mtlando

New rack installed. Much tighter steering (no dead spot on center) and no popping at all. Couple hundred miles on it so far. Old rack had a bar code with part number. New rack does not have any stamping or stickers that I can see. The dealer balked a little on installing the rack once it came in as my old rack was not throwing any codes to the computer. They wanted to try the tire rotation/balance method. After some tense negotiations, they installed it. I still firmly believe this is a rack problem. My truck is perfect now. I was not worried my old rack was unsafe, I just think Ford and supplier have some loose tolerances which suck for the customer if you are unlucky enough to get one. Will update again in a month or so.

eyecandynsx

So a new lower steering shaft didnt make any difference whatsoever. Has anyone swapped out the EPAS themselves (if they were out of warranty)?

Lambo13

mtlando: Was your rack replaced under Ford warranty or extended warranty?

elfiero

My Stealership gave me the shaft(lower, steering) and that seems to have cured the problem(for now...). I thinking this truck will most likely need another one in a couple years, as it is a p_ss poor design. It runs SO close to the exhuast, failure is almost a given. That being said, I still love the truck.

mtlando

My rack was replaced under warranty by the selling dealer. My 2014 was perfect off the lot when new, purchased Feb of 2015. Around 300-500 miles I started to notice single 'pops' in the wheel. By 1200 miles it had become fairly common. I lived with it until 6500 miles until the first of August. It was still getting worse. The steering wheel had developed a 'dead spot' on perfect center probably 1/4 inch to 1/3 inch total movement where you could tell nothing in the rack was moving. I believe that was related to the popping. Simply something too loose in the rack. The steering shafts were all perfectly tight. The input shaft on the rack rattled by hand like you see in youtube videos. The popping did make some noise of particularly bumping roads, and by August I had a day off and decided to take it in not expecting much from Ford. The rack did have an E-series part number sticker on it.


The 'service writer' person in the service lane did not take me seriously and immediately started making excuses like I (40 years old) had no idea how vehicles are supposed to drive. The service manager just happened to be walking thru the lane, so service writer asked manager to go for ride. Took about 20 minute ride, manager saying nothing he could do, racks more sensitive today, blah blah. I finally said there's no was Ford engineered the rack to have that feedback and that if it had done it when new, I (nor no one for sure) would buy the vehicle. He became quiet. Back at the lot, they brought another new one out we drove and demonstrated it DID NOT pop like mine and after 30 more minutes of looking confused, he announced they would order and install a new rack. I really didn't fight too much, just literally stood around and kept pointing out that the new one did not do it. (nor one with 60000 miles parked there too) Manager finally recognized the dead spot and that something was wrong.


However, fast forward 10 days now, and rack is in. I take truck to dealer. Manager on vacation. Foreman calls me wondering what's wrong with my truck. He drove it, spent a day rotating/balancing tires and pronounced it good to go. Said it drove like new truck. I asked if tires were defective, he said quietly "no, still in spec." I said sure, cause its not a tire problem and that the manager had acknowledged problem and ordered rack. I want it installed. Foreman said original rack not throwing any codes, Ford warranty would not reimburse them. I said not my problem, better call manager. He got mad, hung up. service writer boy called again said nothing wrong with first rack, but manager had promised so they would install and figure out how to pay for it later. Fine. Picked up truck, fearful it would be messed up, the next day. All is as it should be. Tight like new. Now has 7300 miles. Not a single pop. No dead spot. I consider myself lucky. I'm not sure what if anything I was prepared to do to get it fixed. I wasn't worried about safety. My wife drove it and couldn't really tell a problem. But she doesn't drive it daily and rarely pays attention to whats going on.


I had a 2015 for a loaner. I did not pop, but I'm not confident there's some 15's out there that won't. I could very faintly feel something down in there. Just a question of whether it would ever loosen up.


Good luck to who is ever still fighting this fight.

kobi2013

I have a 2013 with 6000 miles and has the popping. I work at a Ford Dealer, one of the bigger stores in St Louis. I asked around and no Techs or Advisors even heard of this concern. Sent a note to the Tech Hotline and they seemed to be unaware of the issue. I even spoke to our Field Service Engineer yesterday, he had not heard of the issue. Ford requires an approval code for the rack to be replaced. I suspect if enough people bring the concern to the Dealer, Ford will investigate and come up with a revised part. I think it is in the rack too. Reading these posts, some have had more than one to finally solve the issue. Recently, racks have repaired the concern on the first try. Waiting Patiently!

winchested

I think someone is lieing to you. There is no way a field engineer has never heard of this oh so common issue after 4 model years with those racks installed.

eyecandynsx

$1455 later and my steering rack was replaced (and alignment done) Feels nice and tight, like it should. I am testing it out though with a 1200 mile round trip to SC. So we shall see...

tomasulo

I agree. There's no way the Dealers have never heard of this issue.

Mark_883

This is a joke going on 3 years no recall or anything . Customer service is a joke , service managers have no idea what they are talking about !! They make excuses like the truck was designed that way ! Truck makes a pop everytime in reverse along with the annoying popping in the rack . 3 racks and still the same problem ! If i wanted chinese parts i would have bought a toyota !!! Ford dropped the ball on this one