Ford Excursion :: 2001 - Sloppy Steering Wheel At 185k Miles?
Apr 18, 2014
I have an 01 Ex, 6"lift, 35" tires, 185,000 miles. I have gradually gotten to this point where the steering is very loose. I can roll the steering wheel back and forth with out "catching" the wheels & with the bigger tires, they catch grooves in the road & pull the vehicle side to side. I took in to a reputable 4x4 shop & he suggested the steering gear box was going bad. So I had them replace that. That did solve about 50% of the problem. So what is the next thing to look at??? Ball joints?
View 12 Replies
Advertisement
I am the original owner of a 2001 Ford Excursion with about 262K miles on it. I have thought about selling it more than once but I have finally come to realize that this is a very sturdy and reliable truck - so why sell it?
With that said, there are a few items that I need to address. The most important right now for me is to get the steering adjusted some how to eliminate the looseness. It is especially noticeable when driving on the interstate, I guess because I am traveling faster.
I am not a skilled mechanic but I do want to learn more about performing some of the simpler maintenance items since I have lost faith in the auto repair shops.
View 10 Replies
just bought this f250 seems to walk on the road alot, had it looked at has new balljoints, he says everything seems tight except there is lots of play at the gearbox, is it recommended to have it rebuilt or buy a reman, was told that even the reman seems to be the same way
View 14 Replies
We have recently had an intermittent problem where, when I put the truck in drive after backing out of a parking spot, the truck lurches forward and then stalls. Then, when I put it in neutral and fire it back up and put it back in drive, it charges forward, and I'm hardly able to hold it with the brakes. But then, when I put it into park and turn it off and turn it back on, it's fine.
It seems as though the torque converter is locking up when I put it in drive after backing up. The truck went to the dealer for diagnostic of an unrelated issue, and they said that it happened to them as well. They believe the trans is on it's way out, but it didn't throw any codes, although they remarked that they fluid smelled burnt, even thought it was changed about 7k miles ago. It's a 2003 F250 with a 7.3 and a 4R100, 185k miles.
View 9 Replies
I just drove a car I'm looking to buy and the steering wheel was pretty loose. Not jerky, just sloppy.
I can tell it needs an alignment, but what could I be looking at in order to tighten it up?
I've learned that front ends can get pricey pretty quick.
View 19 Replies
My 2003 Sante Fe (3.5L) steering wheel twitches right and left when driving. On hot days its much less than colder days. The drivers side tire is worn on the inside much more than the outside of the tire. The brake rotor towards its outside is silver, perhaps half an inch. The rest of the rotor towards the inner hub has a little surface rust on it as though the pads are not fully grabbing. The car has 45,000 miles on it.
View 1 Replies
Basically when I'm coming into my driveway (I turn to the right into it) I hit with the right front first and get this shuddering sound accompanied by a sloppy feeling in the steering wheel.
Sounds like the old door stop Springs. I sometimes get it as well when hitting bumps with either side at a time but not when hitting speed bumps or bumps where both wheels hit at the same time.
Went to the dealership but they couldn't reproduce it on the newly built read that's as smooth as glass.....
View 1 Replies
1997 Rav4 with 185k miles burns some oil. I replaced the PCV valve thinking that may be the issue. That seemed to stop the visible smoke at a cold startup but alas, the problem still persists. We bought the car for a song at 180k so I don't feel I'm out much. The previous owner took incredible care of the car so it is solid in most areas.
I did learn the previous owner followed a dealer recommend oil change interval and changed the filter with every other oil change so this may explain some things.
My real question, if the engine does need a refresh, what is the best option? I've not at all afraid of tackling a major overhaul myself and, in the past, have had pretty good luck with aftermarket rebuilt short blocks. But that was years ago. The dealer cost for a crate motor is outrageous and not justified for a '97 anyway. So at this point, I'm just looking for some advice from others who may have been down this road. Again, the rest of the car is solid and we don't have much money in it at this point so would like to keep it as our 'second' car for awhile.
View 30 Replies
got an issue with my 01 excursion. When driving the steering wheel with vibrate or shimmy. As in if the rotor maybe warped or tire has a small bubble in it. Here is the kicker. It does not do it all the time. Some times I can drive it and it drives just as smooth as can be and I can go all the way to town and back. Then sometimes I can drive it to town and either turn a curve or hit a bump and then it will start doing it. Then I will come back home. Then the next time i jump in it and start driving down the road and it is just fine. I just had the brakes and rotors were just changed.
View 6 Replies
I've been experiencing the ever so popular sloppy shifter lever in my 02 excursion. So naturally I started prowling around the site looking for answers to my issues. I have ensured both of the torx bolts are present and tight at the end of the shift tube on the bracket that connects to the shifter cable and have replaced the shift tube (It was worn out) and it worked great but has not completely fixed the issue so today I crawled underneath the truck to try and adjust the shift cable and have found that the detent in the shift linkage from the gear position sensor that runs to the shift mechanism (not sure what it's called) that is inside the transmission is really nonexistent, it is effortless to move it from P to R but from R to N is good and stiff like it should be but from N to D and D to 2 is effortless. I have zero experience with what creates the detent inside of the transmission and looking for a link or pictures or write up something that I can look over and attempt to educate myself on before I dive in to this blind....
