Adaptive Steering
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New User
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks for the info. My biggest concern regarding safety is high speed, wondering if it makes the steering so that a slight movement in the steering wheel wouldn't jerk the truck too quickly one way or another. Or does it act as if there is no adaptive steering at high speeds? Just for low speeds?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 696
Yes, a slight movement of the steering wheel will not jerk the truck as much. Reaction time will be the same. The magnitude of the reaction will be less. I think that can be considered not jerking the truck too quickly.
Tuned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 113
From: Socali
Where did you rent this vehicle? Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 314
Likes: 13
For someone who is always maneuvering trailers, plowing snow and in tight confines the adaptive is excellent. Where I dont like it is the reduced sensitivity or tightness of the steering at high speeds. But that is what the o/p is wanting. I really wish the adaptive would shut off above about 40 mph. That would be perfect IMHO. Cj
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 11
From: California Mountains
I had a 17 without a 19 with it almost got a 21 today without. Drove another 21 with it had to have it. It drives so much better way better tracking. The ride seems smother as well. Its floats straighter over bumps. The only time didn't like Adaptive was with dual stabilizers.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,778
Likes: 153
Some folks are confusing adaptive steering with lane assist. They are not the same thing. Adaptive steering makes low-speed -like in a parking lot- maneuvering easier due to the change in steering ratio. Fewer turns of the steering wheel to get the truck into parking spots and around the lanes. Makes it drive more like a car or a smaller truck at low speed. At road speed, adaptive steering goes away so that a sneeze doesn't put you in a different lane. I don't know at what speed you get fully to slow steering ratio, but it seems it's above 30MPH. I have not noticed any difference in steering resistance. In other words, the steering effort seems the same, but I'm also not sawing on the wheel at highway speed, so it's hard to say other than it doesn't feel like there is more resistance in the steering.
I have adaptive steering. I also have adaptive cruise. Wouldn't be without either one. Everyone else can feel about it however they want to. I don't care.
I have adaptive steering. I also have adaptive cruise. Wouldn't be without either one. Everyone else can feel about it however they want to. I don't care.
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Brett Foote
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 135
Likes: 2
Some folks are confusing adaptive steering with lane assist. They are not the same thing. Adaptive steering makes low-speed -like in a parking lot- maneuvering easier due to the change in steering ratio. Fewer turns of the steering wheel to get the truck into parking spots and around the lanes. Makes it drive more like a car or a smaller truck at low speed. At road speed, adaptive steering goes away so that a sneeze doesn't put you in a different lane. I don't know at what speed you get fully to slow steering ratio, but it seems it's above 30MPH. I have not noticed any difference in steering resistance. In other words, the steering effort seems the same, but I'm also not sawing on the wheel at highway speed, so it's hard to say other than it doesn't feel like there is more resistance in the steering.
I have adaptive steering. I also have adaptive cruise. Wouldn't be without either one. Everyone else can feel about it however they want to. I don't care.
I have adaptive steering. I also have adaptive cruise. Wouldn't be without either one. Everyone else can feel about it however they want to. I don't care.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 802
Likes: 197
From: Tupelo, MS
Slightly off topic but this came up in a 450 FB group earlier this evening discussing adaptive steering:
One guy was concerned it was just another motor to fail stating that it was a windshield wiper sized motor.
So it begs the question for the ones that have adaptive steering and that component fails what happens? Does it simply become non adaptive steering or would it be more like the old trucks when the p/s pump went out where you could drive it but had to manhandle the wheel at low speeds?
I'm about to order a 450 so I'm all in trying to absorb as much info as I can.
One guy was concerned it was just another motor to fail stating that it was a windshield wiper sized motor.
So it begs the question for the ones that have adaptive steering and that component fails what happens? Does it simply become non adaptive steering or would it be more like the old trucks when the p/s pump went out where you could drive it but had to manhandle the wheel at low speeds?
I'm about to order a 450 so I'm all in trying to absorb as much info as I can.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 516
To reiterate: Adaptive steering changes only the ratio, meaning less steering wheel turns lock-to-lock at low vehicle speed. It does not vary the amount of assist to make the steering lighter or heavier at various speeds. It also does not have anything to do with lane assist to pulse the steering wheel.
