Uneven Steering Force

[subquark]

Good tip on the tire pressure.

I have steering issues only because my shoulders are shot (the right one far more than the left). I installed a Brody knob to help but that's not a recommendation for your issue.

BUT ... in blabbing about this on the forum, a few folks said that steering resistance can be set in FORScan. I don't know if it's simply one value for overall steering or if it can be set for right and left.

If this does exist, then I wonder if making the resistance a little less would make it more comfortable to drive?

If it only changes the resistance overall, maybe lowering it to the point where the right turns no longer bother you would be a "workaround". The left would be even easier and this doesn't address any thing that mechanically may be at fault.

Apart from the tire pressure, is your truck fairly evenly loaded? Anything in the bed that might be throwing off the balance? Or either a very skinny or very cushy girlfriend on the passenger side?

This is frustrating for you, I have no doubt, and hope someone here finds a great solution to it.

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[Dr_Strangelove]

@akcar - Umut if I'm understanding correctly - you say when you are idling, parked in a parking space, you can turn the wheel left and right with equal resistance?

When you are moving, the car turns to the left with ease. The car turns to the right with much resistance?

I'd be suspicious if something is rubbing/resisting on the right side. However you are able - jack up the front end of your truck and rotate everything by hand. Then turn the wheel all the way to the right and repeat. Hopefully you will feel something creating resistance and you can chase it down.

I'm stopping myself from writing something like wheel bearing because I would think you'd hear that too.

Bad ball joint?

 

[Msfitoy]

If one side tire is low, it would be pulling to that side...I think OP said it drives straight?

 

[akcar]

the first thing i checked was the tyre pressures even before going to dealer.
my truck is at 55.000km so they checked the bearings or faulty elements in periodic service every 15.000kms.
so nothing faulty with bearings or tyre pressures.
the dealer checked the entire frontend and couldn't find anything.
i didn't trust them so i checked the front end at an independent service and they said everything is ok.
that is bothering
the dealer service and multiple independent services checked and couldn't find an issue.

some independent mechanics said they saw similar things with other brands too, and they don't know what is causing that problem.

i've been searching for nearly 3 years.

now my trucks guarantee is ending within 40 days

this forum is my last hope

thanks for all replies

 

[akcar]

@akcar - Umut if I'm understanding correctly - you say when you are idling, parked in a parking space, you can turn the wheel left and right with equal resistance?

When you are moving, the car turns to the left with ease. The car turns to the right with much resistance?

I'd be suspicious if something is rubbing/resisting on the right side. However you are able - jack up the front end of your truck and rotate everything by hand. Then turn the wheel all the way to the right and repeat. Hopefully you will feel something creating resistance and you can chase it down.

I'm stopping myself from writing something like wheel bearing because I would think you'd hear that too.

Bad ball joint?

yes you get it right

but if there is resistance in right side the car will be pulling to right side. there is not even a little bit pull. when i take my hands off the steering it goes straight as a train.

never the less the front end checked completely and found nothing

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

That is an interesting description. You turn the wheel to the right, and you feel as if you are being "pulled" to the right instead of like you are turning to the right?

It is the fact that you must be moving for this to occur that is throwing me off.

It just keeps sounding to me like you've got something moving around down there - suspension component or rotational component - that you should be able to find with the wheels off the ground.

Are you able to take it to a car lift where the mechanic will let you yourself push/pull as hard as you can on the wheels while it's off the ground?

I would not recommend you do this yourself with a jack and/or jack stands unless you are experienced.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

Umut have you had the brakes inspected?

 

[akcar]

Umut have you had the brakes inspected?

yes, not just for this issue, my service checks brakes every 15000km.

 

[FunInTheSun]

Something out of whack in the Stability Control system?

I have a difficulty with my truck in accelerating out while turning, and I have been suspecting it has something to do with Stability Control. When I turn left (like at an intersection, a full 90 degree left turn), the truck will not respond to the throttle (until I straighten the wheel). Just dead pedal. Still moving forward. But once I start returning the wheel to straight ahead, it comes to life and takes off. Disturbing and potentially dangerous. But it has also applied the brakes on a right turn occasionally, turning out of a parking lot entrance where there is body roll and bounce because of the driveway pavement angle vs the street.

I don't really know much about the Stability Control System, as far as what kind of sensors are involved. Is there a G-Sensor (Accelerometer for lateral acceleration or a Rate Gyro for yaw rate or both)? I know the system senses steering wheel angle. Is it analyzing wheel speeds? Pretty sure both of these are true, but I am not sure if there is an accelerometer sensor for the Stability Control. There is a Wikipedia article about these systems that describes system operation as follows:
" During normal driving, ESC continuously monitors steering and vehicle direction. It compares the driver's intended direction (determined by the measured steering wheel angle) to the vehicle's actual direction (determined through measured lateral acceleration, vehicle rotation, and individual road wheel speeds). "

Article Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_stability_control

If so, is there a way to check the calibration of these sensors? If there was a bias of some sort, it could be that the truck is sensing a sharper turn than you are actually

In any event, I'd check tire pressures, and make sure the wheel speed sensors are all OK. Including the connectors and wiring harnesses. Also check the calibration of the steering wheel angle sensor (maybe accessible through ForScan).

