by Ford, huh?

kinda hard to tell from the angle...is that the sway bar?

 

[TitanDiddly]

Replace it yourself, save cash.

 

[Ronstang]

You snapped the torsion bar. One shoud be pretty cheap at a salvage yard and a couple of hours and you are done. They are not that hard to replace but you need to know or at least understand and respect what you are working on.

 

[letdown427]

I'd definately say that that is damage. And as such, should be fixed. More than that, I can't really tell you. (yeah, because it's a secret )

 

[SportSC4]

hehe

Thanks guys, I knew my last Lex inside and out but never have worked on a Ford before. I'll leave it to more capable hands

It doesn't seem too expensive but I think he's going to sell it after this (he's had several other silly things happen before). We'll see.

 

[VirginiaDonkey]

Ronstang is on the money

snapped torsion bar.

 

[Colt45]

sway bar

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Colt45
sway bar

No, Ronstang is correct, it's a torsion bar.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Colt45
sway bar

No, Ronstang is correct, it's a torsion bar.

Sway bars, also called torsion bars or anti-roll bars, are metal tubes running parallel to an axle and attached on the bottom of suspension mounts...

 

[Rogeee]

Sway bars and torsion bars are two completely different things,a sway bar links the left and right suspension control arms together,the bar is usually supported by rubber or urethane bushings to the frame,when cornering,one side of the vehicle will lean to one side,the sway bar reduces this effect by transferring this energy to the other lower control arm on the opposing side.
A torsion bar actually supports the vehicles,instead of using coil springs or leaf springs,a torsion bar is high carbon spring steel,one end of the torsion bar is rigidly attached to the body or frame of the vehicle,the other side is usually formed into a hexagon,this hexagon slides into a hole with the same shape which is located on either the upper or lower control arm,thus when you comprss the suspension,the torsion bar twists with a springing action,this is usually used on 4 wh drive applications because it allows room for a drive axle unlike a coil spring.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Colt45
sway bar

No, Ronstang is correct, it's a torsion bar.

Sway bars, also called torsion bars or anti-roll bars, are metal tubes running parallel to an axle and attached on the bottom of suspension mounts...

What exactly are you trying to say? Sway bars are torsion bars of a sort but not all torsion bars are sway bars. The Expedition uses a torsion bar type suspendion. Instead of leaf or coil springs they use a torsion bar that runs PERPENDICULAR to the plane of the axle that is fixed into the frame on one end and the lower control arm on the other end....thus they are the spring.

A sway bar runs parallel to the plane of the axle as you state. There only function is to control roll or body lean in turns. If one snaps the car will drive funny but the suspension is not going to sag in any way as a sway bar does not hold the vehicle up in any way. It has no load on it under normal driving or sitting conditions. It only comes into play in a turn to prevent the body from excessive roll.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
What exactly are you trying to say? Sway bars are torsion bars of a sort but not all torsion bars are sway bars. The Expedition uses a torsion bar type suspendion. Instead of leaf or coil springs they use a torsion bar that runs PERPENDICULAR to the plane of the axle that is fixed into the frame on one end and the lower control arm on the other end....thus they are the spring.

A sway bar runs parallel to the plane of the axle as you state. There only function is to control roll or body lean in turns. If one snaps the car will drive funny but the suspension is not going to sag in any way as a sway bar does not hold the vehicle up in any way. It has no load on it under normal driving or sitting conditions. It only comes into play in a turn to prevent the body from excessive roll.

I stand corrected. Serves me right for trusting Google

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
You snapped the torsion bar. One shoud be pretty cheap at a salvage yard and a couple of hours and you are done. They are not that hard to replace but you need to know or at least understand and respect what you are working on.

Ron is right but I don't recommend a used torsion bar because the 97-99 F-Series and Expeditions are known for bad torsion bars. I recommend a new updated Ford or aftermarket part.

Good Luck,
Quixfire

 

[ElFenix]

that'll buff right out

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: Quixfire

Originally posted by: Ronstang
You snapped the torsion bar. One shoud be pretty cheap at a salvage yard and a couple of hours and you are done. They are not that hard to replace but you need to know or at least understand and respect what you are working on.

Ron is right but I don't recommend a used torsion bar because the 97-99 F-Series and Expeditions are known for bad torsion bars. I recommend a new updated Ford or aftermarket part.

Good Luck,
Quixfire

Or just weld it back together with some sparklers.