Hi everyone, regular reader first time poster. I bought this truck a 2003 Ford F-350 a couple of months ago and I have been hearing a noise in the front end at times that I could not identify until today. It is the connector piece that is on the passenger side of the stabilizer bar (I think that it is what its called). It has the number 50179 stamped into it but searching for that finds nothing. It holds the end of this bar as well as the steering damper piston. It is welded to the
housing and I am not sure if it was meant to be this way or a fix made by the previous owner. Anyway it is cracked and just resting on the steering linkage bar. Can anyone point me in the right direction as far as what this piece is called so I can find a replacement and if this part is meant to be welded as shown in the pic? Thanks for any help anyone can give me.

 

Welcome to the site..

Thats the 'track bar' bracket. Carries the tracking bar and the upper steering stabilizer mount. You DO NOT want to risk it breaking the rest of the way off while driving.

 

Thanks for the help. I brought it a couple of places today hoping I could get it welded but the places I went said they did not have good experience doing this as they tended to break again. Looks like I will be looking for another front axle.

 

Welding it shouldn't be a problem. Reinforce and add some plate/gussets in the high stress area's. We weld sway link connectors on the old style axles all the time. Axles get narrowed in special apps too. Adding plate and better welds ect. to beef up the area that wasn't strong enough to begin with.

Welding it would be plenty strong if done right..

 

Just wanted to thank you Hayapower for your recommendation. After the first two shops said that it could not be done I kept looking and found someone who could do it and it really looks like a good job. Saved me alot of money and work. Thanks again.

 

Glad they got'er done.