My '90 LTD Crown Vic

[1990LTD]

new front end and brakes/bearings today...feels like a new car

[rick99601]

new front end and brakes/bearings today...feels like a new car

that is E X A C T L Y what i need to do.

thanks for the motivation.

[1990LTD]

that is E X A C T L Y what i need to do.

thanks for the motivation.

buy moog and never worry about it again.

[rick99601]

buy moog and never worry about it again.

always do, i need my problems solved.

[1990LTD]

I had no idea how badly I needed my problems solved. There was nothing BUT play in the p/s outer tie rod end...the stud that goes in the steering knuckle just kinda flopped around. The other 3 weren't much better, and the rubber bushing in the idler arm had worn into an oval.

Strangely the MOOG inner tie rod ends did not come with grease fittings. Rather, the grease nipples were in the bags in the box like they should have been, but there were no spots to put 'em.

thankfully, the ball joints are dandy. they're good for a while yet.


car goes down the road straight but pulls a little to the right if i let go of the wheel. appointment to get it lined up at 10am.

[1990LTD]

sweet. alignment didn't take terribly long - and i found a new place to get 'em done that's right here in town, and they charge very little compared to some other places. 35 bucks compared to the usual 70.



time to try and save money to get the 95 on the road.

[91waggin]

you might be able to drill a small hole where the zerk fittings are supposed to go and thread them in. If you're very careful.

[1987cp]

If it were me, I'd return them and ask for some that are already drilled.

[1990LTD]

If it were me, I'd return them and ask for some that are already drilled.

At this point that would involve removing them and shippin' em back while I wait for new ones. Probably take about a month while my car is up on stands waiting for the new ones

[1990LTD]

you might be able to drill a small hole where the zerk fittings are supposed to go and thread them in. If you're very careful.

Didn't even think of that. They come pretty much fully packed already, and pulling up the rubber boot to shoot some more in wasn't terribly hard.

[1987cp]

At this point that would involve removing them and shippin' em back while I wait for new ones. Probably take about a month while my car is up on stands waiting for the new ones

Then returning them might well be a lousy idea.

It does occur to me that it might be challenging to pull up the boot to add grease in the future once they're installed. Also, the grease fitting allows you to force old grease out as you force new grease in, so it removes any built-up metal shavings in addition to just adding grease.

[87gtVIC]

grease syringes are made. Looks like a needle and the one end fits into the grease gun and you poke whatever boot you want to grease and pump some in. I have a couple lying around here and used them for non zerk fitting equipped parts before.

[1990LTD]

interesting. thanks guys

[1990LTD]

I got some kind of 24hr flu yesterday and ended up sleeping the day away so I didn't really get to drive it much, just got in from taking it for a few test spins now...it's really amazing what new front end parts will do for the road feel of a car. I don't want to drive it now because I might fuck it up

[1990LTD]

all of my grounds and positive cables are now at least 4ga, in some cases 0. somewhat of a bad idea since the two fat ring terminals and 3 fusible links don't quite fit on the solenoid stud.

had to run it like this;

alternator - 4ga cable - 175a megafuse (in holder bolted to fender) - 0ga cable to solenoid AND 0ga cable to battery

the battery is NOT running right to the solenoid, but to the fuse holder where it meets the cable to the solenoid (they're attached to one side, the alternator charge wire is attached to the other)


any reason not to run it like this? it works just fine and there is no drop in voltage between the battery and fuse holder or battery and solenoid. i don't see any difference in wiring it this way or having both on the solenoid.