Just replaced my front lower control arm bushings at 52k miles
#21
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Damon /Houston, Texas
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yes motor mounts fluid filled also, staining or with hood open and foot on brake in drive give a little gas. If the engine jumps up the drivers side is broken. you have to look for purple staining around base of the mount to tell on the passenger side or just replace them both. Passenger easy, drivers side hard
#22
Yes, the engine mounts are also fluid-filled. They're very similar to the X350 mounts, the positions, mounting, and overall dimensions are the same. But they have a slightly different design and no aftermarket options unlike the X350 mounts. I'm really not sure what the real differences are.
The transmission mount (even the 8 speed) is exactly the same as on the X350.
EDIT: Brutal beat me to it.
The transmission mount (even the 8 speed) is exactly the same as on the X350.
EDIT: Brutal beat me to it.
#23
DONT get used to it
yes motor mounts fluid filled also, staining or with hood open and foot on brake in drive give a little gas. If the engine jumps up the drivers side is broken. you have to look for purple staining around base of the mount to tell on the passenger side or just replace them both. Passenger easy, drivers side hard
yes motor mounts fluid filled also, staining or with hood open and foot on brake in drive give a little gas. If the engine jumps up the drivers side is broken. you have to look for purple staining around base of the mount to tell on the passenger side or just replace them both. Passenger easy, drivers side hard
#24
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Reynolds Lake Oconee, GA USA
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I know when my engine mounts failed the bellows on the intake system were collapsed on the top and after replacing the were evenly spaced on the tops and bottoms. As for the suspension arm bushing, mine were replaced and they must be of a newer composition as my ride in front was definitely improved and smoother.
#25
#26
Those are the tie rods. They used for alignment purposes and they do go out pretty quick. I believe you can pick them up cheap for the Lincoln LS. My Firestone replaced mine for free when they couldn't be aligned properly.
They're pretty easy to replace yourself but you most likely will need an alignment afterwards.
They're pretty easy to replace yourself but you most likely will need an alignment afterwards.
#28
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Damon /Houston, Texas
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You have a 15 year old car and like a set of tires that old, the boots are going to dry rot and crack just like anything else made of rubber regardless of the mileage. But I can guarantee they didn't have a bit of play and therefore should have stayed on the car.
#29
So I am now having a front suspension clunk except it seems to be coming mainly from the right side. Before I ordered parts, I decided to jack up the front and take the wheels off to poke around. I checked the sway bar end links, and sway bar bushings. Both look and feel good. No play, gaps, deformation or movement with my hands or a crow bar. The big banana arm bushings look ok and aren't leaking any fluid but I can twist them a little with my hand. I can't tell if this play is normal or if the bushings are worn. I used the crowbar to pry on the suspension arms on the right side and I couldn't find anything loose. Has anyone replaced any of these parts themselves? I can do it (except for pressing the bushings in and out) but I'm not convinced that any of these parts are worn (sway bar end links, sway bar bushings or front control arm bushings). Thoughts/Opinions? Just start throwing parts at it? Or has anyone had other front suspension noise that was not these common to fail parts? Only 26,000 miles by the way. Thanks for the help!
#30
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Damon /Houston, Texas
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So I am now having a front suspension clunk except it seems to be coming mainly from the right side. Before I ordered parts, I decided to jack up the front and take the wheels off to poke around. I checked the sway bar end links, and sway bar bushings. Both look and feel good. No play, gaps, deformation or movement with my hands or a crow bar. The big banana arm bushings look ok and aren't leaking any fluid but I can twist them a little with my hand. I can't tell if this play is normal or if the bushings are worn. I used the crowbar to pry on the suspension arms on the right side and I couldn't find anything loose. Has anyone replaced any of these parts themselves? I can do it (except for pressing the bushings in and out) but I'm not convinced that any of these parts are worn (sway bar end links, sway bar bushings or front control arm bushings). Thoughts/Opinions? Just start throwing parts at it? Or has anyone had other front suspension noise that was not these common to fail parts? Only 26,000 miles by the way. Thanks for the help!
