2012 Expedition Limited (Re)Build Thread

[outcast351]

Hey all, new member here but longtime lurker. I've had a 2012 Limited (standard length) for about a year and a half now and have done a few things here and there. I'm starting this thread to document the big jobs I've got lined up and hopefully share some media as I go. I'm currently at about 140k miles.

Things I've done so far:
1. New wheels and tires: 17" Icon Rebound Pros with some sort of tire, can't recall the size offhand. They're awesome.
2. Replaced 4 of the 5 interior temperature damper motor thingies. That was pretty easy.
3. Rebuilt the driver side mirror. Used the wrong spring washer on the shaft and now it flops around in the wind. If anyone knows the right part number for that, please let me know.
4. All new spark plugs. That helped with a misfire issue I had.
5. Replaced the upper heater hose. On the side of the highway. In the middle of the Nevada desert. I will never stop kicking myself over this one, I knew the stupid plastic T was failing but didn't replace the hose before a big road trip. I brought the replacement with me to do it at my uncle's house. The T failed about 2.5 hours north of Las Vegas. I got it replaced, and we finished the trip, but it was incredibly stupid not to do it beforehand in my driveway.

Things I'm planning to do:
1. Repair the sunroof. My wife, who's the primary driver, hates sunroofs so she doesn't care but I do. Still, low priority.
2. Replace the motors and bearings on the running boards. The driver side burned up.
3. Fix the driver's side mirror.
4. Engine detail. There's some coolant on the passenger side valve cover. Oil all over the front of the engine and the driver's side control arm. Everything is dirty and it bothers me.
5. Full timing system rebuild. Timing chain tensioners, rocker arms, VVT actuators, oil pump, etc. The whole FordTechMakuloco shebang. I'm not looking forward to this.
6. Full supension/steering rebuild. Tie rods, bushings, ball joints, bearings. I'm going to tackle this probably in the next week. It needs to get done because I'm getting horrible tire wear patterns and the alignment shop won't even touch it until I replace everything. I'll walk through my plan for that in the next post.

 

[outcast351]

Suspension/Steering Rebuild Plan:
1. I'm planning to order the following parts from Summit. I haven't noticed any issues with the shocks so I'm not bothering with those. I mainly want to get this thing aligned.
a. Qty 2 MOG-515142 front wheel bearings for 4wd
b. MOG-CK80306 and MOG-CK80308 upper control arms
c. MOG-ES800514 and MOG-ES800515 outer tie rod ends
d. Qty 2 MOG-EV800457 inner tie rod ends
e. Qty 2 MOG-K500008 lower ball joints
f. Qty 2 MOG-K750074 sway bar end links
g. Qty 2 lower control arm bushing kits, made by Precision.
2. Replace everything on the passenger side.
3. Replace everything on the driver side.
4. Drive slowly to the alignment shop down the street.

 

[abe2571]

Hello. I have a 2014 XLT 4x4 with about 217000 miles on it. I just rebuilt most of the suspension and steering front and rear. I replaced pretty much everything except for the coil springs and a few bushings. I went with MOOG, much of what you have listed, as well to keep costs reasonable and did most all the work in my driveway. I ordered everything from either Rockauto or Amazon depending on the better deal. I replaced the struts with KYB Gas Adjusts. The ride and handling is night and day from before the parts were replaced. I don't know your mileage but you may want to consider changing the struts as well since you are taking everything apart anyway, if they seem worn. Mine were originals and toast. The biggest pain were the bushings for the front lower control arms. I had a friend with a hydrualic press, an air hammer, drills, and a sawzall which is what it took to get the old bushings out and then press in the new ones. If I had to do it again I would either take them to a shop and have them pressed out and in or I would just buy preloaded control arms which are readily available. Overall not that bad a job if you are going to do it yourself. Have fun.

 

[Joe S]

Hey all, new member here but longtime lurker. I've had a 2012 Limited (standard length) for about a year and a half now and have done a few things here and there. I'm starting this thread to document the big jobs I've got lined up and hopefully share some media as I go. I'm currently at about 140k miles.


Well, I did the Full timing system rebuild. Timing chain tensioners, rocker arms, VVT actuators, oil pump, etc. and Brian did The whole (FordTechMakuloco) shebang!! it was expensive but worth every penny!!! my 2012 Expedition limited has never run better and its a whole new truck!!

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Another of those "while I'm in there jobs"

I am referring to the shocks & springs of course, cause with the age & mileage, you might not notice anything NOW, but all those other new parts (and your tires) will if you don't replace them along with everything else...and also you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you hopefully won't ever have to touch the front suspension again for a L.O.N.G. time, if ever...

 

[outcast351]

I'm back. What an ordeal. It took me a while to get the lower control arms off and the ball joint pressed out but once I did I found the seat for the joint was badly rusted and there was no point pressing in a new one. So I ordered a pair of Moog complete lower control arms and returned the ball joints and bushings I'd purchased. I should've just done that from the beginning, the time saved was definitely worth the extra cost. Oh well, live and learn. I also learned a lot about the stupid vacuum hubs while I was replacing the bearings. I have a broken vacuum line just downstream of the 4x4 check valve that I need to replace soon.

I agree that I should've done the struts but the funds simply weren't there. On the bright side now that I've done it it won't take me too long to get back in there and swap them out. It's basically just the tie rod and upper control arm that need to be disconnected before the strut comes out. I'm planning to do those down the road, after rebuilding the rear end. When I do the rear I'll make sure to replace the struts at the same time.

I don't think I mentioned it before but the truck is currently a little over 140k miles.