Hi we have a new to us 2011 e350 v10 with 163k on it. My wife's only complaint is that the sheer feels loose. She said we hen it gets up to 80 mph it feels scary loose. I have not driven it yet but was wondering if others have had this issue. I checked the front end. Everything is tight except for ball joints but they were just a hair loose.

Thanks Bill

 

IF the steering wheel has lots of play before it moves the tires, then your steering gear is likely bad or needs adjustment.

I just replaced mine today for this specific reason.

If the steering wheel is pretty tight and it only gets loose at highway speeds then there is something messed up in the suspension or the tie rods.
Either that or it just needs an alignment. Toe out will cause the van to wander left and right and be unnerving.

 

No offense to your wife but really---80MPH??? I'm not sure that's smart but cripes sake what an unnecessary risk---kids on-board I'm guessing?

If you've not yet driven this then the wife's assessment isn't really reliable. At 80 MPH an E350 with any motor isn't a Ferrari. Assuming it has stock tires and whatever weight distribution exists those could have huge impact on the steering feel. Are the tires properly inflated?

"Loose" ball joints don't necessarily impart sloppy steering but that's a highly subjective description at best.

The E-Series tend to have relatively low-force quick ratior steering gear and to some its too loose even when brand new---I'm one of those. Add in I'm driving an extended body with full size spare under the floor and loaded somewhat close to my max GVW its quite easy to induce body roll and/or understeer if not careful. One could say my steering feels loose, even with completely new steering components and fresh alignment, E-Rated tires @ 70PSI all around.

Because the E350's have a higher capacity suspension when nearly empty the ride can be harsh, handling slightly twitchy for those not accustomed to driving something like that. All these factors might play into the wife's impression of your new van.

Drive it yourself at different speeds and see for yourself---no need jumping to conclusions before knowing the full story. If you need or want front end info after that we're here to help.

80 MPH---WTH?

 

Huh? 80mph is my standard cruise speed with the van, 100 when overtaking sometimes. And I even think about reprogramming the ECU to get rid of the speed limiter like I did with my 2500 RAM to get it up to 120+mph.
But I live in Germany, where there's no speed limit on the Autobahn and I get my daily driver up to 150 regulary
If you're doing less than 100 you better keep off the left lanes here, cause that's the average speed everyone is doing there.

BTT, try playing around with the tire pressure a bit. If it's too high in the front wheels it may feel loose.

 

In Germany there's a completely different state of mind regarding driving in general so in that sense huge speed differentials are probably less of a problem than here in the USA. I dare say with the distractions American drivers allow inside their vehicles along with a general lack of good driver training our traffic incidents would probably astound most of the rest of the world.

Add in that IMHO most drivers of any gender tend to drive at least 10 MPH over their true ability to safely handle a vehicle at any speed AND an almost complete lack of skill to deal with suddenly required evasive maneuvers I contend driving an E350 at 80MPH isn't the smartest move. Once we're over that speed well---disaster lurks ahead.

Things are quite different here in the USA Karsten------just sayin' !

 

I know, I know..........
I've done quite some driving in the US and around the world and I'm still astonished how the Americans survive their everyday driving

 

I'd check the ball joints.
I don't like the way it steers now, but it has improved dramatically after I replaced the ball joints.

 

You've lost that STEERING feelin'
Whoa, that STEERING feelin'
You've lost that STEERING feelin'
Now it's gone, gone, gone, whoa

 

OMG that's hilarious!

 

Search the forum about caster adjustment. There was a good post about it and our vans.

 

Caster settings won't address the OP's situation.

 

I strongly disagree. Here is a link my description in 2010 of how not enough caster on the E series gives the feeling of loose steering.


E350/E450 Handling Problems are caused by too little + CASTER

 

Nice self-promoting there---you have a great future in public relations!

Just for giggles and grins I'm quoting the OP's opening post---read along:

So despite the OP has not yet returned or updated his own post we have no idea what became of his situation. Pay attention that the ball joints are "a hair loose", that he himself has not driven the E250 and that its traveling at 80 MPH. So caster is still NOT a factor at this point.

While some of you might think even at 80 MPH an E350 should feel like a Ferrari that's just not the case. We don't know if its a Club Wagon or a cargo-only van and completely empty---pretty big swings in potential handling characteristics between those configurations.

I've driven E250 cargo vans at 85 MPH and will say flat out they're a handful at that speed. Not because caster needs adjusting but because they're vans and not sports cars or mini-vans---not really intended to go that speed despite the speedo saying they can.

So I guess we can continue speculating and adding advice but until the OP comes back with more info we're kinda spittin' in the wind.

 

I don't know what your talking about, my worn out 23 year old lifted E250 cargo van handles just like my lowered 2 year old Mustang GT

 

And of course there's always at least on exception to the rule---right?