Cracked Steering Damper Member - Be careful

I have a 2004 Ford Super Duty F-350 4X4 DRW/PK CRF 6.0 Diesel

Purchased it in November, 2003. After driving it for a month or so I
noticed the steering wheel was no longer level. Had to turn it to the left
5 degrees or so to continue going in a straight line. Didn't think that was
a problem.

Fast-forward to Saturday, May 8, 2004.

Was traveling on the Santa Ana Freeway in Los Angeles at approximately 40
MPH - all of a sudden, had to turn the steering wheel 45 degrees to the left
to continue traveling in a straight line. Immediately got off the freeway
and checked the front tires. All seemed to be OK with the tires but made an
appointment with the local Ford dealer to have things checked out.

I have 10k miles on the truck. Yes, I take a lot of long trips.

I also noticed that my truck made a clunking noise when the steering wheel
was turned to the left(while going backwards or forwards at slow speed)

Today(Tuesday) went to the Ford dealer and decided to get the tires rotated
and examine the steering components.

The mechanic found that the metal arm going from the frame to the steering
damper mechanism had severed(cracked). The mechanic also found that there
was rust on part of the metal bracket mechanism that had cracked. The
mechanic also found that the bolt holding the steering damper mechanism to
the frame of the truck was missing. Apparently it had not been properly
tighten at the factory and had eventually worked itself loose. This in turn
caused a small crack. AND, that small crack caused the metal to fail on the
freeway last Saturday.

So this is a heads up to all of you F-ound O-n R-oad D-ead owners to pay
attention to the little things. This could have been a problem for me down
the road if I hadn't paid immediate attention to this matter.

PS. Just heard from McCoy & Mills Ford in Fullerton, CA. The parts have
been ordered, they will get installed and I will get a front end alignment.
Should get the truck back tomorrow(Wednesday evening).

Thank you for your time.

On Tue, 11 May 2004 13:03:24 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>I have a 2004 Ford Super Duty F-350 4X4 DRW/PK CRF 6.0 Diesel
>
>Purchased it in November, 2003. After driving it for a month or so I
>noticed the steering wheel was no longer level. Had to turn it to the left
>5 degrees or so to continue going in a straight line. Didn't think that was
>a problem.
>
>Fast-forward to Saturday, May 8, 2004.
>
>Was traveling on the Santa Ana Freeway in Los Angeles at approximately 40
>MPH - all of a sudden, had to turn the steering wheel 45 degrees to the left
>to continue traveling in a straight line. Immediately got off the freeway
>and checked the front tires. All seemed to be OK with the tires but made an
>appointment with the local Ford dealer to have things checked out.
>
>I have 10k miles on the truck. Yes, I take a lot of long trips.
>
>I also noticed that my truck made a clunking noise when the steering wheel
>was turned to the left(while going backwards or forwards at slow speed)
>
>Today(Tuesday) went to the Ford dealer and decided to get the tires rotated
>and examine the steering components.
>
>The mechanic found that the metal arm going from the frame to the steering
>damper mechanism had severed(cracked). The mechanic also found that there
>was rust on part of the metal bracket mechanism that had cracked. The
>mechanic also found that the bolt holding the steering damper mechanism to
>the frame of the truck was missing. Apparently it had not been properly
>tighten at the factory and had eventually worked itself loose. This in turn
>caused a small crack. AND, that small crack caused the metal to fail on the
>freeway last Saturday.
>
>So this is a heads up to all of you F-ound O-n R-oad D-ead owners to pay
>attention to the little things. This could have been a problem for me down
>the road if I hadn't paid immediate attention to this matter.
>
>PS. Just heard from McCoy & Mills Ford in Fullerton, CA. The parts have
>been ordered, they will get installed and I will get a front end alignment.
>Should get the truck back tomorrow(Wednesday evening).
>
>Thank you for your time.
>

I wanted to follow up on my own post.

The problem occurred because some jerk at the Ford factory forgot to install
a nut and bolt in the assembly at vehicle production. The mechanic who
repaired my truck said I could have had a catastrophic steering loss at any
given moment. The mechanic said the steering wheel would have frozen and I
would have not been able to turn. The mechanic said I was very lucky.

