Damm. I have been driving Fords for over 45 years and have been pretty happy with most. I had a 1998 F-150 Lariat that I put 180,000 miles with no drive train issues. I have never had a drive train issue til right now. This 2005 Lariat only has 52,000 clicks and the rear end howl is driving me crazy and needs to be fixed. NO WARRANTY and an independent shop quoted between 800.00 to 1500.00, depending on parts needed. By the way, this truck never pulls a trailer.
QUESTION: Has Ford Motor Co. been helping folks with the cost or covering anything on these issues as they know about the bad design. I received a print out from my nephew, who is an independent certified mechanic about the rear end bulletins from Ford. I mean this thing is still basically a new truck to me. I plan to drive it for another 2 to 3 years before trading again.
Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.

 

I dont think there have been any recalls. Thats the only way you are going to get help from ford. They arent helping anyone with the spark plug issues, so i doubt their gonna go out of their way to help you with this. Unless you know the shop foreman at the dealer. so my suggestion is either trade it now, or pay the grand now for this, and than the grand again to get the spark plugs changed at 60,000 or 100,000 or whenever (or if) you decide to do it. Come october, they are going to be pushing the 10 models out the door so i would wait until then if you're going to trade it in.

 

If you are at all mechanicaly inclined do it yourself. Chilton repair manuals are great for these kind of things. If not then I guess you have no other option other than to pay.

 

Check out www.car-part.com and see if a local salvage yard has one. It would be cheaper and easier to just get another rear than to fix this one.

 

Well it appears I'm SOL. The only thing Ford is covering is injectors up to 60,000 miles. If I were to trade, it wouldn't be another Ford F-150. I hate to say it, but I think I would go with a Toyota. They simply seem to be bullet proof for a couple hundred thousand miles. They also seem much more quiet out on the highway plus better mileage.
I don't know. I'm just really disappointed about a rear end only lasting 50k and Ford not willing to do even parts or half labor or something, especially after being a loyal Ford customer all these years. I guess they simply don't give a rats *** about customer loyalty, but then non of them probably do either. I can't imagine how this truck would hold up if it were being used to pull anything or haul heavy loads. Has the Ford company gone to cheap parts to cover high labor costs. Probably.
Like I said, I'm just really disappointed right now cause this is gonna cost around 1500 to 1800. Even a used rear end is around a grand plus labor, and then it may go out a few thousand miles down the road too, so fixing this one seems a better option. At least I know what I have when it's done.
I know, would I like some cheese with my "whine" LOL...

 

you would be suprised how easy replacing your rear end your self can be. it would probabally take you four or five hours, maybe alittle longer, but the shop no matter what will charge you 6-7 hours labor for a rear end. a jack, some stands, sockets, elbow greese, and a 12 pac, youll come out much cheaper

 

I agree, get a Chilton's ($25) and read up on how-to do the fix. From there you will be able to judge if you are mechanically inclined to do such a job. If you arent, then your SOL for sure. And as far as the yota goes... bad choice there but you'll see when the recalls start to come out here soon (all but their truck models have been recalled lately... only a matter of time til they are too).

 

**** happens, your next rear end would most likely last the rest of the trucks life.

if thats all it takes to make you want an effin toyota, go for it.

that way someone who appreciates it can join the family.

****, i need a new trans and im ok with that, i love my truck.

 

I have a nephew who is a certified mechanic and he said he doesn't even have the right tools at home to do the job. He has the right stuff where he works, obviously, but can't moonlight the job. I guess it takes some pretty large impact wrenchs, presses and heavy duty compressors, so a DIY is out of the question on this one.

 

The rear went out of my 04 screw. I had a garage put a new Jasper rear in for around $1700. It comes with a 3 year 100,000 mile guarantee. That includes labor if it goes bad. This is the way to go. I priced salvage yards and everywhere. Nobody will rebuild them due to the liability.