Shop Press

Shop Press is the news and idea hub for everything related to working on cars and trucks, focusing on repair, technology, and wrenching lifestyle.

From the creative minds at:

FEATURE STORY

Hot Off the Press

PSA: Stop throwing away brake rotor screws

Hello. My name is Lemmy, and I am guilty of throwing away brake rotor screws. At least I was guilty. I no longer commit this sin. You know the pieces I’m talking about. They’re the little screws with the huge heads that get boogered up when you try to remove them...

Best of Shop Press 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, the Shop Press team assembled some of the most notable articles, videos, and more of the year. Our goal all along has been to provide a unique voice on a mix of topics that speaks to mechanics and the mechanically inclined like no other...

Watch how magnetizer/demagnetizer tools work in this excellent video

During some recent work on an older SUV, I was absolutely fed up. I couldn’t take it anymore. I had just finished a fair bit of grinding and filing, and when I reached for my screwdriver to start installing some parts, I saw that the tool’s tip looked like the Wooly...

Tool review: Klein 3255 bull pin

Disclaimer: I purchased this tool at full retail price at my own expense, with no compensation to write about the item. Most mechanics I know value tools that have either of the following characteristics: Useful, but from another industry (because it might be useful...

What does horsepower really mean? (VIDEO)

Horsepower is a strange measurement, isn’t it? Think about it. When was the last time you used a horse for any kind of work or travel? Like candlepower, the original horsepower attempted to express the output of a newer technology in comparison to its predecessor....

Sketching Skodas

Instead of restoring vintage Czech cars made by Laurin & Klement (L&K), Stefan Ivanov sketches them. His desire to raise awareness of the brand in his home country of Bulgaria and abroad drove him to publish an illustrated history of L&K in 2019. Although...

Serviceability Hall of Shame: Ford Taurus Spring Shields

by | Jan 17, 2023

The Serviceability Hall Of Shame was born from all the times we’ve looked at a vehicle and realized some usually simple task was going to be nightmarish. It is, ultimately, a response and explanation of the inevitable question, “Good Lord, why?!” Today’s entrant isn’t a particularly difficult part to service, actually. It’s just a super-dumb “solution” (and I use that term very loosely) to a problem.

Working for a Ford dealership years ago, I remember a rash of recall work coming in relating to the front springs in Ford Taurus sedans and wagons within a fairly narrow range of model years (1999 to 2001). Evidently, when cars were operated in the Salt Belt, the springs were rusting out. In particular, the front springs could jump past the spring perch after breaking, and the resulting jagged end could (and did in many cases, sadly) bury itself into the sidewall of the tire, causing a rapid loss of air.

Yikes. This is what we in the biz referred to at that time as “real effin’ bad.” (It’s technical jargon.) If our customers were lucky, they suffered this broken spring and insult-to-injury flat tire in the comfort of their driveway. Not-so-lucky customers found out about this problem firsthand when under power, suddenly having to learn to navigate during a sudden tire blowout.

Now, a regular human being with more than about six firing neurons could identify the problem here (the rusty tire-poker springs) and generate a solution. Most solutions were obvious: Install new springs that weren’t so prone to rust and rapid failure, right?

Wrong.

Instead, Ford had service technicians install a service kit that shielded the tire from the spring should it break. It was a couple pieces of stamped sheet metal and the corresponding hardware. Now, this absolutely did prevent the blowouts. As you’ve likely guessed by now, however, this did absolutely nothing for the actual problem, which was springs rotting out in four or five years.

Ford Taurus coil spring shields.

Oh, this… this is not what I expected. Photo by Mike Apice.

Pretty obviously, when we explained to customers what we did to “fix” the problem, they weren’t real happy.

So, Ford, come take your bow in the limelight (lemonlight?) that shines through The Hall and do better next time around, eh?

The articles and other content contained on this site may contain links to third party websites. By clicking them, you consent to Dorman’s Website Use Agreement.

Related Articles

Shop Press Comment Policy

Participation in this forum is subject to Dorman’s Website Terms & Conditions. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest


12 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline feedback
View all comments

Get Articles In Your Inbox

Subscribe to receive a monthly email summary of our latest Shop Press stories.

Shop Press

I agree to the above privacy statement and T&Cs

Thanks! You're now subscribed.