Front suspension
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Front suspension
I have an issue with my new 2011 F150 FX4 super crew with 5.0. I put a Rough Country level kit on the front struts which raised it 2.5 inches and looks great. The issue is that there is a low speed knock heard on the left side and felt through to the steering wheel. The truck has been aligned to factory specs. all bolts have been tightened, the strut has been taken off to check the top mounting bolts. Nothing appears to loose. Can't find anything. Am I forgetting something. Rough Country said it can't be the kit. It has bee used for sometime with no issues.
Any Help
Any Help
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Arizona
I'm no expert by a long shot, but I've read people who know advising that any more than a 2" spacer is too much on the newer trucks. Check to see how close the upper end of your steering knuckle is to your coil spring. Many leveling kits offset the "strut" to prevent contact. Was there a particular way suggested to align the spacer atop the "strut," and do you remember positioning it that way?
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I checked that very thing and that's not it. The thumping noise is only heard on the drivers side up through the steering wheel at low speeds on a rough road. It has been to the dealer 3 times now and they hear it but can't find it. I am beginning to think it may be the new power steering set-up. It feels like the same issue GM had with their intermediate shaft on the steering linkage. That was fixed by a special grease pressed into it. If anybody has a 2011 F150 drive the left wheel on a rough are in the road and see if you have the same issue.
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I'm waiting to hear from the service department. The latest I have is a Ford rep told the service manager to drive another truck and see if it does the same thing. He did and said may have but he was not certain. I am going by this afternoon if it is not fixed and drive another truck so I can compare. If Ford says this is the way it is than Ford will have a lot of complains on this. I think the new steering may have something to do with it.
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Well got the truck back and they said it was the level kit that caused the problem. I am not totally convinced. It still has the knock in the steering wheel just not as bad. I think that over time and more trucks get bought Ford will find this is not an isolated case. I believe that the new steering set up has something to do with it. 
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Is there a new steering set-up for 2011? I just put in a 2.5" Autospring leveling kit on my 2010. It has a small offset to it and I have no issues.
The 'special grease' for the GM's is hogwash. Remove the bolt on the intermediate shaft (just below the master cylinder), compress the shaft (pushing toward the firewall), pull it back out, push it back in. Repeat the movement 10-15 times, put the bolt back in. The steering will feel good as new for 15-20k miles, and then you'll need to repeat. The 'upgraded' shaft and the 'special grease' will fix it for the same 15-20k miles, but they cost $...
Brandon
The 'special grease' for the GM's is hogwash. Remove the bolt on the intermediate shaft (just below the master cylinder), compress the shaft (pushing toward the firewall), pull it back out, push it back in. Repeat the movement 10-15 times, put the bolt back in. The steering will feel good as new for 15-20k miles, and then you'll need to repeat. The 'upgraded' shaft and the 'special grease' will fix it for the same 15-20k miles, but they cost $...
Brandon
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Yes there is a new set pu for the 2011 F150. There is no power steering pump. It uses some electromechanical system. I think that when the level kit is installed it puts the steering linkage at a bad angle which causes the thumping and feel in the steering column. I quess I'll have to wait to see it Rough country or the aftermaket companies come up with a fix.
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Yes there is a new set pu for the 2011 F150. There is no power steering pump. It uses some electromechanical system. I think that when the level kit is installed it puts the steering linkage at a bad angle which causes the thumping and feel in the steering column. I quess I'll have to wait to see it Rough country or the aftermaket companies come up with a fix.
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U R lucky mine is a dick, but if they can directly tie your mod to the problem u r out of luck, however I lifted my 04 2" front only to level with no problems, I bet u r right about the new electric power steering as the problem, how do u like the steering feel??
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The new steering is as good as the old. You can't really tell it is powered a different way. I am going to have my dealer that sold the truck to me look at it for the steering clunk that I feel. I'll keep you all posted on that. I still want to level it some how with out the exacerbated steering clunk. 
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The new steering is as good as the old. You can't really tell it is powered a different way. I am going to have my dealer that sold the truck to me look at it for the steering clunk that I feel. I'll keep you all posted on that. I still want to level it some how with out the exacerbated steering clunk.
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From: Cecil County, Maryland
My dealership installed my kit. Chris