2012 Expedition Running Boards Issue

WD40 will help to clean up the fittings. Check your local RV dealer for Blaster penetrating oil if WD40 doesn't work. Then
FVP lubricant works well, it is used on RV fittings as well.

Thank you all. Issue resolved.
I have been spraying WD40 to the pins where the boards twist as they open and close. I kept opening and closing the vehicle doors and spraying the pins. Did that for two or three days.
No more issues. Boards now open and closed as designed.
Thanks again for your suggestions.

LouG said:

Thank you all. Issue resolved.
I have been spraying WD40 to the pins where the boards twist as they open and close. I kept opening and closing the vehicle doors and spraying the pins. Did that for two or three days.
No more issues. Boards now open and closed as designed.
Thanks again for your suggestions.

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That's good news! No just stay on top of them and they'll continue to work as they should

LouG said:

Thank you all. Issue resolved.
I have been spraying WD40 to the pins where the boards twist as they open and close. I kept opening and closing the vehicle doors and spraying the pins. Did that for two or three days.
No more issues. Boards now open and closed as designed.
Thanks again for your suggestions.

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This will sort it out for awhile, but it's a sign that the motor will need to be repaired/replaced at some point. One of mine made it about a month after the issues started before needing repair; the other went about 7 months.

ManUpOrShutUp said:

This will sort it out for awhile, but it's a sign that the motor will need to be repaired/replaced at some point. One of mine made it about a month after the issues started before needing repair; the other went about 7 months.

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Well that depends how long they were neglected. The pivot points binding causes unnecessary stress on the motor So if left for to long it could cause a failure but I wouldn't call it a "sign the motor will need to be replaced".

gixer2000 said:

Well that depends how long they were neglected. The pivot points binding causes unnecessary stress on the motor So if left for to long it could cause a failure but I wouldn't call it a "sign the motor will need to be replaced".

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We're going to have to agree to disagree. All of the Ford techs, service managers and even one operations manager I've spoken to described these running boards as "defective by design." That is of course just their opinion, but they're basing it on their daily experiences and my limited observations (in person and online) coincide with them. If you've never repaired or replaced the ones on your '07, congrats. I'll bet the OP will be repairing/replacing his within a year.

They only defect about the design is the element exposure they face everyday. Having the motor protected, sealed bearings or even grease fittings at the pivot points would have been huge but unfortunately were stuck with a system that requires maintenance. So yes you could call it a flawed design but if properly maintained they function well for a long time. Keep in mind that this issue spreads into other manufacturers with power running boards also so it's not just a ford issue.

I searched high and low to find an EL with fixed running boards because I didn't want the headache of constantly greasing my running boards. I do however like the power board look better but it's one less thing I have to worry about.

Also I have repaired at least 20 sets of these boards for a local small dealer near me. My ford dealers just throw parts quotes because it's a pain in the butt to deal with so the mom and pop dealer bring them to me. Typically they just require cleaning,lubrication and exercise

ManUpOrShutUp said:

We're going to have to agree to disagree. All of the Ford techs, service managers and even one operations manager I've spoken to described these running boards as "defective by design." That is of course just their opinion, but they're basing it on their daily experiences and my limited observations (in person and online) coincide with them. If you've never repaired or replaced the ones on your '07, congrats. I'll bet the OP will be repairing/replacing his within a year.

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That is one of the reasons I purchased the 8 year 100,000 mile extended warranty because one running board motor goes out and it will almost pay for the entire extended warranty.

I am starting to hear a noise on one side. I shut them off until i can clean and lube.

I am thinking a hose to get all the dirt and mud off, then WD-40 to get anything out of the pivot points.

Once cleaned, what is the best lube? Silicone, white lithium, or something dry like graphite?

misterdawg said:

Once cleaned, what is the best lube? Silicone, white lithium, or something dry like graphite?

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Reviving this old thread to see if we have an answer to misterdawg’s unanswered question.

I just bought my 2016 a month ago, so I’m fairly new to fighting this problem. According to https://www.runningboardmotor.com, the bearings in the hinges are nylon-coated steel, so they should stand up to any of the suggested lubricants, including the WD40 that seems to be used by a lot of members. I’ve been using silicone.

Suggestions?