The following 2 users liked this post by Brutal:
gagman66 (10-28-2020),
JagSupersport (08-21-2018)
#31
You're going to be hard pressed to be able to tell what is bad with the car jacked up and not knowing what is common, or normal deflection. The torsional arm(banana lol) bushing can be split without the leakage, also If leaked a long time the water on the roads will eventually wash the oil away. sway bar bushings will ALWAYS look fine. the way you diag these is drive 5 or so miles an hour and rock the car left and right with the steering wheel. Knocking is loose worn bushings. Other common unseen things are upper shock mounts collapsed and upper control arm bushings split that are pretty hidden in the body. I just changed a set right now cause I suspected them although couldn't see split when prying. Sure enough both sides split. Also check motor mounts with foot on brake, in drive hood open and give some gas. I f the left side jumps up its broken and the right more than likely too. Don't trust oil leaking from them either. Change in pairs. Age, mileage AND crappy pothole filled roads are the issue regardless of mileage, only take one good one. good luck
#32
Yikes, you guys need to start doing your own wrenching!
The front banana arms are about $120 each brand new from SNG Barrett. They can be swapped out within an hour or two. Or you if you have access to a press, you can buy just the bushings themselves for under $50...but I'd rather just replace the whole part.
You can get the alignment pretty close with some true marks, otherwise factor in another $175 for a lifetime alignment deal at Firestone and never have to pay for an alignment again.
The suspension setup is 99% the same as on the old X350 and yes, the rubber bushings do break down every 50k miles or so depending on your road conditions.
The front banana arms are about $120 each brand new from SNG Barrett. They can be swapped out within an hour or two. Or you if you have access to a press, you can buy just the bushings themselves for under $50...but I'd rather just replace the whole part.
You can get the alignment pretty close with some true marks, otherwise factor in another $175 for a lifetime alignment deal at Firestone and never have to pay for an alignment again.
The suspension setup is 99% the same as on the old X350 and yes, the rubber bushings do break down every 50k miles or so depending on your road conditions.
Thanks!
#33
#34
#35
I just ordered these off Amazon. Amazing price. I'll report back once I get them. At least they're easily returnable with Prime if they're no good.
EDIT: The price when I posted this was $105. It has since gone back up to $217.
EDIT: The price when I posted this was $105. It has since gone back up to $217.
Last edited by XJ8JR; 11-17-2018 at 02:24 PM.
#37
The X351 suspension seems to be almost exactly the same as the X350; the differences being the shocks of course, the front straight control arms, and the sway bars, depending upon the specific model. The inner and outer tie rods may be different as well as the upright wheel spindle.
These front banana curved control arms look to be exactly the same as the ones I've replaced before but there's only one way to find out for sure. I do wonder though if there may be some difference in the attributes of the bushings, even if the actual arm itself is the same.
Oddly, when you search the correct part number, the second google hit is the aftermarket Amazon listing, which is how I found it in the first place. But it seems the price just shot up.
Last edited by XJ8JR; 11-17-2018 at 02:22 PM.
#39
#40
It looks like you were right, @XJsss . It appears the large bushing is slightly different after all. The proper part has an extra round of rubber that the old part is missing. Also, it looks like the structure near the smaller bushing may be larger on the proper part. These small details probably affect the ride quality and I'm not willing to sacrifice that, so back they go.
I just found this on RMEuropean.com: https://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/...3-MFG1110.aspx
This appears to be the correct replacement with the updated bushing. Still an excellent price so I've pulled the trigger and will report back when they've arrived.
I just found this on RMEuropean.com: https://www.rmeuropean.com/Products/...3-MFG1110.aspx
This appears to be the correct replacement with the updated bushing. Still an excellent price so I've pulled the trigger and will report back when they've arrived.