STEERING PROBLEM??
Asked by GeorgeJ Aug 05, 2010 at 09:59 AM about the 2003 Ford Expedition XLT 4WD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
My son was driving who is 31. The steering pulled real hard to the left and he couldn't turn the wheel back to the right. Went off the road and hit a cement embuckment and then a house. Front wheels are torn off and drive train is ripped apart. Anyone else have any thing like this or know what could cause this. It's ripped up so bad we can't tell what may have broke to do this.
8 Answers
could have been a worn out tie rod that broke,a ball joint,or if he was breaking the calaper could have stuck causeing it to turn on him.
My son also has power steering problems on his 1996 Ford Expedition, I thought that it was the power steering unit and needed to be flushed? But after 300.00 and a new power unit, problem still there? Anyone have any suggestion? My son is still driving with no power steering....
@ GeorgeJ- sounds like tie rod snapped or a ball joint went, that will cause complete loss of steering and if your son is ok he is lucky. @AC510- Is a power unit a new pump or steering gear? i dont believe there is a part called power steering unit. Pumps will make a whineing or whirring noise when they are going out of low on fluid.
Possible that the key somehow got turned off ( big problem at GM) and the wheel became locked?
This is a FORD Expedition 2003. The steering "pulled" to the left so something "turned the wheel" But there were houses nearby, so the speed limit was like 40 at the most, right ? Why did he not stop before leaving the roadway ? and what was his actual speed ? were alcohol and drugs involved ? Perhaps they grabbed his hand while he was passed out behind the wheel? Just saying that to have some sort of pull and yet be unable to brake, shut it off, apply the parking brake gradually ? and still hits someone's house ? You should review the evidence and report from the police for a few clues. inspect the vehicle for concerns with litter and paraphenalia. There may even have been the smell of alcohol in the vehicle noted on the report. I have not heard of a failure of that type that was not explained by driver error.
Let's say there was also a mechanical failure, a tire lost its air rapidly? A steering part broke bad enough for the one wheel to turn? He could still brake and leave evidence of trying to stop. Even freaked and operating on instinct only? he would have stepped on the brake. From 40 mph. Yeah, gotta go with not awake.
What is an embuckment ? anyway. Is that when someone throws a large male Deer through your windshield ? Or did the Deer wake up and bite him on the neck ? He should have just let the Deer have his turn in the phone booth, and drove off.
Well, Dannyl.... You're a clown and shouldn't comment. GeorgeJ... It seems like the rack and pinion lost pressure to one side and that is why he was unable to turn the wheel the opposing direction. All the pressure from the pump was going directly to one side of the "rack". Even a stout feller wouldn't be able to pull it back. AC510... Power steering consists on a steering box, pump, and rack and pinion. Hoses move the fluid threw the components. One of these components have failed. Look for fluid leaks amd change that component. It will take a few miles of use to work the air out after the part has been replaced. Keep an eye on your fluid level. Displacement will accure when the air works it way out to the reservoir. Fill as needed then it'll stay at proper level in the reservoir. DO NOT OVER FILL.
