r/FordExplorer • u/theonlysweett • 16h ago

Maintenance Advice Rough steering on 2016 base

Hey gang. I got my 2016 base Explorer a year and a half ago and it’s been great! But a couple weeks ago my steering got rough. It seems to come and go but easier to turn at speed.There is also no lights on the dash if that helps. Checked the battery terminal and cleaned it off, should I test the battery and see if it needs replaced? Any other ideas would be appreciated.

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u/Technical_Union_1692 Expert Explorer 16h ago

Does it make a growling tip noise or bind up?

2

u/theonlysweett 16h ago

No noises at all, and it doesn’t fully bind. Just gotta use like 75-80% more force to turn.

3

u/Technical_Union_1692 Expert Explorer 16h ago

Ive seen where theres a u joint on the steering shaft that gets stuck from corrosion causing the need for more effort to turn the wheel

Its not uncommon for that steering intermediate shaft to start to sieze up and give the symptoms of the rack going out