I have a 2011 F150 FX4 3.5L ecoboost. I’ve been told I need a new electronic rack and pinion at a cost of $4000. By the way I’m in Canada so that’s probably why it’s so expensive, anyway I’m kinda sceptical about this cause they say my front seals are leaking but my power steering fluid level is fine and the steering isn’t stiff and it’s not making any noise accept for a tiny bit of play in the steering wheel and I mean tiny it seams to be working fine. However I’ve been told about the dangers of driving it the way it is so for now it’s been sitting in my driveway unused. I was wondering if I could just replace the seals and reinstall it and be good to go or should I replace the whole rack system with a new one? Also how hard would it be to do myself? I’ve never done one before although I do know how to do most stuff myself, the only thing is I don’t have a flash drive to program a new rack. If anyone on here can give me some advice I’d sure appreciate it. Thanks
Well it's an expensive part. Rockauto shows the Motorcraft rebuilt electronic steering rack at about $830 or $950, depending on model - plus a $400 core charge. (Cardone rebuilt is a couple of hundred less but I don't know if I'd trust it.) That's in U.S. dollars, Canadian will be more. Then a shop is probably going to charge at least 50% more than that for the part, plus labor.
Replacing the steering rack is a bear on most vehicles and here you're dealing with a rack that is also a computer module that needs to be programmed for the vehicle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiDnWFtcA34
Here's a video on identifying electric power steering problems. You can likely find a lot more online. (Ford seems to have a lot of trouble across the board with its electronic power steering systems.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szHMXwcp9fo
Ford seems to have a lot of trouble across the board with everything they make these days @chucktobias
@doc, I have not owned a Ford myself since my '66 Fairlane ages ago and that was a great car, beat the heck out of the thing for years and it just kept going and going. How the mighty have fallen.
@chucktobias I've owned a bunch of Fords but would never buy anything newer from them. My best was a 1966 Mustang Convertible with the 289. Great car. Great minds think alike!.
My Fairlane had the 289 also. Easy to work on and practically unkillable. The Fairlane and Mustang those years of course were very similar under the skin.
These racks only cost about $600. Where is the rest of the money going?
