Front End Issue

I have a 01 Windstar 182 000 km. Replaced both control arms, both front wheel hubs, both outer tie rod ends, 4 new tires. Had a wheel alignment done, which was a success. However, 4 months later van pulls right and steering wheel off centre, have another align at different shop. They say they can't do a proper align cause they would need to re bore the strut because camber is off, but they can align the steering wheel and do best they can with align. Van still pulls right after 2nd alignment and steering wheel still off centre. Also, when lifted on ramp, when wheel is cut fully, there is contact between the front end ( strut I think ) and the brake line on driver side. What is the problem here? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

you didn't mention about the struts/springs. Have they been done? Typically struts are lasting 80-100k km so that may be adding to the problem. Also in there are sway bar links. The windstar doesn't have have any true castor/camber adjustments unless shims are used. When I replaced my shocks/springs on my 2000 I use the Monroe quickstrut. It was basically a bolt on component. The only adjustment needed was toe which the alignment shop did. You also don't mention about inner tie rods. These will go bad as well. They're a bit*h to replace so maybe that's why they weren't done. They certainly need checking. I think I'd be getting a full shakedown of the front end from a reputable shop and see what they think. Find out from someone who is the best place to go to. Sometimes this is challenging! As for the brake line, I'd be concerned that it's touching. I prefer lines to stay away from all components so maybe the line is kinked or twisted.

Piper

Something sounds bent. I think a set of quick struts might be in your future? Did they give you a printout of the alignment numbers? It may be as simple as shifting the subframe to equalize the numbers from side to side.

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my question. The inner tie rod ends, I havn't had them checked, but the struts and springs are good. I've invested abot 1500 into the front end so far, and thats about as far as I'm going because the van isn't worth much more than that. The lower body is rusting and that will have to be the next thing I get done which will be a do it yourself jobby. Last month I lost coolant and had to replace a few lines and water pump at a cost of 500 bucks, so this van is costing a lot of money to keep on the road. Funny thing is I have a GM that's 15 years old and I've spent less than half of what I've spent on the newer Windstar in all the years I've owned it. First and last Ford for me.

How would I shift the subframe? The struts and springs are good. I agree something has to be bent, but I don't know what would cause that because it wasn't like it 4 months ago and the van wasn't in an accident during that time. Thanks.

The possibilities are endless on how this could happen. If I saw that there was a lot of positive on one side and a lot of negative on the other I would move or attempt to move the sub frame to try to even out the numbers before doing anything else. Like mentioned before there is no adjustment so something has to be bent or out of place for the number to go ascue. This could have happened in the parking lot at target when somebody backed into you tire. Left no visible damage but enough physical damage to throught things off.

The other thing I would do if it pulls real hard, again I don't have the alignment specs so this may not work, is swap the two front tires side to side. If it goes straight or pulls the other way the tires are the problem. It is known as radial pull and is quite common. The usuall symptom is it pulls hard one way or another. Alignment pulls are typically very light!!!

I have a 01 Windstar 182 000 km. Replaced both control arms, both front wheel hubs, both outer tie rod ends, 4 new tires. Had a wheel alignment done, which was a success. However, 4 months later van pulls right and steering wheel off centre, have another align at different shop. They say they can't do a proper align cause they would need to re bore the strut because camber is off, but they can align the steering wheel and do best they can with align. Van still pulls right after 2nd alignment and steering wheel still off centre. Also, when lifted on ramp, when wheel is cut fully, there is contact between the front end ( strut I think ) and the brake line on driver side. What is the problem here? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Mark

Welcome to AFs!

How many drivers does the van have? Did the van hit a pot hole or curb after the first alignment? That can move things around and cause the steering wheel to be off along with pulling right or left.

What they're talking about "boring the strut" is to drill out the factory spot welds in between the strut tower and strut mounting plate. A buddy of mine does frontend alignments. He found out that an air chisel will pop the welds in a fraction of time it takes to drill them. Thus less cost.

You might want to share this info with the shop. It's a huge time saver!

Another way to save cost is to bring the van in w/o the cowling although you will not have wipers.

Some thoughts from afar.

Dan

I'd be for sure doing the tire swap and checking the inner tie rods.

Piper

The shop should have checked the tie rods X4 when doing the alignment. With a loose tie rod a wheel can turn right and left a bit w/o the other side turning.

Dan

Youn might try for a 2nd opinion from another shop...and see what they say.
If you don't have a shop that you trust, ask around to find one that folks feel comfortable with.
I may chat a lot on here...but I rely on a shop with folks that do this stuff every day for front end evaluations.

My '96 has 205K on it.....just had the inner and outer tie rod ends done this past spring.
Had the struts/springs replaced (Monroe Quick Struts) the spring before at 183K miles....due to a broken spring.

For pulling.....I would move the tires around as advised.....YES a new tire could be bad.
Also, as mentioned....camber is not adjustable (without special action, as mentioned) and one would wonder about a bent or worn component.
A proper alignment starts out with a GOOD inspection and shakedown of the front end to find these things.

Has anyone checked to be sure the steering rack is not loose, bushings ok, etc.? I'm suspicious of the original work involving the side that's off (maybe both sides should be suspect) since you had so much done all at once. It wouldn't take much for something to have been in the right place to start with and for whatever reason, looseness, etc., things have now shifted. My money is on there being something out involving the new parts relationships with each other and to the van. That needs a thorough going over. Unfortunately, this may have to be detected visually rather than tugging and pulling, etc. for looseness, because a mechanic may not not be humanly reproduce the same forces that the vehicle generated to have shifted the parts at issue. Maybe something wasn't quite seated right, etc., not tightened enough, etc., and now it's not where it belongs or something.