supra22v

I would say the people without the leveling kit and are having issues probably have something wrong with their truck. I don't know what an EPAS system is, nor do I care to research it. All I can add to this conversation is my truck made a clunking/rattling noise with the leveling kit installed and since it was removed the sound is gone. Take that for what it's worth.

2013SCREW

Please, do some research. You will find that many people like myself have had bad steering racks (EPAS). And it had nothing to do with level kits.

samb36

Still doesn't mean or prove that your level kit caused the clunk/ rattle. EPAS is what this whole forum is directly related to. You can definitely tell you don't care to research what EPAS is and how there are 186 pages directly related to it. The people without leveling kits probably have something wrong with their trucks? I think you are definitely right there, possibly a defective EPAS system that ford has been installing in their f 150 from 2011 on? Maybe, but ford is sure making it difficult for their customer to receive resolution regarding the whole pop/ knock feel... partially because some people have level kits... and some don't (The fact that some do have level kits and some don't right there should rule out that a level kit causes the EPAS to fail) simple logic.

Nevint

^^^ I like that one. Scientific process at work right there.

Some smokers get lung cancer, but there are also non-smokers that get lung cancer. Therefore, smoking is not the cause of lung cancer. Simple logic!

HCFX2013

If your steering clunks when you have the leveling kit installed, but it goes away when you remove it, you don't have the EPAS knock. You just don't.

The EPAS issue happens whether your truck is leveled or not. Your issue is related to the shock tower/strut. Maybe a loose bolt.

Combat vet

In March of 2013 my EPAS was replaced because of the knock. At that time I was able to actually speak with Ford employees at the Dearborn plant regarding the EPAS issue. They viewed a video that I posted on You Tube, and immediately gave approval for a rack replacement. My dealer did an excellent job on the R&R of the rack and the lower steering shaft. My truck is bone stock, and the replacement rack/steering shaft is performing great. IF a guy has a leveling kit, IMO, it will exacerbate the knock in a rack that is on the edge. If the truck is returned to stock, and the knock disappears, it WILL reappear with time and mileage. Though the EPAS has had several part number changes, and it is not yet "mil-spec" so to speak. Nexteer outsources this rack to China and the QC is marginal at best...some are ok, some not. The big disappointment in all of this, is the fact that Ford has not issued any type of technical service bulletins to their dealers. It ain't right!

Killav-TT

This is EXACTLY what happened to my 2011 XLT Supercrew. I installed the level kit. About 10k miles later, I started to get the dreaded steering knock on the road going over bridge expansion joints/cracks/pot holes/bumps in the road.

I had 35k on the truck, and yanked the level kit hoping to get a new rack. Well, the knock was gone. I took it to the dealer anyway, because you COULD still hear the knock if you sawed the wheel back and forth with the truck off. No luck. Denied. Tech said they couldn't feel anything.

Fast forward FOUR THOUSAND MORE MILES, 36k bumper to bumper is gone, no extended warranty, and the clunk starts creeping back. I was pissed.

I traded that sucker in, and my 2013 (never leveled) is still nice and tight and clunk free at 22k. This time, I have a 100k warranty purchased when I bought the new truck. We will see if 35k brings any misfortune.

supra22v

You are absolutely right when you say I don't care to research it, perhaps I should have thought about my issues and read through 186 pages of posts, accurately assessing each one and breaking down the possible causes of each persons issue before posting on here. Perhaps next time I will adhere to 'simple logic' as you put it. You are obviously having quite a headache with Ford, I feel your pain as they have given me the run around too...


At the end of the day, my leveling kit may not be the cause of my clunking issues and you may be right that it is the EPAS system....time will tell I guess. But like I sad before, my truck had issues with the leveling kit installed and has been fine since it was removed.


I should maybe clarify that the dealer installed the leveling kit prior to me taking ownership of the truck.....it was an option that I negotiated into the deal. I drove it for 1200kms before I started to hear the clunking sound. I purchased my truck in a separate city from where I live so all my warranty work has not been at my original dealer....this led to even more problems for me.


The dealer I took the truck to for the clunking sounds saw it had a leveling kit and immediately dismissed the sound as being cause by the leveling kit. They also told me its not a warranty issue because it's an after market part. After going back and forth trying to get them to understand that Ford installed this part they referred me back to my original dealer to have work done related to the leveling kit. I went back to my original dealer to have the kit removed and after speaking with a number of their service techs they all told me about a number of trucks having this same issue. All of them had leveling kits installed. Is this Ford's way of quickly dismissing a larger problem with the EPAS system? Perhaps, and maybe I will find out as I get more Kms on my truck. But for now, using simple logic, once my leveling kit was removed all my clunking issues have gone away. Does this mean or prove that my leveling kit caused the issue? At this point it would appear that it does....but time will tell. I have 11000k on my truck so maybe my EPAS will start acting up as I get more kms. Or maybe we are talking about 2 separate issues here....1 with the leveling kit and 1 with the EPAS system?

Combat vet

I have taken the time to read EVERY posting, and there is one common issue: the "clunk" or "knock" that can be felt in the steering wheel. There are, however, numerous conditions that causes the EPAS to elicit the knock. Those conditions are: cold weather, hot weather, OR the installation of a leveling kit.
Ford's dealers are all over the map on this issue, and yes, some will blame modifications. Ford needs to step up and issue a service bulletin, and accept responsibility for a steering system that is junk and not performing to industry standards.

ranken

I had the steering wheel pop when turning left especially after coming to a stop. The dealer replaced the steering column and it went away. Wish it had happened under warranty. Lesson learned, even with a Ford, always buy the extended warranty.