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Safety Recall 22S27 Rear Axle Bolt Fractures

st8

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As much I want to get mine "fixed", I just don't trust the dealers and techs. Not that I have had any issues with my particular dealer, I just hate to introduce something when all is well otherwise. Torn on what to do cause I wonder if the original bolt fractures, will ford still cover the repair or they say, you should have completed the recall.
 

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As much I want to get mine "fixed", I just don't trust the dealers and techs. Not that I have had any issues with my particular dealer, I just hate to introduce something when all is well otherwise. Torn on what to do cause I wonder if the original bolt fractures, will ford still cover the repair or they say, you should have completed the recall.
i think we all know what Ford would do and it isn’t in the vehicle owner’s favor. Although my dealer still hasn’t gotten the parts in or is prioritizing fixing Police vehicles as there were a number of various jurisdiction’s vehicles cued up in the lot.
 

Boyd

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Recalls dont expire. Therefore, the bolt breaking before you can get it updated is the same as if you ignored it and it breaks later. You're still covered for a no-cost repair. However, waiting till it breaks later while you're using the ST could be an incredible inconvenience and create a lot of unnecessary anger. If the bolt shatters while you're going out to dinner on a cold November evening in 2025, are you gonna be mad at Ford? Or at yourself?

Then again, only between 350-400 Explorers have had their bolts broken out of 238,000. So if you drive yours like a normal, average Joe, maybe you'll never need it. But if you like to drive your ST, I'd def make a plan for getting it done.

My dealership, whom I have a good relationship with, says they dont have the bearing press tool yet. Last I heard they said sometime in April, but could be even later. Yeah, I know they could get one from Harbor Freight, but they are representing a Manufacturer... so no, they cant. If they used a different tool than what Ford calls for, they would be on the hook for any issues that might arise from that, and on their own with no backup.

Anyways, I think you should plan on getting it done. Find a dealership, talk to people. There are good ones out there. Peace of mind and dependability / trust mean the world to me.
 

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As much I want to get mine "fixed", I just don't trust the dealers and techs. Not that I have had any issues with my particular dealer, I just hate to introduce something when all is well otherwise. Torn on what to do cause I wonder if the original bolt fractures, will ford still cover the repair or they say, you should have completed the recall.
If your dealer is anything like mine beware. They had mine for a week to replace the smoked rear diff (because they didn't give it back to me with any fluid in it the first time) and I gave it a quick walk around at pickup yesterday. They completely mangled the Frame Rails. I installed lift pads on the pinch welds at the lift points and they didn't even use them. There are other issues I found as well. I'm actually at a loss of words at this point........... 20240303_074613.jpg 20240303_074659.jpg
 

CareerFiremanGuy

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Recalls dont expire. Therefore, the bolt breaking before you can get it updated is the same as if you ignored it and it breaks later. You're still covered for a no-cost repair. However, waiting till it breaks later while you're using the ST could be an incredible inconvenience and create a lot of unnecessary anger. If the bolt shatters while you're going out to dinner on a cold November evening in 2025, are you gonna be mad at Ford? Or at yourself?

Then again, only between 350-400 Explorers have had their bolts broken out of 238,000. So if you drive yours like a normal, average Joe, maybe you'll never need it. But if you like to drive your ST, I'd def make a plan for getting it done ...

Anyways, I think you should plan on getting it done. Find a dealership, talk to people. There are good ones out there. Peace of mind and dependability / trust mean the world to me.
Your comment makes generous use of common sense & reason, which will immediately draw the convoluted ire of more than a few who infect this forum.

Posts like yours oppose those of the non thinking whiners, who I wouldn't trust to give me the correct answer to "2+2" (much less give me advice on my Explorer ST).

I would've expected as much from a Subie WRX forum, or even a Mustang/Camaro forum, but not an Explorer ST forum. An increasing number of the world's population is mentally/spiritually going to trash, a fact that I'm sadly reminded of here.

The rule of thumb for social media remains in force, that is, to keep whatever little good can be found and to hastily throw out the rest. I've had to throw a lot out here, but your post is not one of them. Well done Boyd, you give me hope!
 

Cruising68

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Seriously, wtf is wrong with you?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

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If your dealer is anything like mine beware. They had mine for a week to replace the smoked rear diff (because they didn't give it back to me with any fluid in it the first time) and I gave it a quick walk around at pickup yesterday. They completely mangled the Frame Rails. I installed lift pads on the pinch welds at the lift points and they didn't even use them. There are other issues I found as well. I'm actually at a loss of words at this point........... View attachment 21936 View attachment 21937
Wow Viking, that's brutal...sorry to hear.
 

GearHead_1

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Your comment makes generous use of common sense & reason, which will immediately draw the convoluted ire of more than a few who infect this forum.