Just less steering wheel turns at what you might call parking lot speed. That's it. Nothing more.
There are various threads on this forum where the adaptive steering has failed. The steering wheel ends up about 90-degrees off center. It drives like a non-adaptive steering truck just with the steering wheel off 90-degrees.
Just less steering wheel turns at what you might call parking lot speed. That's it. Nothing more.
There are various threads on this forum where the adaptive steering has failed. The steering wheel ends up about 90-degrees off center. It drives like a non-adaptive steering truck just with the steering wheel off 90-degrees.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 696
To reiterate: Adaptive steering changes only the ratio, meaning less steering wheel turns lock-to-lock at low vehicle speed. It does not vary the amount of assist to make the steering lighter or heavier at various speeds. It also does not have anything to do with lane assist to pulse the steering wheel.
Just less steering wheel turns at what you might call parking lot speed. That's it. Nothing more.
There are various threads on this forum where the adaptive steering has failed. The steering wheel ends up about 90-degrees off center. It drives like a non-adaptive steering truck just with the steering wheel off 90-degrees.
Just less steering wheel turns at what you might call parking lot speed. That's it. Nothing more.
There are various threads on this forum where the adaptive steering has failed. The steering wheel ends up about 90-degrees off center. It drives like a non-adaptive steering truck just with the steering wheel off 90-degrees.
I'm not sure your comment on failure is entirely accurate. Yes, members have reported the steering wheel off center and driving fine. That doesn't mean adaptive steering is not working. It could still be changing the ratio at various speeds. The system has lost track of the straight steering wheel position. Turning off the truck and restarting usually resets the system. I don't recall reading anything about an actual motor failure. I think there have been reports of noise in the steering wheel and the motor was replaced. According to the OM, there is a warning light on the dash for the adaptive steering and if it comes on the OM instructs not to drive the truck.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 516
Actually, that is not more. The ratio goes to normal, unaffected ratio at road speed. It doesn't go to a slower than fixed ratio at highway speed. It changes only at parking lot speed. It would seem to most that is perfectly obvious and requires no elaboration but I guess there are a few out there...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 696
Actually, that is not more. The ratio goes to normal, unaffected ratio at road speed. It doesn't go to a slower than fixed ratio at highway speed. It changes only at parking lot speed. It would seem to most that is perfectly obvious and requires no elaboration but I guess there are a few out there...
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 322
Likes: 100
I Have found this thread interesting, especially from the view point regarding steering input at speed. I also have the lane departure stick shake. I will generally turn off the lane departure when driving around town because it gets annoying and causes vibration at wrong times such a long crack in the pavement along the path I am driving. When I do my 14 to 15 hours drives i definitely engage it. So I do think if I were going to buy a new truck, I'd get the option.
The adaptive steering function is not a must have for me, plus after reading some of the above comments, it might explain an oddity I have experienced several times. Going into a curve at speed, what I consider the proper steering input caused me to go wide. It is more prominent when entering the first curve. Each time I have been trying to figure what I did wrong or different from my normal driving habits. It is as if I giving the steering input too late into the curve, which is a little concerning towing a trailer. After reading previous posts, I am thinking the normal minor steering inputs are being somewhat dampened and I need to provide additional steering input to over come it. As for the usefulness in parking lots and the like, it has been a relearning experience to get the truck evenly between the parking space lines. The old saying about muscle memory applies here.
The adaptive steering function is not a must have for me, plus after reading some of the above comments, it might explain an oddity I have experienced several times. Going into a curve at speed, what I consider the proper steering input caused me to go wide. It is more prominent when entering the first curve. Each time I have been trying to figure what I did wrong or different from my normal driving habits. It is as if I giving the steering input too late into the curve, which is a little concerning towing a trailer. After reading previous posts, I am thinking the normal minor steering inputs are being somewhat dampened and I need to provide additional steering input to over come it. As for the usefulness in parking lots and the like, it has been a relearning experience to get the truck evenly between the parking space lines. The old saying about muscle memory applies here.