I guess the Cougar is getting parked early

Reply #15 – September 01, 2009, 11:09:50 PM

For me it was about 1990-ish, so my first '84 was a mere 6 years old...probably about 90K on the odometer. There was a squeaking sound from the front end that got worse over a period of just a few days. I vowed to look at the issue the next day. Well...the car didn't wait and I dropped the ball joint right in the middle of a small town. Made one hell of a screaming sound. The fix was about $120 at the time and it was a Moog greaseable replacement. About a year later, both tie rods did the same thing (good thing I had a wire coat hanger in the trunk, that helped get me home). I had those fixed and the other ball joint at the same time.

I still don't know why they all failed so relatively soon. Granted, the car was driven every day in the winter but it also was washed frequently and kept in a garage. I believe all the original ball joints and tie rods are still on the current '84.

Guess the moral is that sometimes the "sealed for life" parts work great, sometimes they don't...

I guess the Cougar is getting parked early

Reply #16 – September 01, 2009, 11:43:55 PM

I just popped my factory ones out early this year. Boots were collapsed and things didnt look so good. Fornt end on that car still needs a lot of work...

I guess the Cougar is getting parked early

Reply #17 – September 02, 2009, 06:29:43 PM

I can tell you this: If you replace all the front bushings, ball joints, struts, and strut mounts (like I did) the car will ride great again :D