 

[MarioCart]

this is all the magic boxes involved in the steering....*brain explodes*

 

[akcar]

Something out of whack in the Stability Control system?

I have a difficulty with my truck in accelerating out while turning, and I have been suspecting it has something to do with Stability Control. When I turn left (like at an intersection, a full 90 degree left turn), the truck will not respond to the throttle (until I straighten the wheel). Just dead pedal. Still moving forward. But once I start returning the wheel to straight ahead, it comes to life and takes off. Disturbing and potentially dangerous. But it has also applied the brakes on a right turn occasionally, turning out of a parking lot entrance where there is body roll and bounce because of the driveway pavement angle vs the street.

I don't really know much about the Stability Control System, as far as what kind of sensors are involved. Is there a G-Sensor (Accelerometer for lateral acceleration or a Rate Gyro for yaw rate or both)? I know the system senses steering wheel angle. Is it analyzing wheel speeds? Pretty sure both of these are true, but I am not sure if there is an accelerometer sensor for the Stability Control. There is a Wikipedia article about these systems that describes system operation as follows:
" During normal driving, ESC continuously monitors steering and vehicle direction. It compares the driver's intended direction (determined by the measured steering wheel angle) to the vehicle's actual direction (determined through measured lateral acceleration, vehicle rotation, and individual road wheel speeds). "

Article Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_stability_control

If so, is there a way to check the calibration of these sensors? If there was a bias of some sort, it could be that the truck is sensing a sharper turn than you are actually

In any event, I'd check tire pressures, and make sure the wheel speed sensors are all OK. Including the connectors and wiring harnesses. Also check the calibration of the steering wheel angle sensor (maybe accessible through ForScan).

i never experienced acceleration problems while turning. but when turning right at parking speeds braking feels sloppy. i think that is caused by the rear springs. you know almost all ranger's right back is higher than the left side.

i think same as you about sensors. told the dealer to check the sensors. but they didn't. they said if the sensors are faulty there must be a error code. but i am still thinking like you there must be a software or sensor problem.

next week i will take my truck to the service for the last time for this issue (because my warranty is ending within 40 days)

if anybody experienced something like this.

and reading all the answers before going to service

 

[RedDakooter05]

So, googling this myself I have seen other forums of other car makes having similar problems; Audi, honda, GM, ect. Even stranger most of them have the same issue; it's only to the right giving em problems.

Not posting them as I have not read any solutions on said sites, some even suggested lubing the steering shaft u joints.




Just curious, How willing are you to throw money at this by replacing the steering rack?
It's an outrageous cost as a part cannon but if you have the means...

 

[akcar]

So, googling this myself I have seen other forums of other car makes having similar problems; Audi, honda, GM, ect. Even stranger most of them have the same issue; it's only to the right giving em problems.

Not posting them as I have not read any solutions on said sites, some even suggested lubing the steering shaft u joints.




Just curious, How willing are you to throw money at this by replacing the steering rack?
It's an outrageous cost as a part cannon but if you have the means...

oh super
please throw me the the links anyway

if i can point the problem replacing the rack is free because of the 3 year warranty.

i asked the dealer to change the rack but they said there isn't any error readings so we can't change. but if i research and find where and why is this happens then they have to change it due to warranty

 

[RedDakooter05]

oh super
please throw me the the links anyway

if i can point the problem replacing the rack is free because of the 3 year warranty.

i asked the dealer to change the rack but they said there isn't any error readings so we can't change. but if i research and find where and why is this happens then they have to change it due to warranty

https://mechanics.stackexchange.com/questions/77901/uneven-steering-effort
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-under-hood-22/fixed-eps-uneven-steering-effort-1053697/
https://www.cadillacforums.com/threads/anyone-experience-uneven-steering-feel-weight.1101239/
https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2943765
https://www.driveaccord.net/threads/inconsistent-steering-force.442641/

There are more, but yeah nothing different.


I said the steering shaft u-joints because I had similar problems a few trucks in the past. A dakota I had had an issue where after a full rotation the steering would bind. Turned out to be a bad u joint. My previous F150 also had an issue where steering would feel ever so slightly different in one direction. I got my ranger before investigating the problem on it.


It would be worth checking the wiring and see if there's any uneven power draw during operation.


If you use forscan you can find an option about steering ratio but I ultimately believe that's an option not used on any rangers. It may pertain to auto parking functions of other vehicles.

 

[airline tech]

You are stating they say alignment is ok and you have no binding noted.
and you only notice a issue when exiting a right-hand turn (centering of steering wheel)
That points to improper (Caster)

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