Common steering wheel issue?

[The258]

ok this is another steering issue

I have a 2010, not sure if this is common on the early models or what.
story goes, I installed the RPG P/S reservoir and soon after my steering would "buckle" during off roading as well feel a clunk on the steering wheel. Started progressing to feeling the clunk ton any type of bumps and dips on the road.

At a stop light I jiggled the wheel side to side (not turning anything)and felt the clunk, i then jiggled the steering wheel front to back, the whole steering wheel moved! I took it to my friends shop where he told me the bolt that holds the steering wheel in place is aluminum, from there i figured that the off roading managed to wear it out, mind you im not the type of person to use the wheel to pull myself in.

I dont think i have read about this issue or heard anything of it but has anyone encountered this as well, is this an common issue?

 

[Yukon Joe]

Did replacing the bolt fix it?

The clunk I was feeling and hearing sounds the same. Turned out to be a worn wheel bearing.

Yukon Joe
Buffalo Run Support Raptor
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/showthread.php?p=364119

 

[tbone]

for my my clunk with the 2010 are the lower control arm bushings

 

[The258]

The OEM bolt is out of stock, didnt want to keep driving the truck as is so I should get the truck back tomorrow. Once I found out the wheel was loose, I would press up on the steering wheel on bumps and dips, it wouldnt make the noise. It was bad, imagine if the steering wheel was a bobble head.

 

[pat'sRAPTOR]

Wow yea that could have been bad if t would have come off while driving. I have a 2010 and I've beat it off road and all but never had my steering wheel come loose like that!

 

[KaiserM715]

I had a clunk in the steering wheel, too (although not as bad as yours from the sound of it). The dealer replaced the steering column and I have not had an issue since.

 

[Mil T]

All the hardware for the steering wheel on the column is steel. The steering wheel it self is aluminum. Here is how it is assembled.
There is a bolt that threads into the column.



The steering wheel has a hex type formed fitting. Only way it would be loose is if the bolt came loose.



Pretty simple assembly but I could see it getting loose if it was not tight at the factory.



Hope this helps understand how the steering wheel is put on.

Mil T

 

[The258]

Thanks, I know how it is assembled onto the column. My assumption was that the bolt itself started getting loose with time caused by offroading. Once taken to my buddies shop he looked it up on the vehicle database, from there it mention the bolt is aluminum and best to replace with a new bolt and discard the old one rather torquing it back to spec. Quick fix, yes but I wanted to know if this has happened to anyone else or a common problem.

 

[SILVER]

My steering wheel is loose also. Did replacing the bolt fix it? @The258

 

[The258]

My steering wheel is loose also. Did replacing the bolt fix it? @The258

Yes the shop ordered a new bolt and tightened it up. You can check to see if your bolt is loose if you know your way through a air bag system