Ok I am really sick of dealing with this ridiculous issue. It's unfair to me how I keep getting the stupid issues with my trucks and mines babied, but such is life.


After being blown around yesterday and not being able to keep my truck in my lane on the highway I had to call my dealer for an appointment. Jbrew suggested I check my service disk for diagnosis, but I have had limited computer time. I'm going to try tonight. The wheel is loose, turning is not fluid (feels grindy) and one of my brothers even noticed how the wheel refused to straighten out and stayed ****ed to the side when taking a sharp low speed turn. No, it's not the intermediate shaft, It's already been replaced twice, once under warranty 5-6 years ago by the previous owner, and once by me last year. I've had this issue before and after it was changed. The part was changed hoping it fixed the issue but it didn't. The steering is not binding, The spline entering the rack seems very loose. I jerk the wheel back and forth in park and it bangs, grabbing the spline dulls teh noise. This is the part I am referring to that comes out of the rack:



Exactly what my truck is doing:


All new front end, never changed the issue. It's in the steering and Ford told me last time there was no issue. I'm really losing my cool with this because it's scary driving the truck on the highway with it going where it wants. It darts to either side and again it is loose. Another member was having the same issue, but I'm not sure if he got it figured out yet. Ford quoted me $1027 for full replacement. Is there anything else that could cause this, or am I diagnosing it right? Again the entire front end is new and symptoms of this have been there since I bought it nearly 5 years ago with 36k on her. The shaft moves and dims the lights when I first start it up. I feel that was the spline having lightly worn teeth and over the past few years (just hit 90k) it has finally gotten much worse. I'm gonna flip on the dealer if they tell me it's ok. I'm taking the tech for a ride when I bring it in. My point is, it never did this before, it began last year, and it's not normal as a result. I need to prove this to the dealer so I'm comfortable driving again.

Thanks for any help.

 

IDK ...why yer going the dealer route....isn't there any good independent shops that specialize in alignments that you could bring it to?

I know I've got a couple of independent shops around here that I'd trust more than the local dealer....imo

 

The shops I've been to couldn't find a bad bj that would fail inspection. Dealer has proven the best

 

ok....depends where you live and what's available...

 

You can say that again lol

Does my diagnosis seem correct?

 

Well, I would have someone turn the wheel as you are & chase down the noise...then you know where to start.

 

I did it comes from the spline lol

 

Bump

 

Go with your gut

 

Ford can't find an issue...

This is beyond frustrating.

 

The tech said lowering could be part of the issue. It did it before it was lowered. I just need this fixed. I'm going crazy

 

get the rack replaced already.....that's what I'd do....instead of this trouble shooting BS everyone is doing....

why you listening too the tech....tell them its the rack and get it replaced....

 

They're just afraid it won't fix it. My dad's going to drive it tomorrow. I think I'm going to just have it put in

 

i had my rack replaced on my 06. it was leaking and apparently from what ive read on this forum and others is that it is a common issue. replaced it with a re-manufactured one and havent had an issue since.

 

So which one is it? They say it might not fix it, yet they say there's nothing wrong?