Steering Wheel play
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 618
Likes: 69
Steering Wheel play
Picked up a new 2019 CCLB KR last week and I have about 1000 miles on it so far, mostly highway. Great truck so far, but one "characteristic" that annoys me so far is the perception of loose steering at highway speeds.
The truck does have adaptive steering and the snow plow package and tires are set to 60 front and 65 rear. The truck is totally stock. When going down the road, I can move the steering wheel about 1/2 inch back and forth with zero change in the direction the vehicle is traveling. At times it feels like I'm herding the truck down the road and having to undo the steering input I just made. It just does not track nearly as straight and true that one would expect a new truck to drive. Sitting in the driveway not moving, the tires respond to the smallest input to the steering wheel, but there seems to be too much play at highway speeds.
I have another 1000 miles of driving to do over the weekend from Oregon to Colorado, so I'll keep monitoring the situation. If it still bothers me, I'll take it in and have them check the alignment/steering box/adaptive steering.
Does anyone else have similar issues on a stock truck w/ adaptive steering?
Adam
The truck does have adaptive steering and the snow plow package and tires are set to 60 front and 65 rear. The truck is totally stock. When going down the road, I can move the steering wheel about 1/2 inch back and forth with zero change in the direction the vehicle is traveling. At times it feels like I'm herding the truck down the road and having to undo the steering input I just made. It just does not track nearly as straight and true that one would expect a new truck to drive. Sitting in the driveway not moving, the tires respond to the smallest input to the steering wheel, but there seems to be too much play at highway speeds.
I have another 1000 miles of driving to do over the weekend from Oregon to Colorado, so I'll keep monitoring the situation. If it still bothers me, I'll take it in and have them check the alignment/steering box/adaptive steering.
Does anyone else have similar issues on a stock truck w/ adaptive steering?
Adam
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 107
Likes: 6
Yup I noticed the same thing. I went from a 2016 ram 3500 that drove straight and solid with a big 5th wheel to a 2018 F350 that feels twitchy and jumps all over the place pulling nothing or pulling the trailer. I changed the steering stabilizer but that was a waste of money, didn't do anything. (fox TS). I'm slowly getting use to it but I will be going back to ram, maybe for a 2020.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 165
Mine felt weird right when I got. The front end was overly tight and took a bit to loosen up. Tightness in the front end meant the return to center wasn’t great which left the truck feel like it was wandering.
Im very happy with it now. Does it behave like our Volvo or Mini Cooper? No. Is it the best solid axle truck I’ve ever driven? Yes.
Im very happy with it now. Does it behave like our Volvo or Mini Cooper? No. Is it the best solid axle truck I’ve ever driven? Yes.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 803
Likes: 103
I had a steering problem with my brand new 2018 dually. It wouldn't drive straight. It was always going either slightly left or slightly right. Seemed like a never ending wander and was chewing up my tires.
Ford aligned it and made it worse, took it to an independent alignment shop who made it better but still wouldnt drive straight.
In windy conditions, good luck, The thing was all over the road and completely dangerous to drive. Same with rainy conditions. Honda civics would dam near blow my 8,500lb dually off the road. Worst driving truck ever.
Ford wouldn't do anything about it.
So ebay a used steering gearbox. Swapped it out and it drives straight and proper like it should.
So glad the BS is behind me. I was looking for a lake to sink it in at one point.
Ford aligned it and made it worse, took it to an independent alignment shop who made it better but still wouldnt drive straight.
In windy conditions, good luck, The thing was all over the road and completely dangerous to drive. Same with rainy conditions. Honda civics would dam near blow my 8,500lb dually off the road. Worst driving truck ever.
Ford wouldn't do anything about it.
So ebay a used steering gearbox. Swapped it out and it drives straight and proper like it should.
So glad the BS is behind me. I was looking for a lake to sink it in at one point.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
Super Dutys are known for too soft steering feel. Before I bought my 2017 250 I watched several youtube reviews of 3/4 tons. One thing they mentioned was pulling a big trailer on twisting roads did not feel as secure as with the Dodge or Chevy.
SPONSOR
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 272
Likes: 10
My 2019 stock had a little bit of steering wheel play .Everything looked tight as can be.
Lifted it 6 inches and steering wheel play got worse. Everything was still tight besides the drag link i think had a little bit of play but i couldn't justify replacing it yet.
Alot of folks as well say the pitman arm nut is the culprit as well if you happen to have someone turn the wheel while you are watching it.
Lifted it 6 inches and steering wheel play got worse. Everything was still tight besides the drag link i think had a little bit of play but i couldn't justify replacing it yet.
Alot of folks as well say the pitman arm nut is the culprit as well if you happen to have someone turn the wheel while you are watching it.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 407
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The trucks don't track right because the front end geometry is just wrong. Heavy steering is unacceptable to me. The damn thing has power steering, it should work.
I have an '85 Peterbilt with 'spin it with your pinky finger' light steering and it holds the road better than most straight axle 4X4 pickup.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
The '19s I test drove were pretty hard to steer. Enough that it was a major reason I didn't buy one.
The trucks don't track right because the front end geometry is just wrong. Heavy steering is unacceptable to me. The damn thing has power steering, it should work.
I have an '85 Peterbilt with 'spin it with your pinky finger' light steering and it holds the road better than most straight axle 4X4 pickup.
The trucks don't track right because the front end geometry is just wrong. Heavy steering is unacceptable to me. The damn thing has power steering, it should work.
I have an '85 Peterbilt with 'spin it with your pinky finger' light steering and it holds the road better than most straight axle 4X4 pickup.
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 618
Likes: 69
Follow-up to my original post.
8000 miles later, I've either gotten used to it or the steering components have themselves loosened up a little.
I have the adaptive steering and initially the steering was pretty heavy and the return to center was lackluster. The steering now seems more precise and/or the return to center is now better that components are not quite as tight as they were coming out of the factory. Compared to the wife's Landcruiser, the difference in steering is far less dramatic than when the truck was brand new.
Adam
8000 miles later, I've either gotten used to it or the steering components have themselves loosened up a little.
I have the adaptive steering and initially the steering was pretty heavy and the return to center was lackluster. The steering now seems more precise and/or the return to center is now better that components are not quite as tight as they were coming out of the factory. Compared to the wife's Landcruiser, the difference in steering is far less dramatic than when the truck was brand new.
Adam
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 803
Likes: 103
Follow-up to my original post.
8000 miles later, I've either gotten used to it or the steering components have themselves loosened up a little.
I have the adaptive steering and initially the steering was pretty heavy and the return to center was lackluster. The steering now seems more precise and/or the return to center is now better that components are not quite as tight as they were coming out of the factory. Compared to the wife's Landcruiser, the difference in steering is far less dramatic than when the truck was brand new.
Adam
8000 miles later, I've either gotten used to it or the steering components have themselves loosened up a little.
I have the adaptive steering and initially the steering was pretty heavy and the return to center was lackluster. The steering now seems more precise and/or the return to center is now better that components are not quite as tight as they were coming out of the factory. Compared to the wife's Landcruiser, the difference in steering is far less dramatic than when the truck was brand new.
Adam
Who knows whats happening when basically a window regulator motor behind your airbag is in control of your steering.
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Mar 12, 2012 10:05 PM