Posts like yours oppose those of the non thinking whiners, who I wouldn't trust to give me the correct answer to "2+2" (much less give me advice on my Explorer ST).

I would've expected as much from a Subie WRX forum, or even a Mustang/Camaro forum, but not an Explorer ST forum. An increasing number of the world's population is mentally/spiritually going to trash, a fact that I'm sadly reminded of here.

The rule of thumb for social media remains in force, that is, to keep whatever little good can be found and to hastily throw out the rest. I've had to throw a lot out here, but your post is not one of them. Well done Boyd, you give me hope!
1709852488866.jpeg

Uhhh... well okay then.
 

DaveG ST

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My
If your dealer is anything like mine beware. They had mine for a week to replace the smoked rear diff (because they didn't give it back to me with any fluid in it the first time) and I gave it a quick walk around at pickup yesterday. They completely mangled the Frame Rails. I installed lift pads on the pinch welds at the lift points and they didn't even use them. There are other issues I found as well. I'm actually at a loss of words at this point........... View attachment 21936 View attachment 21937
My dealer did the same thing soon after I bought it in 2020. It was noted on this forum that Explorers were not being lifted in the correct place. I knew I would be doing my own oil changes from then on. Dealer had their body shop fix it, no problems at all and even gave me a loaner. By now the service depts should have figured out where to lift these Explorers.
 

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If your dealer is anything like mine beware. They had mine for a week to replace the smoked rear diff (because they didn't give it back to me with any fluid in it the first time) and I gave it a quick walk around at pickup yesterday. They completely mangled the Frame Rails. I installed lift pads on the pinch welds at the lift points and they didn't even use them. There are other issues I found as well. I'm actually at a loss of words at this point........... View attachment 21936 View attachment 21937
First, sorry to see what the dealer did to your vehicle. Hopefully they will make it right. Second, whose billet lift pads did you use? Seems like there are a number of people manufacturing them but mainly for GM and other manufacturers but nothing specific to the Explorer. I’m guessing that most would fit but since you already found some that work, I’d appreciate knowing what you ended up using.
 

_ATX_

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Does anyone know if Ford is still doing the auto parking brake engagement? I want to get the bushing/bolt replaced, but don't want to leave there with the parking brake "Fix" as well.
 

OK ST

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I took my ST in a few weeks ago to have the rear axle bolt recall done. I had installed the AWR diff mount prior to the recall and removed it prior to taking it in. I drove it for about a week and everything felt good. But I decided to reinstall the AWR, why not I have it and what could it hurt. Really put some miles on the ST this past week and noticed that handling felt so much better than what I remember. I found myself taking curves on average of 5 mph faster than normal and it felt really good. So then I started pushing it a bit a couple of curves that i drive regularly on my commute and sure enough the handling just feels so much more planted and in control.

Could it be the combo of the new axle bolt and the AWR improved axle stability that much? Maybe just me, but there is definitely a difference from prior to the recall and afterwards. :unsure:
 

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Picked mine up from the dealer again today...

They partially did 23s55. The bolt and bushing on the rear end have not been replaced. Supposedly this part of the recall was "retracted" due to Ford NL not having the right tools for the job or some bs like that

Mine still rumbles worse than my PS5 controller.
 

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Attached is the earlier repair of the police units. The tool is shown in the doc.
Thanks,

I'd think that a bushing replacement tool shouldn't be so hard to source.

Edit:
Indeed. About 60 euro for a universal set.
 

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Thanks,

I'd think that a bushing replacement tool shouldn't be so hard to source.

Edit:
Indeed. About 60 euro for a universal set.

If you or I were doing the repair, that would be fine. When a dealership is doing the work for Ford, they have to work with the tools Ford calls out. If the dealership did the work with alternate tooling, and something happened later on, then the dealership would be responsible since they didnt follow Ford directions.

My dealership is also having issues getting the proper tooling.
 

FORZDA3

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…….expected as much from a Subie WRX forum, or even a Mustang/Camaro forum, but not an Explorer ST forum…
If every forum you post in responds to you with similar disdain, you ever think it is just you rather than the entire world? Yeah, victimhood is a bitch.
 

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San Francisco
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Attached is the earlier repair of the police units. The tool is shown in the doc.
I had this question in my mind the whole time - did Ford's crazy, cheap ass put the 3-bolt diff into Police Utility vehicles? Thanks to this post I know the answer.
Honestly, the units that are driven hard, put away wet, and have the lives of not just civilians, but officers that protect them - are given such weak treatment.
Whoever came up with this "cost-saving" maneuver, better be looking for new work, or at least not be making product decisions anymore.

How much did only having three differential bushings/bolts save Ford?
Is there any point where they realize this practice is not worth it?
Does NTSB or DOT have the intelligence to make strict guidelines about this sort of practice to prevent it from happening in the future?


The other elephant in the room - did Ford continue the practice for 2025?
 



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