After reading all the steering wheel complaints, I'm beginning to think that there are two different steering wheel problems. I think many of you are having a vibration at higher speeds. But I, on the other hand, have what feels and sounds like rubbing near where the steering wheel attaches to the column. It does it when I turn the wheel between the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions. And it does it from 0 to any speed. I can make it happen while stopped. There are a couple service bulletins out about steering, on the NHTSA website. Mainly on the higher speed problem. But I'm curious if anyone else is having the same rubbing problem that I'm having.

 

Mine had such a rubbing sound/feel early on. Matter of fact, I was thinking about this on the way home from work this morning. I was aware of it during the first, oh, 1000 miles or so. But now, with the truck at 7200 miles, I'm not getting any more rubbing sounds or feels. Matter of fact, my high speed vibration is also greatly reduced. I'm starting to suspect break-in issues.

 

Well, it didn't do it in the very beginning. It started about a week into ownership. Then it went away. Then on Thanksgiving it started up again. It was going strong every day up until this week. I still feel it a bit, but I'm not "noticing" it as much. I don't know if it's really subsiding or if I'm just getting used to it.

 

Look in your engine bay, the way one of the wire/cord clusters sits, there is a small bit of plastic that may rub. Easily zip-tied out of the way.

 

Had the rubbing at 11-1 o'clock positions. Started about 200 miles, took it to dealer at 400 miles. They even took the steering wheel off and ran it. They finally called Ford hotline. Told them to replace steering rack assembly. Had it delivered overnight.
Problem fixed. Now have 1900 miles and no problem. I did see a message about a serbice bulletin and early steering rack problems.

 

That's what I'm looking for. Some good hard evidence of what the problem is. After all the posts, I kind of figured the vibrating everyone was talking about was different from my problem. Thanks.

 

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Article No.
03-20-8 STEERING - STEERING WHEEL NIBBLE AT OR ABOVE 100 KM/H (60 MPH) - VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 8/20/2003
VIBRATION - STEERING WHEEL NIBBLE AT OR ABOVE 100 KM/H (60 MPH) - VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 8/20/2003

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

FORD: 2004 F-150


ISSUE:
Some F-150 vehicles built prior to 8/20/2003, may exhibit a Steering Wheel Shimmy/Nibble at 100 km/h (60 MPH) and greater speeds. The condition is felt in the steering wheel as a side-to-side, or rotational, oscillation. When measured (sensor on steering wheel) with an Electronic Vibration Analyzer (EVA), the measured frequency is between 12-16 Hz.

ACTION:
To service, it may be necessary to replace the Steering Gear. Refer to the following Service Procedure.

SERVICE PROCEDURE
NOTE: BEFORE BEGINNING THIS PROCEDURE, ENSURE THAT THE TIRES DO NOT HAVE FLAT SPOTS. IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR UP TO 30 MILES TO ELIMINATE THIS CONDITION.



NOTE: FOR 4X2 VEHICLES GO DIRECTLY TO STEP 2.



Check the Integrated Wheel End (IWE) on 4x4 units. Raise the front of the vehicle (wheels off the ground), engine running, vehicle in 2WD mode. The front half shafts should not turn when wheels are rotated by hand. If the IWE is functioning correctly proceed to Step 2. If not, refer to the Workshop Manual section 308-07 to repair IWE first. Then proceed to Step 2.
If road force measurement equipment (Hunter GSP9700/9712, or equivalent) is available, proceed to Step 3. If not, mark the original tire/wheel location on each tire. (i.e. LF, LR, RF, RR) and remove from the vehicle. Check wheel balance, and re-balance as required to achieve a less than 0.25 oz (7g) of imbalance. Reinstall wheels and test drive vehicle. If the condition is corrected return the vehicle to the customer. If not, re-seat the bead on all four tires re-balance as required and test drive vehicle. If the condition is corrected return the vehicle to the customer. If not, proceed to Step 5.
If road force measurement equipment is available (Hunter GSP9700/9712, or equivalent), measure the tire road force variation on all four tires, following the manufacturer's instructions and TSB 02-1-6. If any wheel assembly measures more than the values listed below for R1H or R2H then proceed to Step 4. If not proceed to Step 5.

Tire Type R1H R2H
P Metric Tires 26 lbs. 18 lbs.
LT Tires 39 lbs. 27 lbs.


