Steering resistance inconsistent

[Nathanf6f]

Responding to my original post in here incase anyone else is looking for my resolve. Brought my bronco to the dealership last week, they said my PSCM needed an update. They updated my unit, and magically my steering resistance feeling went away. Been driving it a week, no issues, feels like new. Although I'm incredibly bothered that something as simple as a power steering control unit update was causing such issues for me. I was confident it was a mechanical issue but I guess I'll just shut my mouth and pray everything is resolved now. Hope other people found solutions for their similar problems.

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[Mike J]

Been feeling a strong steering resistance at certain points in my Bronco big bend ‘21 no Sasquatch. Under 40k miles ! I scanned with forscan. Deactivated nibble function and highway ‘don’t react to movements as much’ feature . Then I bought a topdon tlink j2534 adaptor and used a 2 day fdrs license to reset and update the pscm. No change. Then disconnected the passenger side tie rod and removed it, removed one bolt securing the steering rack loosened the other one and dropped the rack towards the ground on the passenger side. Removed the cover over the electric belt drive with 7 x #30 torx screws - all looked perfect . No plastic or aluminum slivers . Put it all back together. Then finally found the problem ! The lower steering shaft universal joints were seizing . Sprayed with WD 40 to confirm. Steering which the day before had been unsafe to drive with was fixed instantly . Will replace the lower shaft.

 

[mwdsonny]

I had a stick tear a boot and then well down here its all mud and not much crawling so yeah it got filled with water

 

[Mike J]

Someone recently had a faulty/partially seized joint on their lower steering shaft on a different thread. That’s probably one of the first and easiest things I’d inspect.

I had exactly this . Pulled the steering rack half apart looking for failed bushing and updated pscm first with fdrs. Didn’t help. Then I found the rusty culprit. Quick spritz with WD40 fixed it (temporarily until I can replace the lower shaft) . The steering wheel would not even return to center and had very stiff resistance at points . Now it’s almost perfect.

 

[Nc211]

Mine started to hold/pull ever so slightly when making a turn at about 7k miles and 7 months old. Felt almost like a missing tooth on a gear in the system. Not always, but certainly noticeable. I suspect the exact same thing on mine and will be taking a look very soon at the linkage as well (makes perfect sense for my symptoms too)! Love forums like this!

 

[mwdsonny]

Mine started to hold/pull ever so slightly when making a turn at about 7k miles and 7 months old. Felt almost like a missing tooth on a gear in the system. Not always, but certainly noticeable. I suspect the exact same thing on mine and will be taking a look very soon at the linkage as well (makes perfect sense for my symptoms too)! Love forums like this!

Check your boots for tears. As I tore mine and water got in and it started making grinding noises and randomly locking up.

 

[Nathanf6f]

Been feeling a strong steering resistance at certain points in my Bronco big bend ‘21 no Sasquatch. Under 40k miles ! I scanned with forscan. Deactivated nibble function and highway ‘don’t react to movements as much’ feature . Then I bought a topdon tlink j2534 adaptor and used a 2 day fdrs license to reset and update the pscm. No change. Then disconnected the passenger side tie rod and removed it, removed one bolt securing the steering rack loosened the other one and dropped the rack towards the ground on the passenger side. Removed the cover over the electric belt drive with 7 x #30 torx screws - all looked perfect . No plastic or aluminum slivers . Put it all back together. Then finally found the problem ! The lower steering shaft universal joints were seizing . Sprayed with WD 40 to confirm. Steering which the day before had been unsafe to drive with was fixed instantly . Will replace the lower shaft.

This is incredible, I actually wondered if I'm uni-joint on my steering shaft was siezing up, I have never checked though. Now I want to check. My issue was resolved when I brought it in to ford and they told me my PSCM needed an update. They updated my system and it's been driving fine ever since. But I still will check out my steering linkage just incase. That's incredible. Thank you!.

 

[GreenMtnBronco]

just WOW, got referred to this thread after posting an issue with steering, sprayed some WD40 on the 2 u joints in the steering columng (2 that I found, how many are there) and it worked!
THANK YOU!

 

[Mike J]

just WOW, got referred to this thread after posting an issue with steering, sprayed some WD40 on the 2 u joints in the steering columng (2 that I found, how many are there) and it worked!
THANK YOU!

Yes! Love it . There are 2 joints - you nailed it. And if it reverts to binding up again replacing that part is a) easy b) way cheaper !

 

[GreenMtnBronco]

Yes! Love it . There are 2 joints - you nailed it. And if it reverts to binding up again replacing that part is a) easy b) way cheaper !

by any chance, do you have the part numbers?

 

[Ducati1098]

by any chance, do you have the part numbers?

Comes as the whole lower steering column shaft: MB3Z-3E751-D
W714409-S439 are the bolts

 

[PonyStable]

This issue just cropped up for me. I don't know a U-Bolt from Usain Bolt so I was just thinking of printing some of these pics in a doc with a description of what's being done and having my mechanic hit it with WD40 - Is that a good approach??

 

[Gene Dios]

@Mike J did you replace the lower shaft? Seems tricky to get it out and back in

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