Rear I-Beam Bushings.

[12Ounce]

Are the Rear I-Beam (#XF22-4B435-AA,AB) bushings available for my 1999 Windstar?

At nearly 500K miles, I am lucky that my rear I-Beam axle shows no metal cracks or other failures. But I suspect the bushings at the frame mount are beginning to show wear and a little looseness. I see no replacement parts at the usual parts houses. Know of any availability ??

Thanks for your time.

[wiswind]

I found the track bar (which includes the bushings for that) on Rockauto.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/f...track+bar,7500

The part number you give is for the rear axle assembly......I have not found a diagram for it......but I got a hit in the link that I am putting below......for the whole assembly......they don't seem to list the bushings.

https://www.fordpartsgiant.com/parts....html?PNC=4264

My google search on the part number did not bring up much......though it did bring up this post.

I found a diagram on fordparts.com
http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Pa...model=Windstar

[scubacat]

They used to have them listed on RockAuto. They're called "trailing arm bushings". That seems to have disappeared though.

If you're getting a clunking or rattling from the back, they definitely help. I had the axle replaced under the latest recall and it came with those bushings; it's a LOT quieter now over bumps.

[12Ounce]

I can understand why Ford decided to encourage folks to replace, and not repair, the rear axle after they began failing so much.

Scuba, did you have a chance to study the new rear axle much before installing? Any changes to the part to make it more rust resistant?

[scubacat]

The service advisor (aka "salesman in the service department") told me that the rust resistance had been greatly improved. The part looks identical although it does have a newer part number revision "AB" on the sticker (2F2Z-4B435-AB). I can tell you that after 2 years of salty roads (granted this year not much due to below average snowfall), it's still solid black.

I posted a couple of pics on this thread here when it was installed. I'll take some updated ones next time I'm out there for comparison.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...0&postcount=62

[scubacat]

BTW - found your part. It's part # 5K792

I don't see any aftermarket available but hopefully you can still get 2 of those from Ford. I fear it may be discontinued because someone's selling it at a premium on eBay, and it has the 1st gen Windstar part # prefix on it. (It's PROBABLY the same, but I doubt I'd risk it on an up-charged, un-returnable eBay sale.)

If you bring up the axle assembly on fordparts.com, that part is not actually labeled on that diagram. BUT, if you bring up "trailing arm bushing", you'll see it on a different diagram with the axle assembly labeled as well. Confusing, but it's definitely what you need.

[12Ounce]

Thanks for that info; you've saved me a phone call to my inside-Ford man.

If I cannot find the replacement bushing; I may burn out, or push out, the existing bushing
and pour in-place a replacement bushing. I'm thinking of using "Smooth-On" part #PMC-790 if it comes to DIY replacement.

[12Ounce]

Well, I called him anyhow. Its looks as though the full current number for the '99 Windstar is F58Z-5K792-B. Obsolete from Ford.

[scubacat]

Figures. Not sure it's worth $49.99 a piece from the guy on eBay.

Didn't you buy a replacement axle a while ago?

[12Ounce]

Originally Posted by scubacat

Didn't you buy a replacement axle a while ago?

Never quite pulled the trigger. I hate to discard all this perfectly good axle, just because of worn bushings.

[scubacat]

Only thing is... how perfect is it? I wonder if they break from corrosion or due to rotational/torsional stress where the corrosion just weakens it more quickly? The jury seems to be out on that.

Then again, how long are you going to keep it? Dropping $400 on an axle is a lot unless you're definitely keeping it at least 3-4 more years. Maybe a junkyard may have some bushings in better condition. (Or $100 for the pair from ebay.)

I like your idea of burning out the existing ones and reconstituting them, personally.

[phil-l]

Hmmmm... The world is full of automotive bushings for all kinds of applications. Surely there's something else out there - that's readily available - that would also function perfectly well as a Windstar bushing. Of course, I'm not sure how to find out what that something else might be...

[12Ounce]

Originally Posted by phil-l

Hmmmm... The world is full of automotive bushings for all kinds of applications. Surely there's something else out there - that's readily available - that would also function perfectly well as a Windstar bushing. Of course, I'm not sure how to find out what that something else might be...

Yeah, if I merely had one loose in-hand bushing to do some reverse engineering ...
I still have hopes of getting one last one from Ford. Expected/hoped-for next week. I have my fingers crossed.

[scubacat]

This guy has 7 left if you don't mind paying a few extra bucks. It might just be worth the extra $40 or so for the pair to be done with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-FORD-Rea...-/401116869775

[12Ounce]

True enough!