I haven't noticed this topic here yet, but if you're going to do work on the front suspension or steering on a 2011 F150 with EPAS (all except the 6.2's) be sure to deactivate the electronics to the steering rack or you will be paying dearly for Ford's screw up. The text below is directly from the Ford service manual for the 11's.

"Disconnect the negative battery cable anytime the steering gear is being serviced or damage to the steering gear internal power relay may occur resulting in steering gear replacement."

Apparently a number of Leveling Kit manufacturer's have already updated their install instructions to comment about this. Some unfortunate 11 owners have screwed themselves by knocking the tie rod ends off with a hammer (common practice) only to find they F'd up the rack big time.

If I am repeating old news, sorry, but I for one am really annoyed by Ford's poor choice in design on the 11. If a hammer can do serious damage to the steering what's some rough offroading going to do???

 

interesting to see.. so i wonder how many will be replaced due to auto accidents or say maybe you slide sideways in the snow and strike a curb?

 

This one design change has killed my ability to put a plow on my 11. Granted folks here don't think it's a good idea anyway, but I've have very few problems plowing with my previous half tons. And my 11 would have been the next one to take my Fisher. Which I now have to sell... Thanks Ford... oh well...

 

That is the least of our problems with this new EPAS rack. Main problem is that it has a flaw. After about 1600 miles or so the rack/gear pops and rattles when going over small bumps. DON'T buy 2011 greater F150 with EPAS. Ford needs to fix this issue.

 

Do all the 11+ trucks have EPAS?

Edit:
N/M answered in first post. Reading Fail.

New question:
Has anyone who leveled their truck damaged their EPAS at some point after the leveling kit install (meaning not install related), gone in for repair and been denied warranty coverage due to having the leveling kit?

 

I've had an 11' FX4 150 for almost a year and a half now, 20,000 miles, and never had a steering issue. I've run it offroad, on rough terrain and rough dirt roads. Never had any issues.

 

Yeah, I have an 11 FX4 with almost 10K and have never noticed any noises from my suspension. ( My passenger seat has an awful annoying squeak on back roads but thats the only complaint.) I drive rural bumpy roads to Interstate probably a 50/50 mix. I have thought the steering to be super nice so far. I will have to watch and listen for this. Thanks for the heads up!

 

There are probably a million items on ANY vehicle that can be damaged with a hammer... this is hardly a real test of an item...

... and just because you could do it on the old design does not make it the proper way to do it...

 

This wernst guy is killing me. There IS a flaw. DON'T buy a 2011+ F-150. Please dude, just because you have a problem, and have read of others, doesn't mean there is a flaw on every 2011+ F-150. I, for one, and many others on this site have proven you wrong. Over a year, 20,000 miles, 35" tires, leveling kits, offroading...all things done with no problems from several users. Quick crying wolf, because some idiots will actually not buy a new F-150 because of your "professional opinion"

 

oh really.

sheesh

 

Lol. My opinion that there is a flaw is as valid as your opinion that there is not. Something is going wrong with a great number of gears. Call it a flaw or defect. I don't care. If you don't have it consider yourself lucky.

 

give it a rest, you already started your own topic, we get it. Please don't crap on everybody's thread about your problem

 

My 2011 FX4 has slop in the steering - that you describe.

Easiest way to feel it is to shut the truck off and wiggle the wheel. There is play, knock, etc...

The same play comes out when driving down the highway or around turns where the assist part of "electronic assist" starts to oscillate due to the slack.

This will become a problem for Ford over time...

 

I think it is fair for Wenst to state that he has a flaw in his truck. What nobody on the site can comment on is the root cause, and how many trucks are affected. All we can do is provide data points (my truck does it, my truck doesn't). BTW my 2012 doesn't make any noise, it is 2 weeks old and will roll 3,000 miles by tomorrow. I can comment all I want, but my truck is 1 point of data.

-Andy

 

True... I shouldn't sensationalize it either...

My truck appears to have slack in the steering - not unlike any non-electronic rack with wear.

At 17,000 miles though it seems excessive.