I installed Dueler A/T’s, very lager version, on my F150 00’ 4.6L 4X4. While my husband has no problem with steering at idle speeds, parallel parking, I do. I weigh only 100 pounds he weighs 240. Is there a way to tweak up the idle speed to offer a little more power assist advantage during idle speed turns or parking?

Thanks in advance.

 

Have you checked to make sure that you power-steering fluid reservior is full?

I don't think it's good for the system to force the wheel if the PS pump can't keep up, but I could be mistaken about this.

Both of my bros-in-law have lifted F-150s with large tires. The PS pump never gets overwhelmed on their trucks.

 

I will check the fluid level, but I service the fluids monthly. But...could be. I suspect the steering, with larger tires, wasn't designed for a 100 pound woman.

Thanks for the response.

 

Lift some weights.

 

You and my husband think a like.

 

What you are experiancing is normal. Big tires drag on the ground. Try placing the shift lever in neutral and rev the engine up to about 1000 rpm. It should make turning the wheels much easier. One more thing you could try is this method you use to turn the wheel.
Put both hands on the wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. If you want to turn left push up with the right hand while pulling down with the left hand. Move your hands about 1/8th of a turn and then bring one hand back to the starting position then the next one and push and pull again. Keep doing this till you have turned the wheel enough. Do the opposite for turning right. This will apply the most leverage possible on the wheel.

regards

JMC

 

JMC,

Will try tonight. Need to pick up my daughter at Soccer.

Thank you for the info.

 

How much larger tires are we talking here?? When you turn the wheel at idle does the PS pump whine or make a lot of noise? Does the steering get better with a higher rpm??

It really should not change that much between idle and WOT on how much effort it takes to turn the wheel.... Well, it is a bit more difficult and harder on the steering components if you are not rolling at least a little bit while turning the wheels.....

I'd say you either have a PS pump problem or you should at least be rolling while turning the wheel...

Good luck!

Mitch

 

FYI:
Mike, my husband, owns almost identically the same truck. He also installed the Dueler A/T 285/75R16’s on his truck. He says my truck has more “stuff” on it. We use his truck for camping and diving….not mine. When I picked up my daughter last night, I used his truck and had the same problem. When I increased the idle speed slightly the problem went away. I do not like braking with my left foot and keeping the idle speed up higher with my right foot…especially when my daughter is with me. The problem goes away when the truck is moving or when I increase the idle speed.

 

I think that this is very strange. After reading the post I decided to check my trucks steering out last night in the driveway (concrete) and then again at a shopping center parking lot (asphalt) and got the same results on both. I have 35" BFG's and I can practically turn my wheels (standing still) with one finger. I would suspect the power steering unit or low idle but on both trucks?

 

You maybe correct. I plan to take both trucks in next week for analysis. Let's see what Ford has to say.

Thanks for the response.

 

Sean,

If you are married or have an S/O, ask her to try the same test you performed and let me know if it is more difficult for her.

Thanks in advance.

 

You can practally turn with one finger. That is the key. I have 305's on mine. There is no turning them with one finger at idle and when stationary. Put your stock tires back on and you will be able to turn with one finger. Big tires create more sesistance to turning the wheel. It is not created by a PS pump problem. The PCM is commanding an idle of ( lets say ) 800 rpm in Drive. When you turn the wheel the PS pump creats a demand on the engine and it slows down. The PCM sees the drop in rpm and opens the IAC and widens the injector pulse width to increase the idle back to 800 rpm. So the pump should not slow down for more than a few seconds, time enough for the engine to return to the commanded rpm. The odds are that the dealer will tell you the same thing.

JMC

 

JMC,

Again, thanks for the reply. Fortunately, I still have the original tires. Now Mike has something to do this weekend besides looking at our 20-year-old neighbor :o)...change my tires.

 

Have those tires only been on a few days? If so, I would wait about a month or so if possible before swapping tires. Within a few weeks your arms should get used to the force required to turn the wheel and you may find it unnoticeable as time goes on.

Just a thought...