Im just wandering, if I am the only one having problems with steering.
My X has what I like to call, to much free play in the steering, a half to 3/4 of an inch. To me this is a bit much.

So far the dealership has put on a new gearbox, and adjusted it, moved one of the front wheels forward a bit, aligned it 3 or 4 times. And it still isn't correct, better but not right.

After all of this, I wrote a nice letter to Ford explaining to them, all that has taken place. And all i wanted was to get my X steering corrected, because I really do love this truck. they agreed to send a ford rep, to the dealership for a test drive, and even gave me a loaner car for that day.

Well he came and drove it for 8 miles. 6 of them country miles 2 of them highway miles. His report came back saying it handles like all the rest of them.

This is where my confusing problem really starts.
Do all the X's handel this way ??
And if so, am I the only one trying to get it fixed ??

Please give me your thoughts, and or salutions.
Thanks X 03 Jeff

 

Jeff...

If you search this forum you will find a lot of discussion on this subject. It seems that most of us have had or do have the same issues with the wandering sensation with our x's. Personally I had this problem until I got my new BFG tires, had my ball joints replaced, and had some other front steering parts replaced(at about 75,000 miles) and now I am a happy driver!! My x did not handle this well off the lot when new! It cost me 1600 to get it done but it was worth it! Most of us with the older x's have added a rear anti-sway by Hellwig and good shocks(of your choice) and most have or want LandYot's radius rods to complete our handling package.

I don't know if this helps you or not.....but good luck with yours.

Kevin

 

Jeff - Welcome to the Forum!

As indicated above, this is (unfortunately) old news for "X" owners. I only have 30K miles on my 2002 but have replaced shocks with Rancho 9000 adjustable, installed Hellwig rear anti-sway bar and will be buying the radius rods. I also put on new tires - Bridgestone Dueller Revos -E- load The tires were curtesy the result of a recall Ford/Firestone had on the original BFG's. I paid a small amount for the upgrade to the Revos.

The effect of all mods made to date is a vastly improved ride and better handling for both daily driving and towing. (travel trailer aprox 7000lbs and 5 adults and gear in truck). But I am still not completely happy which is why I am doing the radius rods next.

Do some searches on this forum to find more background or comments on products mentioned above..

I know it is a bit disconcerting to feel you have to modify the truck just after buying it.. But after anger and denial comes acceptance.. After that comes action.. you will find lots of good advise here in the forum to help.

Bill

 

Thanks all, for letting me know that I am not alone.
But, here's something, I think should happen.
Ford should give me some of my money back, so i can fix the problem myself. I just hate to enact the lemon law to acheive this, and feel that I paid enough money when I bought my X new, and it shouldnt have this problem.
Any thoughts ???
Thanks, Jeff

 

Same story over on the SuperDuty pages unfortunatly (same front end). I have a 2000 F250 that had the same steering issues. Had to replace ball joints, tie rods, and add a steering stabilizer to tighten it up. Ford makes em loose. Fealt like I was oversteering all the time to keep it on the road. After replacing half the front end, It drives like a GM now! That'll get the flames going. You might consider tightning up the box again, just a little. I agree, the dealer should refund some cash. If it was "normal" they should not have charged you for "adjustments".

 

I got good results by DECREASING my tire size from 35 15.5 16.5's to 295 75 16's, installing Bilstein 5100 shocks all the way around with duals in front - which really tightened up the front end, a Hellwig sway bar in the rear and a set of Landyot's radius rods. I can steer with one finger or let go of the wheel and if the road is level the truck will track straight and true. The radius rods probably make the biggest difference by getting rid of the rear axle steer - I'm on my second set after upgrading from the Generation II units to the Generation III models with poly bushings. First rate units.

No problems with ball joints or any front end components.

You didn't mention what you were used to driving before, but an 8,000# solid axle truck is never going to drive like a car or IFX vehicle.

 

Hello all,

My last vehical was a dodge ram quad 1500 4x4 , before that I drove an expedition for years.
I knew that the driving charactaristics would be different on a straight axle truck, But I dont think, nor can I beleave that there should be play in any steering wheel no matter what you are driving.
I have about a 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch play in the wheel, before it grabs to go left or right. To me this cant be the norm, like the factory rep is saying. But maybe Im wrong even if it dont make good sense or seems to be very logical.
It is hard for me to beleave that I payed so much for a vehical that has a charactaristic like this. Now I have to spend more to get it right.
I feel that I should not have to pay out more money on top of what I already have to make it right, but I do love this truck.

Jeff

 

Ford pay you, don't hold your breath. Try a better steering stabilzer. Rancho or Procomp. Do you have farctory rear sway bar? Ford added after 4/03 production date. This is subjective problem. I owned an 03 and it did wander a little more than my 2000. On my 2000 it did better with better steering stabilzer and BFG KO(stiffer sidewall). How did they move a front wheel forward?? You mean alignment? Jeff, is this a 4WD or 2WD? If you still have free play have them try another steering gear. Just keep on their butts.

 

My X is a 2003 4x4 limited with a build date of 05-03.
The dealership took and moved one of the front wheels forward a bit, in order for the truck to have 3 points of contact, insted of 2, they did this as per the ford factory techs advice. Then they aligned it after that. And yes it still has the free play.
I think if I enact the lemon law I should be able to get some money back insted of another truck, and the money back would help me in fixing the problem, that they seem to think is ok.
What im getting out of your statment is, that I dont stand a chance.

Jeff

 

Jeff,

I don't follow you on the wheel movement. If you have the backing of the service manager this will help. I've been told once the field service rep. makes a determination the dealer will stick with that. If you invoke the lemon law then they would buy the truck back, but alot depends on the state laws. Here is a number at Ford Corporate Headquarters to try. 1-800 862-8183. See if they can do their best to fix it then ask them for an ESP warranty. I had problems with the cab mounts on my 2000 and they fixed it and gave me a 5yr/75k mile ESP.

 

The wheel movment was explained to me like this,

Take a straight line across the road, when you drive over it the 2 front wheels come in contact with the line first, then the 2 rear wheels, that would be the 2 points of contact.
Now take 1 of the front wheels and move it forward a fraction, and drive over the line again. You will now have the lead front wheel come in contact first, then the 2nd front wheel contact the line, then the rear wheels. That is the 3 points of contact.
That is what the feild rep told the dealership to do. !!!
I have already contacted ford before, but hay I will try again.

Im just curios if anyone out there has had this problem with their X, and did your dealership fix the problem??
Or did you have to go through Ford, the lemon law, What was your outcome???

I do hope that it can be worked out, because I have already done some things to my X, and im satisfied with the looks etc, even though I would rather be finding bigger tires and other things than trying to get the freeplay in the steering wheel corrected.

Jeff

 

Ford TSB 01-3-2

ISSUE:
Some vehicles may exhibit stiff steering, wandering, or poor returnability after turns. This may be caused by alignment, steering gear meshload, or a lower knuckle ball joint that becomes sticky and degrades steering returnability.

ACTION:
Check alignment and check steering gear meshload or install greaseable ball joint and lube every 8000 kilometers (5000 miles) or at every oil change (whichever comes first). Refer to the following Service Procedure for details.