1992 Ford Ranger Suspension Problems

“My wife was driving to work when she heard a loud noise in the right front of the truck. The right side of the truck dropped down. On her way home, the brake and ABS lights came on. By that time she was home and told me what happened. I checked the master cylinder and it was empty. Looked under the truck and saw the bracket holding the right coil spring had rusted away. The bracket on the left side was ok. Had the vehicle towed to a repair shop. The vehicle is still in the repair shop.”

“Over the course of about two days, I noticed a scraping noise coming from the right front wheel. On the second day, I noticed upon approaching the truck that the right front fender was almost touching the tire. Removing the wheel, I discovered that the upper spring seat had deteriorated to the point that the coil spring was thirty degrees from its original position. The sheet metal in the seat crumbled in my hand when I took hold of it, and the housing was torn 75% of the way through from front to back. At high speed, this vehicle would have been a death trap. …”

“I own 92 Ford Ranger. Last thursday,5/15/2003, while driving to work I noticed my passenger side front lower than the rest of the truck. After I parked at work I investigated and noticed that the shock/spring tower was rusted so bad that it was almost ready to fall off. The spring was bent backwards and the shock was broken at the bottom. At the Ford dealer, the mechanic said he had never seen anything like that. He also told me that they only make that part for the right side? The left side looks like brand new. Apparently only the right ( passenger ) side rusts out and not the left. …”

“Suspension failure. Right front spring seat on my 1992 Ford Ranger has completely corroded. Coil spring and shock absorber have broken through failed spring seat causing vehicle to sag considerably on the right and pull to the right when driving. Additionally, the frame arm where the spring seat is riveted has also corroded to the point where Ford refuses to attempt a repair due to fear of liability. Ford dealer confirms that the left spring seat is not corroded and appears normal in appearance and function.”

“I noticed that my truck was beginning to lead toward the right. After close examination , I discovered that the shock absorber and front suspension spring housing assembly was completely rusted away and the spring itself was bending in a horizontal position. If it had let go completly, it could have taken both my fender and brake line. I have never heard of this part ever rusting away on any car or truck and neither has anyone else I have asked. They don't have a special repair kit for this problem so I believe this is a defect in the steel itself. …”