Loose steering wheel... and other questions
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Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19
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From: Hillsborough, NJ
Loose steering wheel... and other questions
Hi All - first post in several years...
I just picked up a 2009 F150 XLT Supercab 4x4 to replace my beloved '98 which was totaled by a careless driver running a red light. I noticed a few issues that I wanted to ask about.
1) The one that I'm most concerned about is the steering wheel. It feels loose. If I simply grab one side of it and push/pull, I feel it move a little - maybe a 16th of an inch or so. I don't think this is normal.
What would be the process to fix this? How to disable the airbag, remove the airbag, and tighten the column nut? I'm assuming this is what I have to do, but don't know how to deal with the airbag.
2) Another loose item is the interior rear view mirror. Feels like there's slop where the mirror mounts to the stem (just behind the mirror), not where it attaches to the glass. Any way to tighten this up?
3) A third loose item is the driver's side rear door. The bottom latch is not real tight causing a rattle. If I loosen the latch loop on the lower sill panel, can it be slid slightly inwards to tighten the door? What size Torx are those screws?
4) Lastly - the drivers side exterior sideview mirror seems like it can be folded in much, much easier than the passenger side. Does this indicate some problem and can it be tighted up?
Other than these issues, the truck seems very nice.
OK, one more question - I'm not crazy about the 235/70 R17 tires that are mounted on the stock machined aluminum 17" wheels. On my '98, I always ran the BFG All Terrain AT/KOs. I'd like to go to a same/similar tire in a larger size. What size tires will fit on this stock wheel and stock 4x4 suspension? 245, 255, or 265s in a 70 or 75 aspect ratio?
Thanks in advance for any info and help!
Alan
I just picked up a 2009 F150 XLT Supercab 4x4 to replace my beloved '98 which was totaled by a careless driver running a red light. I noticed a few issues that I wanted to ask about.
1) The one that I'm most concerned about is the steering wheel. It feels loose. If I simply grab one side of it and push/pull, I feel it move a little - maybe a 16th of an inch or so. I don't think this is normal.
What would be the process to fix this? How to disable the airbag, remove the airbag, and tighten the column nut? I'm assuming this is what I have to do, but don't know how to deal with the airbag.
2) Another loose item is the interior rear view mirror. Feels like there's slop where the mirror mounts to the stem (just behind the mirror), not where it attaches to the glass. Any way to tighten this up?
3) A third loose item is the driver's side rear door. The bottom latch is not real tight causing a rattle. If I loosen the latch loop on the lower sill panel, can it be slid slightly inwards to tighten the door? What size Torx are those screws?
4) Lastly - the drivers side exterior sideview mirror seems like it can be folded in much, much easier than the passenger side. Does this indicate some problem and can it be tighted up?
Other than these issues, the truck seems very nice.
OK, one more question - I'm not crazy about the 235/70 R17 tires that are mounted on the stock machined aluminum 17" wheels. On my '98, I always ran the BFG All Terrain AT/KOs. I'd like to go to a same/similar tire in a larger size. What size tires will fit on this stock wheel and stock 4x4 suspension? 245, 255, or 265s in a 70 or 75 aspect ratio?
Thanks in advance for any info and help!
Alan
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Hillsborough, NJ
A little follow up...
I found a good tip in this forum regarding the loose rear door. The felt pad installed in the dimple on the door sill did the trick to tighten up the rear door. No more rattle.
A little closer inspection on the rear view mirror confirmed that it is loose where the mirror slips over the tab on the windshield. There isn't a set screw like in the old days, so I'm not sure how to tighten this up. Ideas?
Also, still wondering it a little "looseness" is normal with the steering wheel. I suspect it's not, so I'd like to hear from other 09 owners. If its not normal, how would this get fixed?
Thanks again,
Alan
I found a good tip in this forum regarding the loose rear door. The felt pad installed in the dimple on the door sill did the trick to tighten up the rear door. No more rattle.
A little closer inspection on the rear view mirror confirmed that it is loose where the mirror slips over the tab on the windshield. There isn't a set screw like in the old days, so I'm not sure how to tighten this up. Ideas?
Also, still wondering it a little "looseness" is normal with the steering wheel. I suspect it's not, so I'd like to hear from other 09 owners. If its not normal, how would this get fixed?
Thanks again,
Alan