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Interesting the blokes I talked to at the workshop were very clear that it wasn't a mechanical hydraulic issue, the software reflash was all they did. Someone else might have greater knowledge that can inform us on this. Rob

Thanks. 40 years ago I used to drive a truck without power steering and that was a handful, but I've never encountered steering as hard as the G6ET without the power on. I took the car to the local FPV workshop this arvo and they dumped the software and reflashed it. Fixed the problem, but while the car is back to normal the solution doesn't compute for me. I'm not aware that the power steering pump is progressive & don't see the relationship between software and what I thought was a purely mechanical / hydraulic process. Gives me concern for future like problems at unexpected times. Any thoughts? Rob

Apologies if this is in the wrong thread. My 09 G6ET developed a steering problem over the weekend. After coming to a stop, particularly if have to hold foot on the brake in drive, as in waiting for the lights, the steering wheel becomes near to impossible to turn. When I put the thing in neutral and rev the engine, it loosens up and one can turn. The problem has been developing over 24 hours and is progressively getting worse. I'd be grateful for any tips on what might be causing it? Thanks in advance Rob

Thanks John, I'm not much of a camera person but will take a pic and post, though the car looks exactly like the G6ET of g6et06's in the recent images gallery on the home page, same colour & wheels, about the same height. I haven't had pedders coiled height adjusters fitted, I have pedders sports springs with Koni's all round, car has been lowered by approx 25mm, lol, just low enough to scrape every public carpark kerb & divider. Andrew I haven't done anything about tyres yet, I reckon another 3 - 5 k in the rears and I'll need a new set. Thanks for the info about your, what did you pay for the Pirelli nero's? Regards Rob

Further update: In addition to installing a set of Koni's (thanks Brett) and lopping a bit off the suspension stops, I asked Ben and Reade at Pedders South Melbourne to replace the rear diff bush with a much stiffer, but vibration free perforated urethane one (Pedders part # EP1175). Ford told me the bushes in my car were fine and that a urethane bush would transmit a lot of vibration into the car, it doesn't. You wouldn't know it was the same car. The rear had a tendency to break traction too unpredictably, worse when it did break the rear would crack right or left, the only way to deal with it was back off. Now the backend is under control, I can feel progressive grip and when it does break I can mostly drive out of it. More importantly when the wheels spin up in a straight line the car sits square over them, rather than the rear snake out towards a parked car or some such. The konis are a great addition and have reduced axle tramp, but I reckon the stiffer rear diff bush has taken the monster out of the car and created stability that lets the rest of the suspension get power to the ground. Skid pan session Saturday week, then a track day. Rob

time for an update, particularly for the many guys who have given me great advice on developing the car. Thanks, I haven't taken everyone's specific advice, but I couldn't have progressed this far without your help. After changing springs (Pedders sport) and adding Whiteline sway bars, I found the car handled much better, turns in well. The installation of an LSD improved traction, however, I am getting some axle tramp and the car felt squishy and indecisive (incl in Performance mode). Early this week the exhaust system and air filter were replaced (Herrod plus K&L). New injectors and a PCW flash and tune, 15psi boost. Now 284rwkw and 766Nm. The tune has toned up gearbox response (in both drive and Performance mode). Fabulous to drive, took it out on some very wet back roads last night, is great, especially on dirt (which surprised me, but then I always have enjoyed thrashing on dirt roads). The car now has great feel, there is a slight vibration coming through the body (felt via the wheel) from the exhaust, so I can now both hear and feel what the engine is doing. There is a slight drone at highway cruising speed. Is covered by the sound system when on, but is sufficient to annoy old ears at other times so I will likely do something about damping sound coming up through the boot in time. I organised the mods through the local FPV workshop. I only plan to keep this car for around 12 months and I figure if I can show buyers that as much of the work as possible was done through a Ford dealer that it will have more cred in some people's eyes and I'll not lose as much dough, lol. Yes I have paid more than if the work was done independently, but I'm happy. I am still concerned about axle tramp and suspension hitting the stops when accelerating on rough surfaces, will shorten stops and put in a set of koni's in the next week or so. The guys at Pedders South Melb (top blokes by the way) also suggest changing the rear dif bush to a urethane insert. I had expressed concern about the diff bushes to the FPV guys, hoping to get them to replace all the bushes under warranty with the new stiffer ones Ford is fitting now, but they could find nothing wrong with them. Bugger. I am unsure whether replacing one diff bush with a urethane insert is going to put under stress on the other two bushes, but I reckon I'll find out. The last few month developing the car have been great fun, now just need to tie down the rear axle a bit and do a few track days. Rob

See Caulfield Service Centre, Ford and FPV Service, Ford and FPV Repairs - New Oak Ford - Oakleigh, Melbourne. The dude behind the reception desk is Wayne, but the young fella in the workshop Adrian (XR6T driver) is the guy you want to talk to from a hands on perspective. The warranty won't cover any external parts fitted that bust, and in theory not any other part they cause to break, but I'm told Ford are reasonable in this context.

Yeh I did put up that info as a thread and it disappeared, thought I was having a senior moment, so I posted it again here. Like you I had just got a quote re inserts from Pedders when I founf the above out. What tyres did you fit? I have also discovered that NewOarkFord (Oakleigh Victoria) whose specialist FPV workshop I was in are only too happy to mod my car for me, and will use other specialist outside shops to do it where they need to do that. And that making changes within that framework goes a long way to protecting the car's warranty. They are going to do some work for me - returning 300-330rwkw in about a week - exhaust, airfilter, tune (SCT flash), injectors. No doubt independent tuners and more techically minded owners would prefer not to take this course, but being an old guy I feel much happier being able to stay within the confines of the manufacturer and the general span of the warranty while further developing the car. Rob

I was at a dedicated FPV service centre yesterday discussing diff bushes and 'clunks' 'bangs' in the backend under power. Apparently Ford has developed a new stiffer diff bush, which is already being fitted on the production line. Not yet available via spare parts yet, I'm told a couple of weeks, when available I'll try getting all 3 diff bushes on my car replaced under warranty.

I was down at the local Ford dealers FPV workshop this morning and learnt that the company has recently released new stiffer diff bushes for turbos. Apparently the new bushes are already being put in production cars, but they are not yet available via spare parts, should only be a week or two. So if your car is still under warranty and you have 'clunks' or 'bangs' in the backend (as I do) I suggest you go lobby for replacements. My car is lowered, has stronger springs and after market sway bars, but the guys at the FPV workshop still say that there should be no problem warranty wise.

I've never had a diff clunk, a distinct 'bang' somewhere back there when I flatten it was tuned out during a dealer service, but now that I've stiffened up the rear suspension I notice it's back, not sure what it is. My guess is rubber bushes allowing too much movement. Rob