Guys,

Just got new tires put on my 2004 Coupe. It looks like there's a bunch of front end work that needs to be done:

Arm, Upper Control Front Left and Right
Ball Joint
SPRING
Shock Absorber
Linkage tie Rod

Rock Auto has all of the parts that I need. OEM parts total about $1200. There is a Front End Kit from Deutsche Parts. With the Springs (2) and Shock Absorber the parts come to about $600. I can save $50 using AC Delco (control arms), DEEZA for the ball joint and OEM for the tie rod linkage. I have no experience with front end work. What are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance

 

I've purchased the center linkage from Deutsche Parts. No problems with it. Upper control arms from a junker, what wears out is the ball joint that's integral. The lower control arm bushings are a bear to replace and wear out fast if you drive hard. The LCA bushings are common to several MB models and are easy to find. Why do you think you need new springs? Or shocks for that matter.

Les

 

Les,

I have put about 148,000 KM on the car with no front end work ever done. I had my local Chrysler dealer look at the car this morning (they have been doing all my maintenance since new). They told me that the Spring (front right coil) was broken and suggest that I replace both and that the struts had lack of pressure (both fronts) . I'm thinking about keeping the car for a bunch more years (hand it down to my son). It's quite a cool car to drive. The DP front end kit would save me a bunch of time trying to find all the parts. I like the idea of using new parts. I'm not a car guy, so I have to rely on the shop to do the work. With that said, I will find a more reasonable shop (not the dealer) to do the work.

Thoughts?

 

Same thing here. 150k on an 04 coupe. Passenger side front spring appears to be broken as it sits slightly lower than the other side. Bumps are murder on it now.

 

Broken front springs are a common problem. I don't exactly know why it happens but the lower coil rusts and then breaks off . . .

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You can actually cut the spring just above the break point, refinish it (to protect it from further rust) and remount it. Lowers the front end of your car just a bit but springs will function just fine. On the other hand, new or salvage yard springs are cheap so probably easier to just put in another pair of springs. If you get a pair from a salvage yard, clean them up and refinish that lower coil area to protect it from rusting. I installed a pair of used front springs (that were like new) in my SRT6 and used a spray can of truck bed liner to seal the lower coils of the springs.

 

I live in fort worth texas which doesnt see much salted roads from ice (if at all) nor am I anywhere near the gulf or oceans so we dont usually have rust issues on cars that people up north or near an ocean do. Does that play in the rust issue? I figured i hit a big pothole. My car needs shocks Ibelieve because even the smallest of bumps feels like running over a curb

 

Where would be the best place to get new springs? Id rather not even mess with a junk yard. Chrysler dealership? Auto zone? After market name brand like Eibach? I do not want to lower it alll.

 

Most of the aftermarket springs are going to lower the car. If new ones are expensive then the best advice I can give is to start a " I want to buy like new stock springs" in the WTB section. Lots of Crossfires are lowered so the take offs are out there.

Les

 

Took my 04 in for an alignment this afternoon, found out I have ball joint issues myself. Glad I didn't wait until the last minute before CAA6.

 

Me too!


I had to replace mine around 100K .


I'd say anyone who even thinks they might have a little excess inner tire wear should have them checked.


When I first got the car the tires had worn a little excess on the inside and I just thought "the camber issue".. next set of tires the inside edge went way fast.. actually critical as glancing at the tires had plenty tread left.. and the steel cords on the inside sticking out..

 

I took the wheels off to replace the brake fluid and noticed both front tires are worn on the inside edge. Believe the condition is called "scalloped or feathering". I could not find any items that were worn and since both tires were affected believe it is an alignment issue. According to shop manual, lower control arm mounting bolts have to be replaced with adjuster bolts as alignment is factory set.
Has anyone experience this with there front end alignment?
I am thinking of replacing the bolts myself, then having alignment done to reduce cost at any shop instead of dealer.

 

I just cannot understand why these kits have to be bought/installed. If they came from the factory installed with those plates they had in there and true (original stuff) then why when you fix something on the suspension do you need these 'adjuster bolts'. My Ford Ranger P/U has 'factory' plates installed that they said the same thing about. I replaced both lower ball joints and the truck aligned fine. All I did was carefully mark where the suspension was, then realigned everything to those marks when I put those new ball joints in. If it came from the factory aligned fine, just be careful when you reinstall the new parts and she should be OK. As I understand these XF's, they are quite the bear to 'align' as it is right?

 

Pretty sure its a camber issue, check youtube for this