I'm calling this one as BS. Catastrophic steering loss?? Steering wheel
freezing?? HARDLY!! I ran WITHOUT a steering stabilizer for over 3 months
with NO ill steering effects. Where the heck is there a bracket that goes
from the FRAME to the STEERING DAMPER?? The only attachment points for the
steering damper are on the axle tube, to the outer tie rod! If you remove
the damper, the only thing that it's going to change is the DAMPENING of the
steering!! I can understand if the steering linkage broke, but the damper
wouldn't cause this type of problem!
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 11 May 2004 13:03:24 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>
> >I have a 2004 Ford Super Duty F-350 4X4 DRW/PK CRF 6.0 Diesel
> >
> >Purchased it in November, 2003. After driving it for a month or so I
> >noticed the steering wheel was no longer level. Had to turn it to the
left
> >5 degrees or so to continue going in a straight line. Didn't think that
was
> >a problem.
> >
> >Fast-forward to Saturday, May 8, 2004.
> >
> >Was traveling on the Santa Ana Freeway in Los Angeles at approximately 40
> >MPH - all of a sudden, had to turn the steering wheel 45 degrees to the
left
> >to continue traveling in a straight line. Immediately got off the
freeway
> >and checked the front tires. All seemed to be OK with the tires but made
an
> >appointment with the local Ford dealer to have things checked out.
> >
> >I have 10k miles on the truck. Yes, I take a lot of long trips.
> >
> >I also noticed that my truck made a clunking noise when the steering
wheel
> >was turned to the left(while going backwards or forwards at slow speed)
> >
> >Today(Tuesday) went to the Ford dealer and decided to get the tires
rotated
> >and examine the steering components.
> >
> >The mechanic found that the metal arm going from the frame to the
steering
> >damper mechanism had severed(cracked). The mechanic also found that
there
> >was rust on part of the metal bracket mechanism that had cracked. The
> >mechanic also found that the bolt holding the steering damper mechanism
to
> >the frame of the truck was missing. Apparently it had not been properly
> >tighten at the factory and had eventually worked itself loose. This in
turn
> >caused a small crack. AND, that small crack caused the metal to fail on
the
> >freeway last Saturday.
> >
> >So this is a heads up to all of you F-ound O-n R-oad D-ead owners to
pay
> >attention to the little things. This could have been a problem for me
down
> >the road if I hadn't paid immediate attention to this matter.
> >
> >PS. Just heard from McCoy & Mills Ford in Fullerton, CA. The parts have
> >been ordered, they will get installed and I will get a front end
alignment.
> >Should get the truck back tomorrow(Wednesday evening).
> >
> >Thank you for your time.
> >
>
> I wanted to follow up on my own post.
>
> The problem occurred because some jerk at the Ford factory forgot to
install
> a nut and bolt in the assembly at vehicle production. The mechanic who
> repaired my truck said I could have had a catastrophic steering loss at
any
> given moment. The mechanic said the steering wheel would have frozen and
I
> would have not been able to turn. The mechanic said I was very lucky.
>
>

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> Subject: Re: Cracked Steering Damper Assembly- Be careful
> From: "Jason" <[email protected]>
> Newsgroups: rec.autos.4x4
>
> I'm calling this one as BS. Catastrophic steering loss?? Steering wheel
> freezing?? HARDLY!! I ran WITHOUT a steering stabilizer for over 3 months
> with NO ill steering effects. Where the heck is there a bracket that goes
> from the FRAME to the STEERING DAMPER?? The only attachment points for the
> steering damper are on the axle tube, to the outer tie rod! If you remove
> the damper, the only thing that it's going to change is the DAMPENING of the
> steering!! I can understand if the steering linkage broke, but the damper
>

If the damper comes loose and jams it will lock your steering in at
least one direction.
--
____________________
Remove "X" from email address to reply.

Well, I really don't like to top post but because Jason did it...I will do
it as well.

Bull**** huh? I spoke the truth here. I was trying to comunicate a real
situation that happened to me. I was also attempting to warn folks who
purchase these big trucks that **** HAPPENS! & the factory ain't perfect.

Called the service manager at McCoy & Mills Ford in Fullerton, CA. Joe
Green is his name. Joe said the part that broke is called a Track Bar
Bracket. Joe's mechanic, Victor, was the one who told me I could have
experienced a catastrophic steering loss at any given moment. Hey, Victor
is the expert here. I was repeating what Victor told me.

And to you Jason, I say: If it looks, smells, flies, lays eggs, ****s,
migratates, quacks like a duck. By gawd, I'm gonna call it a duck.


