05 Expy handling
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
05 Expy handling
Received my new 05 EB EXPY about 2 weeks ago. We took a 3,000 mile road trip from FL to PA to IN back to FL. I drove through snow, ice, and plenty of rain. I love the 05 but something bothered me. I don't know if it was the wind, road, or what... But it seemed to be wandering around the road. In the rain, I really had a hard time. Above 60mph either the steering is too sensitive, or something is causing the vehicle to wander. Is it the wind moving the large vehicle around? I don't remember my 04 doing it, but I never got a chance to really drive it! My wife drove it more than me... The road trip gave me some windshield time.
Thanks,
Joe
Thanks,
Joe
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
I have an '03 Eddie Bauer and it tracks very straight and, living in the Southeast, I have had my share of absolutely horrible driving weather and have felt very good about driving my Expy, just blows right along without giving me any scares. But yes, I do feel the wind when driving, but only when it's really whipping around; it still is MUCH less than what I felt in my '99 Tahoe I had before. As to your situation, perhaps the wind was just blowing really badly, or hitting you are just the right angle to completely throw off the aerodynamics to create the wandering sensation.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Washingtonville, NY
Wandering
I have a similar problem with the winds and turns. It always seems the trucks rear end is going to fishtail on turns at any speed. It wanders in high winds but i attribute that to its size. My 03 had the same problem until the Ford district manager had the wheels aligned and the hubs adjusted. I'm going to try and get Ford to do it again.This truck still handles better than the 03 
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
At 31,000 miles, I haven't had my '03 aligned yet, so I think it may need it. Will having it aligned, even if it's just a millimeter, make a big difference in driving? And do you have to hit many bumps, or one large pothole, to make the alignment off? Or does the alignment just get off over time?
Last edited by khelms_98; Apr 3, 2005 at 07:13 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
My neighbor who is a mechanic for a GM dealership said the alignment might be off too. He said too much toe out could cause the tires to work against each other, especially, at higher speeds when there is more centrifigal force...
Joe
Joe
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
I just had my alignment checked on my '03 today and I had one of the rear wheels with too much toe causing the whole truck to drift to the left a little, not a lot, but I had to keep a small amount of pressue on the wheel for it to stay completely straight. The front was perfect but one of the rear wheels was off. Got it corrected and now all is well, drives like a new one.
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I had similar issues with my 05’ Expy with and without the wind but I eventually got used to it. My wife said the same thing when she started to drive it for the first time. You just have to make smaller corrections when steering and eventually you learn how to drive it. Speed sensitive steering would make things better.
Trending Topics
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, CA
I would check the tires. Are you running the stock conti's? I have no issue with my 05' with toyo open country's on. I got them on the way home from the dealer. The Conti's that came on my XLT were definately crap.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
I agree, now that I had an alignment done, my '03 Eddie Bauer drives like brand new, straight as an arrow and I can barely feel the wind; a lot different than my '99 Tahoe where the slightest bit of wind would blow me all over the road.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Privateer
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
6
May 1, 2005 03:37 AM
stein78
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
8
May 5, 2004 01:33 AM