View 14 Replies
In 30 years of wrenching on cars, I've never encountered this problem. Replaced the pads and left rotor. Rotor is typical Chinese rotor. While there, replaced the wheel bearings. Also knocked out the races (with a brass drift) and replaced the races with the ones that came with the new wheel bearings. The bearings are NAPA bearings. Packed the wheel bearings just like always.
Applied some grease just like always on the spindle. Put it all back together. Tightened the wheel bearing nut while rotating the rotor in the opposite direction. Went to maybe 10 ft lbs. Backed the nut off, set it firm finger tight. Installed the cotter pin. Got a whole bunch of sloppiness in the wheel bearings. I can feel a LOT of it when rotating from the 6 o clock and 12 o clock position. What did I miss? NEVER had this happen before. 2002 f 150 2wd
View 3 Replies
I have a 2002 ford f350 sd crew cab, i have changed the front and rear brakes, since then the steering has gotten sloppy. I was driving around 30-40mph and making a sweeping right turn and the front end was wobbly at a low speed it is fine and on a left turn it is fine. It feels like it is the drivers side tire that is the problem. I have to change the tie rod that is attached to the pitman arm. I don't want to bring it to a shop.
View 7 Replies
Brought my 2011 Limited (6.2 so old school hydraulic power steering) in for its 45K service, and they found a weeping high pressure line. $100 special order part + 3 hours labor. This seems a little soon (to me) for PS components to be failing already, or is this a common repair? They said I could leave it alone for now and monitor it but could lose power steering while driving (safety risk).
Any history of high pressure power steering line leaks at such low mileage/age before? Does 3 hours labor sound about right?
View 5 Replies
I replaced my steering gearbox with a remanufactured oem gearbox (no, not the redhead. I wish I'd had the extra money but I didn't.) I replaced the factory sway bar (1.25" diameter) with the Excursion sway bar that came on my axle (1.4" diameter) along with polyurethane bushings and greaseable end links. I replaced wheel bearings, ball joints, track bar bushings, tierods (ends, sleeves, the whole nine yards). Literally everything from the gearbox down, besides the pitman arm, is brand new.
The next day I took it in and got it aligned at Goodyear. The steering is noticeably more responsive, but I still have 1-2" of play either way before I get a response. I'm skeptical about tightening the gearbox. I did that on the old one and it improved steering for a couple years, but this new one shouldn't require any tightening.
I have yet to install new steering stabilizers, but I can recognize bump steer versus this problem on a straight, smooth road. I'm sure the stabilizers won't change the 2 inches of play.
View 13 Replies
I am looking to swap the worn steering wheel in my Excursion. I would like a wood and leather like the Navigators have. Any tips on doing the swap?
View 14 Replies
Every time i run 50 miles per hour i feel shaking on my steering wheel..i did balance on my tire and alignment..still the same..
View 6 Replies
I'm stuck failing a vehicle inspection for the steering wheel not returning to center after a turn. It turns most of the way back but you definitely have to finish the job yourself. I've jacked it up and turn the wheel lock to lock with no bind at all, one finger, nice and smooth. I've replaced almost everything up front (ball joints, u-joints, bearings, drag link both ends, etc.).
Mechanic that did the inspection seems to think the steering gearbox and/or the power steering pump could be the source. I have only seen threads for loose/wandering steering (which is why I replaced everything up front already) pointing to the gearbox. I brought the state trooper in to verify it and he said while he wouldn't necessarily fail it, he can't override the mech's call because it does require assistance to straighten out.
View 14 Replies
We have the 6.8 4x4 2001. Mostly use it for towing 6K #. Bought 2 years ago. Front and rear brakes were new and all 4 rotors were machined at Ford dealership prior to purchase. Have put on 13,000 miles since then, majority towing.
View 14 Replies
I ordered a new factory steering wheel to replace mine, which is starting to get nasty. I know how to change the steering wheel but have never done it on one with an air bag. Is this a dealer only thing? What is the procedure?
View 11 Replies
On my way home from work I was turning a corner and felt a pop / clunk from the front end through the steering wheel, and the steering wheel was no longer centered going in a straight line.
With the truck not moving, when I turn the wheel left and right, I can hear and feel a pop / clunk through the steering wheel. I'm assuming this is a ball joint failure?
View 6 Replies
So I have a loose wire to my steering wheel controls. They don't light up anymore and when I smack the back of the wheel, they will light momentarily. Also, 2 of the radio buttons work intermittently. How do I access them?
View 8 Replies
