hh928

I went to install a set of tire chains and find that they don't really clear the emergency brake housing coming from the left rear wheel hub and rub. Obviously, the cable housing is routed too close to the tire. This is a low-mile 2006 F-150 that's never been messed with. Any ideas on how to alleviate this problem? Surely Ford didn't design a pickup with a flaw like this. The housing is really tight in place and doesn't move.

While on a trip, I had the Ford dealership in Billings, MT take a look at it and they just scratched their head and said to make an appointment for a mechanic to look at it.

Thanks,

HH928

jmmec

Your owner's manual has a chapter titled "Chains" with various information. For the 2006 F150, you'll see the following "Note", so if you have one of the listed tire sizes, then you should be using cables instead of chains:

Note: Do not place chains on the following tires sizes: P265/60R18, P275/65R18, LT275/65R18, P275/55R20, and P275/45R22.

maxpat82

where do you live to need chain?

the only place I remember seeing chain on a car is in Rocky4 on the mercedes in snow in russia.

We have our share of snow in quebec..and nobody run with chain.

Even in all tv show in alaska..nobody have chain..except some truck and ony the climb big hill while heavy loaded. :|

hh928

In Idaho's outback mountain roads, without chains, you're screwed. You have to have deep bite.

H

hh928

I'm running P235/70R17s

H

maxpat82

ok then in non-plowed road maybe.

jmmec

Hmm... I have LT265/70R17s on my 99 Expedition 4x4, and I've not had any problems using these chains at the website below - I have two sets, so I can put them on all 4 tires:

http://scc-chain.com/Traction%20Pages/Trac_WS.html

I'm not a tire expert, but your tires have 6.4" sidewall (compared to my 7.2" sidewalls), and maybe you'd have better luck with chains from a different manufacturer? Hopefully your chains are rated "S" clearance?

I dunno what else to suggest...

hh928

Thanks for the chain information and the link. Good info. BTW, chaining up all four tires is the only way you can turn a truck into a beast that will go about anywhere in the boonies. If you only chain up two wheels, I find it best to chain up the front ones (on a 4WD obviously).


I have two sets of chains...one really heavy duty set with big lugs left over from my old Chevy 4-WD 3/4 ton that would go just about anywhere. There was no stopping it. These chains won't fit my Ford F-150. Clearance issues.

I bought another "sissy" set of chains that will fit the F-150 but ONLY if I pull back and tie the emergency brake tube housing out of the way of trhe rotating chain. It barely works that way but did get me out of a tough spot when I got stuck on an off-road (unplowed with mud base).

Either it's poor and unacceptable design engineering on Ford's part or I have a truck with a defective install of that part.

Apparently, others have not had this issue but you wouldn't know until you went to install chains. Some ranchers around here leave chains on some of their work pickups much of the winter.

My guess is that most F-150s don't see rough duty work and were not really designed for such. Lots of F-150s never leave the pavement.

HH928