The clearest proof I've seen thus far that NEW CARS NEED THE WHEELS BALANCED AND ALIGNMENT CHECKED. I think this topic has been beat to death now.....Only after the dealer has done a thorough job balancing the wheels do they start looking for mechanical problems (steering gear).

 

Beat to death? That's how I feel after driving my truck. Steps dealer has taken to this point:

1) Balanced tires and aligned front end
2) Replaced steering gear, balanced tires again
3) Replaced front wheel hubs

Between steps 2 & 3 I had the tires rotated front to rear.

Steering wheel vibration is gone now but the whole truck still vibrates at 45 - 50 mph and over 60 mph. I really think this is a tire issue so tomorrow I'm going to have the tires balanced by an independent shop I've used before.

 

Tire balancing by independent shop didn't help. Vibration is getting worse day by day. The dealer has agreed to get a Ford rep to look at the problem. I haven't mentioned this to them but it will be their 4th attempt. Spoke with an attorney and he says to give them one last chance to fix it before asking for a new truck.

 

Just wondering if anyone has replaced their standard bfg 18" tires , on a lariat 4x2 , I still have steering wheel nibble ,now have 10k miles and this problem sure irritates , as the rest of the truck seems fine, the virbation in the steering wheel , or nibble on mine is worse in the morning , after truck has set for 10 hours or so , after driving a few miles during the day , it sometimes is hardly noticable, Just thinking that it could be the tires , as I have read that balancing by some on this forum , and that it did not help. If anyone has changed tire brand , let us know if it helped the nibble problem.

 

I have the LT Goodyear AT on 18's with no vibration...knock on wood. Only have 360 miles, just picked it up last monday and have no clue as to build date. What is the "slipping" that everyone is also referring too?

 

I took mine in for the vibration/nibble problem on tuesday. the dealer balanced and rotated and the problem is worse now.

this morning on the way to work i set the cruise at 70 and the vibration/nibble wasn't as bad. i shut the the cruise off and it got got worse. i did it a few times and every time got the same result. what would the cruise control have to do with steering wheel vibration? could this be pointing to some type of transmission problem?

 

Well 55Ford, my new lariat (800 miles) had the vibration when I bought it. I was told to come back at 500 miles and if it was still there, they would replace the tires. At 500 I put 22 inch wheels and tires on it. Got in the truck SAME NIBBLE. I don't think its a nibble, it's a wobble. I am putting the stock tires back on and going to the dealership.

 

Keep us informed on what happens!!!

 

Instead of taking it back to the dealership, I took it to Olin Mott with the new wheels. They "trued" the tires. I didn't want to do this, but when they spun all 4 off the ground, the "untrueness" was visible. They also high speed balanced them on the truck. I wasn't that hopeful, but the nimble is gone, at least 90%. I will give it a couple of hundred miles and let everyone know

 

Thanks for the info... This is my first time writing on this site sence there is so much info, but i have this wheel vibe too. Its the worse at 70 to 75 mph and it comes and goes. I brought it in but they said they couldnt replicate the vibe. I will bring them this TSB next time I take it in, which will be soon do to a rattle of my cowel right behind the hood. These are minor issues that are not that anoying but after paying so much for a new truck every little think gets under my skin.

-Josh 04 SCREW FX4

btw i have 17 inch rims

 

Just for **its and giggles, I checked the barcode on my rack. Even though my build date is 6 months after the cutoff for the TSB, by first 5 digits are 09504 which fall well withing the 21003 on the TSB. I just talked to my dealership and they told me to come up there with the TSB # and they would change the rack (what they call the gear). Hopefully that will take care of the other 10%

 

I’ve had my truck since 10-24-03 and initially had a slight vibration. It could be felt in the steering wheel and throughout the cab. I took it to my dealership at approximately 1,000 miles. They checked all the tires with the Hunter 9700 tire machine and found that the left front tire had excessive roadforce. The tire was replaced and the vibration was gone. I have the BF Goodrich Radial Long Trail T/A P265/60R18’s.