Shortly after buying my F150 last September I realized that the steering column wasn't tilting or telescoping smoothly. Thinking it would be a pretty simple fix, I took it to the dealership, who determined that the entire steering column needed to be replaced.

The steering wheel now tilts and telescopes correctly. However, since the steering column was replaced, the wheel has been making creaking noises during turns. These noises are intermittent and the dealership has had a hard time replicating them. But I've now managed to capture it on video a couple of times.

Here is one of the videos. Turn up the volume and tell me what you think is causing this noise: F150 Steering Wheel Noise (YouTube)

 

Seems everyone here is as stumped as the dealership. I guess I'll give them another chance to fix it. Hopefully the third time's a charm.

 

Having replaced 2 now on Fords you noise would indicate clock spring

 

Mine recently started making the exact same noise. Is it possible to replace the clock spring without the whole steering column?

 

Yes, it is, which is why it's so frustrating that the dealership didn't go ahead and swap out the clock spring one of the two times that I already brought the truck in for this issue.

 

Ford warranty will not pay for the repair, unless the dealership can find a fault.
They can't just throw parts at it and hope it fixes it.

 

They did find fault, they just weren't 100% certain what was causing it, so they sprayed some lube into the clock spring and called it good. Obviously that didn't work.

 

I have a lead on this problem. A poster on another F150 forum had the exact same problem and thought it was the clock spring.

Eventually, his dealership figured out it was the intermediate shaft. The sound in his video is identical to mine. I'll have my dealership look at the intermediate shaft next time I visit and post an update here.

Here's another video in case anyone else has this problem:

 

Just want to update this thread to say that the problem was not the clock spring. Rather, as you can see in this post, the intermediate shaft sleeve had a broken needle bearing cage: https://www.f150forum.com/f118/witho...4/#post4649578

 

Thanks for the info. Might save a lot of headache.