Ranger Mods

At a recent wheel alignment check before we went on our Christmas trip this defective ball joint was discovered on the near (passenger) side of the steering rack.

The rubber boot was intact with no cuts or nicks and the OE metal clamps were correctly in place but the boot was partially filled with what appeared to be salt - (possibly sea) - water. The chromed (?) end is badly corroded with about 0.035 mm movement but no corrosion on the powder coated arm.

Any ideas and or comments as to how this could happen ?

An inspection of the drivers side steering arm showed no corrosion whatsoever.

Have you ever driven the passenger side in salt water?

hoges wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 5:49 pm Have you ever driven the passenger side in salt water?

Thanks for your interest.
Yes, both sides have been in salt water, last year we went to Fraser Island for two weeks and as you would be aware it's impossible not to pass through salt water on the Island but as I said, the boot was intact, no holes or cuts and the OE metal clamps were in position in the machined grooves.
The underside of the Wildtrak was thoroughly washed to remove as much salt and sand as possible once we were on the mainland and again I pressure washed the underside when we got home.
Why water was only in the passenger side boot is a total mystery - and it was quite a volume, at least two egg cups, the last three "threads" of the steering rack were also etched with corrosion but being a hard chromed surface it was easily polished out and a film of lithium grease was applied before replacing the ball joint and boot.
The drivers side was also inspected but no water was present, it was bone dry. New clamps were fitted on re-assembly.
The local Bathurst Ford dealership didn't have an OE part but Repco do carry them as a stock item as they are common to all the Rangers. Interestingly they also carry CV rebuild kits should you ever need one.