Has anyone had any luck with getting their dealer to fix the Super Duty steering problem??? (You know the one where if you have the brake down you can't turn your steering wheel)...
Seems like it could be pretty serious and problematic under the right set of circumstances.
I'd like to get mine taken care of and so would be interested in hearing how anyone else got their dealer to take care of it....
I tested my steering with my foot on the brake while standing still and my steering wheel locked up too!!!! I sure wouldnt want this to happen at 60mph if I had to lock em up. Im waiting for some snow to fall so I can see if the steering wheel locks when the anti-lock is working or if this just happens when standing still. Sure seems like one of the engineers botched something here.
We all need to complain to Ford. They need to know our concerns and that this seems to be with all 2000's. An apparent bad design. I got on www.ford.com and registered as an owner. They asked for vehicleID# and then asked about any concerns you have. This is a safety issue. I'd like to know what exactly they did differently to make the steering compromised when applying the brakes. It's absurd. They may know they screwed up but are waiting to see if they got away with it. You need to complain!
My 99 F-350 has the same problem.
I am calling the dealer on Monday.
I did not notice it before but thanks to the internet I find out all the "problems" and sometimes solutions.I'am still not sure if this is a good thing.?
Well after dropping my wife off for work I realized I had a steering/braking problem, so I hit FTE. Well the the good news(at least for me) is that I'm not the only one. To address this problem when moving fast or in an emergency stop, is that it doesn't seem to happen. on my way to work on Monday I was going up a small mountain about 55/60 mph and attempted to pass a slow moving garbage truck. well just about there and a car came in the opposite direction, had to get on the breaks and steer in behind him. I didn't experience any lockup with the steering while the anti lock break did their thing.
f250 4x4 sc v10 auto
I have done some testing on my automatic 2000 f-350 with different situations and think this is a RPM issue. the steering and brakes operate off the same hydraulic pump. if you put the truck in neutral and bring up the RPM you will notice steering control back.
While driving the engine somehow knows that the truck is moving and will not let the RPM drop below a certain level, maybe to ensure that this does not happen. when you are crawling like under 5mph put the truck in neutral, the rpm will jump up to around 1.5k.
Actually the problem with this is when u step on the brakes and turn the wheels is that the wheels turn slightly. the axle isnt completly at 90 degrees with the plane, is at 88 degrees giving the axle 2 degrees of ofset castor. so at a dead stop the wheels want to spin when turning the steering wheel, but while your moving forward they will already be spinning so the lockup dosnt occur.
Billy
This problem occurs on SD's with hydroboost brake assist; 250/350 Diesels and 450/550 gas and diesels. Its designed to have fluid pressure for the brake assist first and remaining fluid pressure to the steering gear. At low rpm, the underdesigned pump doesn't put out enough flow for both, so the steering assist is low or nothing. This occurs at low engine rpm, not only low vehicle speed. If you are at any road speed, hit the brakes hard and the engine speed goes to less than 1000 rpm, you will have the same problem.
NHTSA has got a safety investigation on this problem; EA00-017. You can report your experiences to them at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/hotline
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 05-Apr-01 AT 04:32*PM (EST)[/font][p]My 00 xcrushn 4x4 diesel has the same problem. The Ford dealer said that's just the way they are.
I sure hope Ford comes out with a fix. It's a real pain when turning sharply at a stop or very slow speed. I'm running 33-12.50-16 tires and that makes it worse. I'm going to 35s next and by then I won't be able to steer at all - I guess I'll just have to just run over everthing (joke) ;-)
Off Road Unlimited has a package for about $2300 that fixes this situation. It includes a higher-output pump, a modified steering box, and a hydraulic ram that attaches to your tie rod and axle tube, providing additional force. It may not be street legal though. See http://www.offroadunlimited.com/
ceferino,
i noticed that u have a 4"lift with 33, how does it look? are the 33's too small thats why your going to 35 and how is the procomp lift?
billy
The 33s actually fit with no lift, no rubbing. But the truck was too low. Ford made the Excursion 2" lower that a SuperDuty in the front...stooooooooopid. Maybe they wanted soccer moms to buy them. With less than 2" of jounce travel, the front bottomed hard even around town. It was ridiculous.
The procomp kit is great. The truck actually rides better now. Before it was very soft but hit bottom, hard, every day. Now it's firmer but it never bottoms. My bump stops are still virgin after 10k miles of running the lift kit.
I had to go with stacked blocks and an add-a-leaf for the rear, because that's all procomp offered at the time. Now they offer complete new rear springs, and that's a better idea.
You're right, the 33s look a little small with the lift. But I'm a cheap *******, I'm going to wear out these darn 33s before I buy 35s. Or I might wimp out and go with 34s (Goodyear just intro'd a 215/70-16 AT/S).
I have a 2000 V-10 F250 4x4. When the brakes are on, parked, or idling, the wheels won't turn. I have filed complaints with Ford and NHTSA. The official statment from Ford is that there is no fix. They are trying to say that my 35" tires are the cause, but when I got into a Dodge and Chevy truck with the same size tires, they seemed to turn just fine - like butter actually.
This is bull#*@! and when I pull my 15,000 pound trailer, I feel sorry for the %#@*&%^ that cuts me off and I can't turn. Ford has replaced my gear box, tire rod, and power steering pump. I love my truck, but I expect my 3/4 ton truck to be able to turn, brake, pull, etc. This is a SAFETY issue that needs to be addressed! Can you say, "Explorer tire problem?"
as long as your moving u can turn your wheel, its not that big of a thing. if your moving your breaks and turning wheel work fine, if your stopped u have to not push the break pedal to the floor, ease up on it a bit so the rotor can spin when your turning your wheel.
In my opinion Joecool is correct. I have a 1999 F350 4X4 V-10 s/c srw and don't feel there is a problem. I tow (no where near 15,000 lbs) and can't imagine slamming on the brakes, turning the wheel and expecting the trailer to remain behind me. I have tried to hold my brake pedal down and turn the wheel and have had no trouble doing so. Maybe I'm not pressing hard enough, maybe my truck is idling too fast (not according to the tach), but I can't duplicate the "not being able to turn it at all" syndrome. In my career as a cop (now retired)I attended several high speed pursuit courses and everyone taught us never to brake while turning, this was before abs so thing might have changed but my old habits die hard.
