F-250 7.3L What to do?

[joe_doss]

Well the time has come to either sell my 2000 F-250 4X4 or make a few repairs to keep driving another 100k miles or so. Currently the truck has 225k miles on it and is fairly clean. I am the second owner and have had it for 13 years. I am posting for help on cost and some trouble shooting.

1. I probably need to re-build the front end. The truck does not road walk, but the steering is loose. What all do I need to do? Ball joints, wheel bearings, sway bar, steering box? Just looking for some help on price of parts and what all I need to do.

2. The power windows work but get slow towards the bottom when rolling them down. The power locks seem to lack enough power to lock and unlock every lock. For example when you go to lock all the doors only one door may lock, and its usually different every time. Just curious if anyone else has had this problem.

As bad as I would like the luxury of a new truck, I don't know if I can justify giving up the legendary 7.3 for a payment. I plan on doing most of the work myself.

[rockyraider]

I'd spend the money, make the repairs, and keep on driving her. That's just me though, I drive a '00 Dodge 2500 and love it. I hate having a vehicle payment and would avoid having to buy a $60k truck at all costs. Most people aren't like me though and don't have any problem dropping big coin on a new truck every 5 years.

[locknload]

You're not only paying for luxury but more importantly for "reliability". Seems breaking down always happens at the worst time. Good luck with your decision.

[BigThicketBoy]

Fix it !!! I have a 02 with the same problems andwith almost 300k mls going to fix B.A..R.T. Up.

[joe_doss]

Fix it !!! I have a 02 with the same problems andwith almost 300k mls going to fix B.A..R.T. Up.

Have you gotten any quotes on prices. What all are you fixing?

[Javelin]

I used to subscribe to the drive an old truck club but after a trio of breakdowns at bad times on what we're at the time in my mind well maintained older vehicles ( 2000 Cummins and 04 Tahoe) I decided that a new vehicle was far superior and in honesty I know tons of folks say " the 5.9 Cummins and 7.3 ford were best motors of all time. That is really not true. New motors are light years better than those old units

[Hoggslayer]

Fix it. Ball joints, tie rods, center link, and bushings will run you about $500. You'll need a press to do the ball joints. It's not hard to do. I've done my '02 twice and my brothers '01. Make sure you use Moog parts.

[Smart]

I have a 2001 F350 7.3 and she's still going good at 260K. I have made several repairs lately but it beats $50-60K for a new one right now. Most of my repairs were small item moving parts and seals that wore out after after so many years and some maintenance issues....

If you are buying parts for your front end or anything really www.rockauto.com, Ebay and http://www.riffraffdiesel.com/99-03-super-duty-7-3l/ are your friend....Also Autozone has a bunch of tools you can rent for free, like the balljoint tools..

-The locks are easy....that is your actuators getting weak. They were $42 each to repair with OEM but I found some aftermarkets for $9 each. With some mechanical sense, they are an easy adaptation to your current doors and twice as strong. Mine are still going strong after 6 years

-I also re did my front end because my ball joints were shot. There are several how to videos and writeups with pics I used to get it done myself 4 years ago. I replaced ball joints, the steering stabilizer, and tie rods. My steering wasn't loose per se but all those items sure tightened everything up front up. I read up on the steering box and it seemed like an easy replacement as well but didn't need it

-Wheel bearing/hubs are an easy replacement as well with mechanical sense and the right tools. I needed an impact wrench to break a few of the bolts lose but probably could have got it done with a breaker bar and PB Blaster.. I have found the front hubs for $125 each on Ebay. I am in year 3 and 5 with those as well.

-Never had an issue with my windows but I can't help but think it's a motor issue. When you open the door up to get at the lock actuators there is a lot of of space there. I'd be willing to bet that is an easy replacement as well.



Here are a couple of my favorite websites to find information and troubleshoot from. The first one is a great forum to search for similar problems with great folks that answer your questions like TBH does for bowhunting.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php

http://www.superdutypsd.com/write_up_index.php

http://www.powerstrokehelp.com/7.3liter/7-3_main.asp

http://www.guzzle7pt3.com/index.php

[Atfulldraw]

I'd sell it



To me

Send me pics

[ballsie]

New motors are light years better than those old units

Nonsense.

[30-30]

I absolutely loved my 7.3 until it went to the shop for the sixth time in 7 months and I got into a '13 Ecoboost. I still have the old truck but a daily driver she is not.

[joe_doss]

I have a 2001 F350 7.3 and she's still going good at 260K. I have made several repairs lately but it beats $50-60K for a new one right now. Most of my repairs were small item moving parts and seals that wore out after after so many years and some maintenance issues....

If you are buying parts for your front end or anything really www.rockauto.com, Ebay and http://www.riffraffdiesel.com/99-03-super-duty-7-3l/ are your friend....Also Autozone has a bunch of tools you can rent for free, like the balljoint tools..

-The locks are easy....that is your actuators getting weak. They were $42 each to repair with OEM but I found some aftermarkets for $9 each. With some mechanical sense, they are an easy adaptation to your current doors and twice as strong. Mine are still going strong after 6 years

-I also re did my front end because my ball joints were shot. There are several how to videos and writeups with pics I used to get it done myself 4 years ago. I replaced ball joints, the steering stabilizer, and tie rods. My steering wasn't loose per se but all those items sure tightened everything up front up. I read up on the steering box and it seemed like an easy replacement as well but didn't need it

-Wheel bearing/hubs are an easy replacement as well with mechanical sense and the right tools. I needed an air ratchet to break a few of the bolts lose but probably could have got it done with a breaker bar and PB Blaster.. I have found the front hubs for $125 each on Ebay. I am in year 3 and 5 with those as well.

-Never had an issue with my windows but I can't help but think it's a motor issue. When you open the door up to get at the lock actuators there is a lot of of space there. I'd be willing to bet that is an easy replacement as well.



Here are a couple of my favorite websites to find information and troubleshoot from. The first one is a great forum to search for similar problems with great folks that answer your questions like TBH for bowhunting does.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php

http://www.superdutypsd.com/write_up_index.php

http://www.powerstrokehelp.com/7.3liter/7-3_main.asp

http://www.guzzle7pt3.com/index.php

Thanks a bunch! This is very helpful. 👍

[joe_doss]

I'd sell it



To me

Send me pics

If I decide to sell I'll text you pics.
Thanks though.

[thegrouse]

If you do the ball joints use a big air impact. Even with the heavy press I couldn't budge them without a 6'pipe cheater bar. It was quite a wrestling match

[RustyRanchero]

Going to take my truck in as well to get the front end re done. Steer is very loose and it walks on the road when hitting a dip. Violent shake.