The Lincoln Dealership that does all of my warranty work is going to replace my steering shaft and rack due to the excessive highway shake that resonates through the shaft. Even after proper balancing and checking for out-of-round tires, the steering was still shaking at highway speeds and, surprisingly, the dealer recognized this and quickly ordered the new shaft and rack. Hopefully this will correct my issue, however, I have a few questions. Is this a major undertaking, to change out all this? Could other problems be caused by doing this major work? And is the steering gear located in any of these parts, or is that a completely separate part? I ask about the steering gear because a member of this forum said that the dealer replaced his shaft and steering gear to correct the shaking. So, is the steering gear a part of the shaft or rack? If this works, I will pass on the info so that you guys with the shimmy problem can take yours in as well. Thanks for your help ahead of time guys. K. Helms

 

Yes, please keep us updated as to whether it fixes the problem or not. I have that shimmy too, but I thought it was just from the oversized tires coupled with the grooved roads we have here in San Diego.

 

I don't want to ruin your day, but when I had the steering rack replaced on my 03, it did absolutely nothing to help with the wheel shimmy. The procedure was about 1 hour to do. I hope it helps with your truck.

 

That's exactly what the dealer said; the dealer said that replacing the shaft will only eliminate any play in the steering but the rack will more than likely correct the shimmy. He said to be sure, they would go ahead and replace both the shaft and rack since I'm so close to the end of my warranty. Since the new shaft did little, if anything, to correct your shimmy, hopefully the new rack will.

 

WOW deja vu. My 03 XLT had the shimmy at 72 MPH. They replaced the rack, steering, tires, alignment, shimmed the hubs. Ford finally replaced the truck with an 05. Started getting the shimmy in my 05 at 7K miles again. What year is yours. BTW they call it nibbling

 

Now that's what I call warranty service! They replaced the entire truck? I think I'll take mine in just to see what they say. I'd take a new truck!

 

It took 6 months of the truck being brought back and forth to the dealership which is 40 miles each way. They were professional though and treated me like it mattered.

 

Mine is an '03 Eddie Bauer. Oddly enough, the shimmy seems worse after getting the vehicle aligned and getting the tires rotated. Anyway, they said they needed to replace the steering shaft as well as the rack. I don't know, maybe it will fix it; if not, I don't know what to do as my warranty is within 800 miles of expiring. My dealer is also about 40 miles away so a trip there takes some planning; there's a dealer here but I wouldn't trust them with my Expedition as far as I can throw them; ya know what I mean? However, any other thoughts on this matter? What should I do if this doesn't work?

 

I have just found your forum, and am very glad I did!! I have an 01 supercrew, but I am in the process of purchasing an 03 Eddie Expy. I have taken it on a couple of highway rides, and told the dealer about that exact shimmy, and they are going to re-balence the tires. I guess that wont work. The Expy also is making an oil canning "ping pong" sound. It seems to come front the forward underside. Anyone heard of this??? BTW Great site you all have here... Thanks Keith

 

I wouldn't be scared. My '03 has been an excellent vehicle. It handles great and rides wonderfully. If I didn't do as much highway driving, I probably wouldn't be so irritated with the steering shimmy but I have to drive about 50-60 miles a day round trip to school and back so.....the shaking kinda gets old. But other than that, I love my Expedition. It has never failed me which is more than I can say for some other makes and models. I just hope getting this stuff replaced works; if not, I guess I'll have to get new tires and see if that corrects it. I have heard of people switching to michelins and having no problems at all. Anyway, good luck.

 

Try getting rid of the continental tires. Michelins did wonders for mine. And if it's been doing that for several thousand miles the shocks are probably shot.

 

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Thanks for the info, great thread. As, I just bought an 03 XLT Expy with the Conti tires and noticed the shimmy the first time on the hwy as well.

 

They replaced the steering shaft on my 03 EB and it partially cured the highway shake, I attributed the rest of the shake to the junk tires needing replacement. It has now been several weeks since this operation was performed, and to say that I am less than pleased would be an understatement. The truck has lost alignment badly (it will dart to the right the second you let go of the steering wheel), and going over any bumps in the road makes a shudder noise in the front end which can clearly be felt through the steering wheel. Almost as if the front end is falling apart!

This is the end of it for my dealer, they've broken more than they've fixed, I am going to push them to fix this problem once and for all, and out of their pockets, for I am not responisble for their shotty work. I'll post back in a few weeks to let you all know how its going.

Dan

 

Well, I just picked up my '03 Expy from the dealer and once on the highway around 70mph the shimmy/shaking of the steering wheel started again. I was so mad!!! So now that we know the steering shaft/rack wasn't causing the shimmy, could it be the tires? The dealer has checked all the tires numerous times to make sure that all of them were perfectly round. I just don't understand what could be making it shake like that. It is beyond me. I mean, if the alignment's good, the ENTIRE steering assembly was replaced, the tires are perfectly round.........then what in the world else could it be? One good thing that came out of all this was that my loaner was an '05 Mountaineer w/ leather, message center, third row....all the goodies...I really didn't want to return it. It drove and rode great and the V6 would even get up and go, though I would have prefered the initial leap forward that my Expy gives me. Anyways, that particular dealer also has a 2004 Mountaineer with leather, message center, third row seating, heated seats, V8!!! and 28,000 miles listed for $23,735. The highest trade-in value I have been offered for my '03 Eddie Bauer is about $22,500.......would getting out of the Expy be a bad decision to make? You guys give me your honest opinion.....I need some answers. 75% of my driving is highway....about 50-60 miles per day on the highway....so the shaking is going to annoy the crap out of me. Let me know what you guys think I should do with the Expy and what you think of the Mountaineer situation. Thanks a million. K. Helms