I've been having a strange issue with my steering for maybe close to 4 years now, and no one including myself can seem to figure out what it is. I've had gearhead friends look at it, Ford dealer mechanics/regular mechanics, ARA Rally professionals that drive and work on these cars, no one can figure it out. I've posted this to reddit multiple times, nothing. I've deep researched on CHATGPT multiple times, nothing. So you now have the pleasure of reading my 4 year late, over explanation of a problem with a solution that is probably right under my nose, or isn't? I don't know. Here we go:
The issue: So for the last 4ish years Ive been having this strange issue with my steering. It feels really sluggish and heavy, nothing like how light and snappy it normally feels. The kicker is, it's only... Sometimes...? Sometimes it feels normal, sometimes it feels like utter dung. Let me break down all of the ways in which it changes. Sometimes when I start my car it'll be stiff, sometimes it won't. Sometimes it'll immediately change upon the next start up (vice versa, or multiple startups in between). Sometimes it'll change stiffness mid drive. Sometimes it'll stay on a certain stiffness for days, even weeks, before changing back. It does it in the rain, it does it in the snow (although I do notice if I'm driving in a lot of snow, or a field of grass/dirt or something similar, it gets super light). It does it when it's dry. It does it when it's hot out and when it's cold out. I'm on my second set of tires since the stock set, and it's done it on both sets of tires minus the stock set.
My car info: Everything that could affect this is stock outside of the wheels. I have turbomacs, and I do know that they're heavier and thicker than the stock wheel, which might also be the issue. I don't have the luxury of putting on lighter wheels and going for a drive in my current life situation. I'm on my second set of tires from the stock potenzas, currently on the Firestone Firehawk tires, before were Generals. The alignment is good, the control arms are good (to my understanding) and all other suspension components seem to be good (at least to the understanding of the people that were able to see that in-depth on my car). I have been in two accidents but both of those were long after this issue has started.
Potential solutions?: There's only two times in which I can make it switch from heavy back to light. They are: SOMETIMES when I hit a decent bump in the road, and most of the time when I steer left and right rapidly (Alla warming up the tires in a race). Someone I dmed on reddit awhile ago suggested it might be a speed steering sensor issue? That's the only suggestion I've gotten that's different from the "norm" of alignment, control arms, etc, which to my understanding are all in good shape. There's always the heavier wheel situation, which coincidentally I this issue started (I think) around the time I got the new wheels, but definitely some point after them. However I can't say for sure because it's clearly been a bit, memory is foggy. Also if it is the wheels, why is it intermittent, wouldn't it just change the feel of my steering permanently (or untill the wheels came off)?
Final notes: I've also checked the power steering fuse, I've reset the PCSM module, and PCM Reset All Adaptations (I actually just did this maybe 20 minutes ago, didn't feel like anything changed too much, maybe a little, I don't know anymore). I've gotten more alignments then I probably ever need in a lifetime, this time trying a hair of toe in on the front wheels. Nothing, all of this has lead to nothing. I'm going to try to see if I can just buy a cheap pair of tires to throw on the stock wheels and try and throw them back on to see. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I don't know where else to go and who else to ask. This issue is genuinely driving me NUTS and makes the car far less enjoyable to drive. I just want my snappy bean back. I'm not going to lie either, I don't want to sell this car, and I've said that plenty of times and meant it. However, this, makes me want to sell it. I cannot stand this issue any longer. As if I even have the money to buy a new car. Again thanks in advance and thanks for reading my rambles.
Also sorry if this isnt in the right spot or whatever. I'm tired, frustrated, ready to give up and this is my first post, so apologies in advance.
The issue: So for the last 4ish years Ive been having this strange issue with my steering. It feels really sluggish and heavy, nothing like how light and snappy it normally feels. The kicker is, it's only... Sometimes...? Sometimes it feels normal, sometimes it feels like utter dung. Let me break down all of the ways in which it changes. Sometimes when I start my car it'll be stiff, sometimes it won't. Sometimes it'll immediately change upon the next start up (vice versa, or multiple startups in between). Sometimes it'll change stiffness mid drive. Sometimes it'll stay on a certain stiffness for days, even weeks, before changing back. It does it in the rain, it does it in the snow (although I do notice if I'm driving in a lot of snow, or a field of grass/dirt or something similar, it gets super light). It does it when it's dry. It does it when it's hot out and when it's cold out. I'm on my second set of tires since the stock set, and it's done it on both sets of tires minus the stock set.
My car info: Everything that could affect this is stock outside of the wheels. I have turbomacs, and I do know that they're heavier and thicker than the stock wheel, which might also be the issue. I don't have the luxury of putting on lighter wheels and going for a drive in my current life situation. I'm on my second set of tires from the stock potenzas, currently on the Firestone Firehawk tires, before were Generals. The alignment is good, the control arms are good (to my understanding) and all other suspension components seem to be good (at least to the understanding of the people that were able to see that in-depth on my car). I have been in two accidents but both of those were long after this issue has started.
Potential solutions?: There's only two times in which I can make it switch from heavy back to light. They are: SOMETIMES when I hit a decent bump in the road, and most of the time when I steer left and right rapidly (Alla warming up the tires in a race). Someone I dmed on reddit awhile ago suggested it might be a speed steering sensor issue? That's the only suggestion I've gotten that's different from the "norm" of alignment, control arms, etc, which to my understanding are all in good shape. There's always the heavier wheel situation, which coincidentally I this issue started (I think) around the time I got the new wheels, but definitely some point after them. However I can't say for sure because it's clearly been a bit, memory is foggy. Also if it is the wheels, why is it intermittent, wouldn't it just change the feel of my steering permanently (or untill the wheels came off)?
Final notes: I've also checked the power steering fuse, I've reset the PCSM module, and PCM Reset All Adaptations (I actually just did this maybe 20 minutes ago, didn't feel like anything changed too much, maybe a little, I don't know anymore). I've gotten more alignments then I probably ever need in a lifetime, this time trying a hair of toe in on the front wheels. Nothing, all of this has lead to nothing. I'm going to try to see if I can just buy a cheap pair of tires to throw on the stock wheels and try and throw them back on to see. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I don't know where else to go and who else to ask. This issue is genuinely driving me NUTS and makes the car far less enjoyable to drive. I just want my snappy bean back. I'm not going to lie either, I don't want to sell this car, and I've said that plenty of times and meant it. However, this, makes me want to sell it. I cannot stand this issue any longer. As if I even have the money to buy a new car. Again thanks in advance and thanks for reading my rambles.
Also sorry if this isnt in the right spot or whatever. I'm tired, frustrated, ready to give up and this is my first post, so apologies in advance.
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