Steering Tie Rod Failure at Speed - Ranger Raptor

[Hoss]

Like a reading a book, had to scroll to the end. Ford will fix it. Can’t wait for the next chapter.

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[G L Rockwell]

Yea, that’s exactly what your pictures prove. It really looks like a brand new truck under there. Which 100% is still a brand new truck with less then 1000 miles on it.

Very strange deal.
You can see where the TR appeared to have been stressed, but nothing really indicating what possibly could have caused that stress.

When I blow up this pic I can see or least what it looks like to me is stress to the point it snapped off.
Looks like it bent to the point it snapped.

I noticed that to...

 

[embedded rock]

So that tie rod looks to have stressed and snapped at full-lock (left?). Someone could suspect the truck skidded into a spin and the ditch impact on the wheel caused the tie rod to snap. BUT, what if the steering rack internals failed? That would account for the loss of steering too.

 

[Onceaneagle]

More research on tie rod breaks like this one. Considering the amount of torque required to break that inner tie rod near the jam nut you have to wonder if the inner tie rod was improperly manufactured. Don't know if they are cast or forged, which can have internal part defects either way. That it broke near the jam nut also could mean the jam nut was not tightened properly. Or the inner and outer tie rods were cross threaded during assembly with the jam nut holding it together until the force on the misaligned threads caused the break. Or the alignment was off, although the factory yellow marks do not indicate it. Or one ball joint was so tight that it did not allow for flex at one end while the other was trying to flex and you get rapid and excessive metal fatigue exceeding specs at the weakest point, the threads, and it breaks. The break seems catastrophic because you did not report any typical tell tale signs of wear prior to the break such as clunking noises, steering wheel shimmy, floating steering control etc. It just broke and then you noticed it. Let us know what the inspection reveals.

 

[Big D]

I'm glad you both are OK with no injuries. I just purchased my 25 Raptor and have been researching upgrades. I saw a company that is selling reinforcing sleeves for the tie rod ends because of how small they appear to be.

https://buckleupoffroad.com/product...Vt4b-qbvz6caDWlgwgLcxXxX43X36gV4aArIeEALw_wcB

I believe after your episode that I will be ordering a set for mine.

 

[bigb]

So that tie rod looks to have stressed and snapped at full-lock (left?). Someone could suspect the truck skidded into a spin and the ditch impact on the wheel caused the tie rod to snap. BUT, what if the steering rack internals failed? That would account for the loss of steering too.

Good point, the tie rod could have broken during the incident and the incident could have been caused by another failure. That actually makes sense. Even more reason to file a report with NHTSA. Easy enough to do online: https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem

 

[bigb]

Another theory: https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/weird-steering-issue-on-raptor.14815/

 

[spazzyfry123]

So that tie rod looks to have stressed and snapped at full-lock (left?). Someone could suspect the truck skidded into a spin and the ditch impact on the wheel caused the tie rod to snap. BUT, what if the steering rack internals failed? That would account for the loss of steering too.

Another theory: https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/weird-steering-issue-on-raptor.14815/

This is interesting. As described in the link, it seems identical to what happened with me. And in seeing the bend at the fracture point on the tie rod, now I am wondering if I didn't lose steering control as a result of a failed tie rod, but rather something else was at play with the minor impact in the ditch actually causing the tie rod to fail. Which if that's the case, wow these things are puny if that is what caused the tie rod to fail. It wasn't a hard hit by any means.

Leading up to this, I'd say the truck drove completely as I'd expect. The only indication of potential "something" going on was the aforementioned noise (rattle/clunk) I noticed at the front right of the truck - of which may be entirely unrelated and coincidental.

 

[Onceaneagle]

Don't own the RR so am asking about tie rod reinforcement sleeves. Raptor has an owner Assault School. Looking at some of that film and Ford commercials, the vehicles are being pushed hard and taking a beating and especially the steering, alignment, and suspension. So where are all the broken tie rods at the School? And if broken tie rods are such a School concern not only on RR but also on BR that after market companies are making reinforcing sleeves for them, what's going on with Ford Performance parts on vehicles that are made to be pushed hard out the factory door without sleeves? The OP wasn't off roading unless his drive to and from his home is a county Assault Course and even then the tie rod should not have broken, if they hold up at the Ford Assault School. I'm asking because this needing a tie rod sleeve because Ford undermanufactured a vehicle designed to survive their off road course doesn't make any sense to me. This particular tie rod break seems to be a defective part or bad assembly because it snapped at the threads next to the jam nut and if it wasn't a bad part or bad assembly then breaks at the threads should be common at the Ford School. Someone explain this?

 

[John B]

Hey Tyler
Happy no personal injury suffered with this nonsense.

Congrats on GT RCA cert!
How ironic, and too funny since not previously shared...I'm a GT grad (MS)

Yup, an RCA by Ford certainly appropriate.

> Without reporting, data points and occurrences will be chalked up as a 'one off events' - catastrophic mechanical issues, data, and patterns lost as noise​

Self-care!!! ==> Glad your M3 provided a bit of 'therapy & satisfaction'...I only need the slightest reason, excuse to go "rip"my M3 as well

GL with FoMoCo resolutions...

Kinda a Tech reunion here.. Lol. I'm a second generation engineer from there. Got my first ChE degree from there in 76. Seems like forever ago.

But this failure is not at all common on a new vehicle. These ranger raptors have been out for several years globally, and I've not heard of this other than a few due to extreme offroading. Hopefully dealership takes this seriously

 

[spazzyfry123]

Just got off the phone with the dealer. They have been trying to figure out whose truck it is for the last three hours. Another ball dropped with Ford Customer Service. The service advisor I talked with was over in the sales department trying to figure out if it was a trade in, a dealer swap... they had to idea that the truck was there to be serviced nor did they have any history (obviously since they didn't know why the truck was in their lot). They'd still be scratching their heads had I not called in asking for an update.

Loaner vehicles are not supplied until it's been 72 hours. While I think that's crazy, I'm creeping up on 48 hours since the incident. Nope, the clock starts when they initiate the ticket at the dealer. Which was 5 minutes ago since they now know about the truck.

It was funny listening to the advisor when I was telling her what happened.

"Oh shit!"

 

[spazzyfry123]

Kinda a Tech reunion here.. Lol. I'm a second generation engineer from there. Got my first ChE degree from there in 76. Seems like forever ago.

But this failure is not at all common on a new vehicle. These ranger raptors have been out for several years globally, and I've not heard of this other than a few due to extreme offroading. Hopefully dealership takes this seriously

Engineers unite!

 

[superj]

the dimple in the picture on the control arm below the break, is that where the tie rod hit and dented it or is that how it comes? you may need a lower control arm too. actually, there are two areas that look damaged on the lower control arm, the dimple by the nut and the lower left corner where the aluminum looks like something hit it at the corner

 

[spazzyfry123]

the dimple in the picture on the control arm below the break, is that where the tie rod hit and dented it or is that how it comes? you may need a lower control arm too. actually, there are two areas that look damaged on the lower control arm, the dimple by the nut and the lower left corner where the aluminum looks like something hit it at the corner

The "dimple" is standard.

The marks on the bottom left, I'm not sure. It looks like casting? Tough to find another picture of another one of that point online and the truck isn't with me.

 

[Jason B]

Even if that left mark isn't normal, it could have happen after the tie rod snap, and not the cause of the tie rod failure.

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