Using the tire road force measurement machine, determine the low spot of the wheel run out. Match high point force variation on the tire with the low spot of wheel run out. Re-test the wheel assembly force variation. If the wheel assembly is now acceptable, rebalance and test drive vehicle. If the condition is corrected return the vehicle to the customer. If not, replace the tire and re-check, then rebalance and test drive vehicle. If the condition is corrected return the vehicle to the customer. If not, proceed to Step 5.
Swap tire/wheel assemblies from front to rear and left to right, re-evaluate the vehicle for every combination. If the condition is corrected return the vehicle to the customer. If not, proceed to Step 6.
Replace Steering Gear. Refer to the part application chart below.
NOTE: DO NOT REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR IF LATEST LEVEL IS ALREADY INSTALLED. THE LATEST LEVEL CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY A GREEN PAINT DOT ON THE BAR CODE LABEL LOCATED NEAR THE RIGHT SIDE BUSHING BRACKET, AND/OR BY THE FIRST 5 DIGITS OF THE SERIAL NUMBER ON THE BAR CODE LABEL. IF THE FIRST 5 DIGITS OF THE SERIAL NUMBER ARE GREATER THAN: 21003 ALL CREW CAB AND SUPER CAB EXCEPT 133" WHEEL BASE, OR 21603 ALL REGULAR CAB AND SUPER CAB WITH 133" WHEEL BASE, THE STEERING GEAR IS THE LATEST LEVEL.



PARTS APPLICATION CHART
Vehicles Part Number Part Name
Super Cab & SuperCrew 4x2 4L3Z-3504-AB Steering Gear
Super Cab & SuperCrew 4x4 4L3Z-3504-BB Steering Gear
Regular Cab 4x2 4L3Z-3504-CB Steering Gear
Regular Cab 4x4 4L3Z-3504-DB Steering Gear

 

I think I am finally getting this steering wheel looked at today. My two parts for the body, that were on backorder, finally came in. I didn't want to keep going back, so I'll get the body work + steering + and the first oil change, all taken care of in one shot. They'd better feel it this time. Last time they couldn't "verify my complaint." Once these get taken care of, I think I can start fully enjoying my truck. Not that I don't like it now. It's just that I'm irritated by the little annoyances. It's more like RichI's problem, rather than what 02RegularCab4x4 posted.

 

Finally got the sound & rubbing verified. It will be worked on Thursday. Tech said it sounds like a bushing. Well, ok. Fix the bushing.

 

Let me know what how it works out. I have the same problem in mine.

 

Annoying isn't it? I actually rode with the tech when he test drove it today. I told him before we even moved, to turn the wheel. Even told him where to place his hands. He felt and heard it. Then it continued when we drove. That's when I could pump him full of the possibilities I've heard on this forum. The service advisor didn't want to hear all that.

 

I've now had my wheels balanced four separate times trying to get at this vibration. Last time was last week, selling dealer, they said they rebalanced the wheels. One interesting thing is that every time I get the wheels balanced they change the number and locations of weights on the wheels. You'd think there'd be one balance location for any given wheel, but evidently different balance machine operators come to different conclusions.

In any case, I'm fairly certain now that this isn't a balance problem. I have another appt at the selling dealer tomorrow to recheck this problem. Hopefully they will start to get at it.

FWIW this is a very minor vibration. I could easily live with it, it is so minor. On a cheaper vehicle I probably would not pursue it much, on the theory that oftentimes it is better to live with a minor annoyance than to turn your vehicle over to "mechanics" who are likely to induce more problems in their attempts to fix one. And, if it isn't fixed this time, I will probably just ignore it from now on.

I've got a strong feeling this is being caused by the tires. The first time I had them balanced, the tech took me back and showed me the wheels turning on the balance jig, and you could easily see the lateral out-of-roundness of the tires. However, the Ford dealer told me the tires are within their spec, although a couple of them are "marginal." My feeling is that a near-$40k truck shouldn't have "marginal" tires on it from the factory, but apparently Ford dealers feel otherwise.

Not that this is surprising to me. I realize that they are hoping I will just go away with this complaint. They get a vehicle in that is complaining about vibration, and I'm pretty sure they don't even take it out for a test drive....just turn it over to the apprentice mechanic and let him practice his balancing skills. It is aggravating.

 

Just in case you were wondering JDaddy, my service date was pushed back to Tuesday the 13th, so the diagnosis will be next week.

 

I took my truck in to the dealer on Tuesday this week for the vibration problem, as well as two other problems left over from a visit to the dealer shop last week for the same problems.

Amazingly, it appears that they finally got ahold of the vibration problem. I showed them a copy of the TSB. They checked the steering rack. Mine was built on 20 August 03, which evidently is the cutoff point in production of the bad racks from the good, and according to the tech mine has the good rack. They rebalanced the wheels. Now the vibration is gone. Since getting the truck back on Thursday, I've driven about 300 miles, most of it 75 and above, with a nice smooth steering wheel. I am shocked that the previous *FOUR* balancings were done incorrectly, but this fifth one fixed the vibes. You'd think that with the machines, the same wheel would balance the same way every time, but I guess there is enough human intercession with the machine that errors are possible. I'm going to start being very careful who I give the truck to for balancings.

This tells me that this steering system is very sensitive to proper balance. It could very well be that those who are having the vibration may simply have wheels that are not well-enough balanced.

 

The dealer balanced mine twice, replaced the steering gear and front hubs. Even had the tires rotated and balanced by a shop I've used for several years. I still have the vibration. A Ford engineer will be at the dealership the week of the 19th so we'll see what he comes up with.