Hello Peeps,

Need your advice, my truck is 2018 2.7L with just over 25K miles. Was doing a tire rotation and oil change and saw oil all around the base of the struts. Clicked some pictures.

Are my struts busted? Will this be covered under warranty? will they replace both? will they also do the alignment?

Any advice is helpful....

...still confused that in just 25k miles they are busted, maybe....the truck does ride like a boat, floaty feeling, could this be a sign as well......

will the dealer install for free if I get Bilstein 5100 and opt-out of the OEM struts
Sandan

 

Yes , should be, depends, probably not

 

Yes, covered under warranty.
Looks to be they been leaking for some time.

 

Yes, that's what mine looked like. My right front blew however I didn't notice till over 60K miles, you at 25K should be under warranty I would think.. Local dealer quoted me to replace both, they wanted to do the entire loaded spring/strut package, installed and an alignment was going to cost me over $1000. I said no thanks and got a set of 5100 off Stage 3 Motorsports front and rear for $400 and had a good friend that does lifts and levels install them for me. Needless to say I spent WAY less (a little over half) than what the dealer wanted to charge and it rides MUCH better, more controlled feeling and handles bumps much easier.. I installed the 5100 at stock height so they just bolted in relatively easy (well for a pro they did, it was interesting to watch him do it) and I am very happy with the result. Plus the rear shocks installed too was a bonus. And I can raise the struts in the future if i want to fit larger tires which for me as a daily driver is highly unlikely.

 

Thank you for the reply!!!

I have 5100 years already on my ride, was holding off installing the fronts, if the warranty covers this I will let ford install new ones and get me an alignment as well. But if they won't cover it then my last option is to go with 5100 fronts....

Sandan

 

It looks like it, but i would pressure wash it and keep an eye on it

 

I had 11,000 on my 19 Limited, struts were leaking, dealer replaced both under warranty. Never did leak enough to leave a drip on garage floor. Had a 15 Silverado, shocks started leaking at 5,000 miles, left a oil spot on floor, that is how I discovered that.

 

When I put the 5100's on my 2020 @ 1200 mi. one of the fronts was starting to leak. I couldn't believe it, but it did help me to justify the cost of the 5100's. Who knows if a set of OEM warranty shocks would last any longer? I would guess, probably not.

 

Ford Orders Garbage for Struts. I went thru (2) sets in 10K miles on a 2011 Expedition. Bilstein after that. Got my 2018 special edition F150 in July 2019. Ordered Bilstein and went right back to the dealer and had them put on. Truck rides 100 % better. And with less than 2000 miles both front struts were leaking already. I love my Fords but I would like to take somebody out behind the woodshed for putting garbage like that on a 70k truck.

From what I have seen I would estimate that 60 to 70 percent of the expeditions and f150s on the road have leaking struts in less than 10K miles. Most never know it because you have to get under the truck to really inspect. And most don't care.

 

you guys would be amazed at the amount of shocks and struts we replace under warranty.