~jack_



On Tue, 18 May 2004 07:59:13 GMT, "Jason" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I'm calling this one as BS. Catastrophic steering loss?? Steering wheel
>freezing?? HARDLY!! I ran WITHOUT a steering stabilizer for over 3 months
>with NO ill steering effects. Where the heck is there a bracket that goes
>from the FRAME to the STEERING DAMPER?? The only attachment points for the
>steering damper are on the axle tube, to the outer tie rod! If you remove
>the damper, the only thing that it's going to change is the DAMPENING of the
>steering!! I can understand if the steering linkage broke, but the damper
>wouldn't cause this type of problem!
><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Tue, 11 May 2004 13:03:24 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>>
>> >I have a 2004 Ford Super Duty F-350 4X4 DRW/PK CRF 6.0 Diesel
>> >
>> >Purchased it in November, 2003. After driving it for a month or so I
>> >noticed the steering wheel was no longer level. Had to turn it to the
>left
>> >5 degrees or so to continue going in a straight line. Didn't think that
>was
>> >a problem.
>> >
>> >Fast-forward to Saturday, May 8, 2004.
>> >
>> >Was traveling on the Santa Ana Freeway in Los Angeles at approximately 40
>> >MPH - all of a sudden, had to turn the steering wheel 45 degrees to the
>left
>> >to continue traveling in a straight line. Immediately got off the
>freeway
>> >and checked the front tires. All seemed to be OK with the tires but made
>an
>> >appointment with the local Ford dealer to have things checked out.
>> >
>> >I have 10k miles on the truck. Yes, I take a lot of long trips.
>> >
>> >I also noticed that my truck made a clunking noise when the steering
>wheel
>> >was turned to the left(while going backwards or forwards at slow speed)
>> >
>> >Today(Tuesday) went to the Ford dealer and decided to get the tires
>rotated
>> >and examine the steering components.
>> >
>> >The mechanic found that the metal arm going from the frame to the
>steering
>> >damper mechanism had severed(cracked). The mechanic also found that
>there
>> >was rust on part of the metal bracket mechanism that had cracked. The
>> >mechanic also found that the bolt holding the steering damper mechanism
>to
>> >the frame of the truck was missing. Apparently it had not been properly
>> >tighten at the factory and had eventually worked itself loose. This in
>turn
>> >caused a small crack. AND, that small crack caused the metal to fail on
>the
>> >freeway last Saturday.
>> >
>> >So this is a heads up to all of you F-ound O-n R-oad D-ead owners to
>pay
>> >attention to the little things. This could have been a problem for me
>down
>> >the road if I hadn't paid immediate attention to this matter.
>> >
>> >PS. Just heard from McCoy & Mills Ford in Fullerton, CA. The parts have
>> >been ordered, they will get installed and I will get a front end
>alignment.
>> >Should get the truck back tomorrow(Wednesday evening).
>> >
>> >Thank you for your time.
>> >
>>
>> I wanted to follow up on my own post.
>>
>> The problem occurred because some jerk at the Ford factory forgot to
>install
>> a nut and bolt in the assembly at vehicle production. The mechanic who
>> repaired my truck said I could have had a catastrophic steering loss at
>any
>> given moment. The mechanic said the steering wheel would have frozen and
>I
>> would have not been able to turn. The mechanic said I was very lucky.
>>
>>
>

On Wed, 19 May 2004 08:42:15 -0300, Chris Phillipo
<[email protected]> wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>,
>[email protected] says...
>> Subject: Re: Cracked Steering Damper Assembly- Be careful
>> From: "Jason" <[email protected]>
>> Newsgroups: rec.autos.4x4
>>
>> I'm calling this one as BS. Catastrophic steering loss?? Steering wheel
>> freezing?? HARDLY!! I ran WITHOUT a steering stabilizer for over 3 months
>> with NO ill steering effects. Where the heck is there a bracket that goes
>> from the FRAME to the STEERING DAMPER?? The only attachment points for the
>> steering damper are on the axle tube, to the outer tie rod! If you remove
>> the damper, the only thing that it's going to change is the DAMPENING of the
>> steering!! I can understand if the steering linkage broke, but the damper
>>
>
>If the damper comes loose and jams it will lock your steering in at
>least one direction.

Thanks Chris. Appreciate your comments.

Here is wording from my service order:

A Check steering wheel off center to the left
H62 Center Strg wheel
(Mechanics name & license number)

B. Check when back up left has a clunk in front suspension

Cause: Clunk left side front broken bracket mtime to r r & repl stabilizer
bar bracket missing bolt brk to cross member mtime no op in slts MT3A093 mt
to repl stab bar bracket missing bolt brk to cross member
(Mechanics name & license number)

Of course this was covered under warranty.


~jack_