and now back to the vibration...........
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: New England
I biought A 1986 F150 years ago and had a ridiculous vibration at 35 mph. After changing and balancing all of the tires, I finally got them to replace the drive shaft and it went away.
Years later I bought a 1998 F150 and, at 55mph I had the same vibration. The dealership had to follow the script and again went through the tires, balance, rims and a few other things before doing what I suggested in the first place and change the drive shaft.
The problem was solved finally.
I think there is something seriously wrong at Ford if they haven't learned to make drive shaft yet!!
Years later I bought a 1998 F150 and, at 55mph I had the same vibration. The dealership had to follow the script and again went through the tires, balance, rims and a few other things before doing what I suggested in the first place and change the drive shaft.
The problem was solved finally.
I think there is something seriously wrong at Ford if they haven't learned to make drive shaft yet!!
Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Gentleman,
Not a Ford owner, but a general personal truck enthusiast. Just wanted to offer a story for you - perhaps something to try if you run into any "BS" with people claiming this vibration is normal.
Heard a story on another discussion board (can't recall the exact one - but I am being honest). This guy buys a new Chevy. If you haven't heard, there is a problem with Piston knock on some of these rigs. Supposedly they are having similar problems trying to resolve this as this vibration problem or something along those lines. So the guy who owns the Chevy takes it into his dealer to get this fixed and turns on the truck for the service manager. He said it was very pronounced - clear as day. Knock knock knock knock, etc. The Service manager played dumb (I guess this is a big problem) and said he couldn't hear it. So the guy says I want to see your GM. The head honcho of the dealership comes out and he says the same thing - he can't hear it. So the guy says "scrap this" and immediately drives the truck over to sales. He tells the salesman that he wants to trade his truck in on another vehicle. So the salesman does a walk around. Rig looks good shape aesthetically. So he asks him to turn on the engine. Starts truck. Salesman shakes his head a bit. Turns truck off. Salesman gives him mediocre offer for his used truck. He asks "why?" And guess what the salesman says? "Well it's got a bad case of Piston knock!" I can't recall exactly what happened after that - I read this a while ago.
But if you guys are getting Ford reps saying this is normal, I'd try and trade it in. Maybe play dumb and if they drive it and find the knock (but hey now - if the Ford rep says this is normal - what will the salesman tell you when he detects the vibration?)? Perhaps take it to another dealership. Go for an '05 maybe? Or another Ford rig? Perhaps if Ford considers this normal, theyll have no problem giving you a good resale value on your truck like someone else who didn't have the knock would.
Not a Ford owner, but a general personal truck enthusiast. Just wanted to offer a story for you - perhaps something to try if you run into any "BS" with people claiming this vibration is normal.
Heard a story on another discussion board (can't recall the exact one - but I am being honest). This guy buys a new Chevy. If you haven't heard, there is a problem with Piston knock on some of these rigs. Supposedly they are having similar problems trying to resolve this as this vibration problem or something along those lines. So the guy who owns the Chevy takes it into his dealer to get this fixed and turns on the truck for the service manager. He said it was very pronounced - clear as day. Knock knock knock knock, etc. The Service manager played dumb (I guess this is a big problem) and said he couldn't hear it. So the guy says I want to see your GM. The head honcho of the dealership comes out and he says the same thing - he can't hear it. So the guy says "scrap this" and immediately drives the truck over to sales. He tells the salesman that he wants to trade his truck in on another vehicle. So the salesman does a walk around. Rig looks good shape aesthetically. So he asks him to turn on the engine. Starts truck. Salesman shakes his head a bit. Turns truck off. Salesman gives him mediocre offer for his used truck. He asks "why?" And guess what the salesman says? "Well it's got a bad case of Piston knock!" I can't recall exactly what happened after that - I read this a while ago.
But if you guys are getting Ford reps saying this is normal, I'd try and trade it in. Maybe play dumb and if they drive it and find the knock (but hey now - if the Ford rep says this is normal - what will the salesman tell you when he detects the vibration?)? Perhaps take it to another dealership. Go for an '05 maybe? Or another Ford rig? Perhaps if Ford considers this normal, theyll have no problem giving you a good resale value on your truck like someone else who didn't have the knock would.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: South Central Kansas
Hey Guys!
Pardon me if this has already been suggested or discussed. Years ago I worked at a Ford dealership in the parts department and found that many times when there was a mild to moderate driveline vibration it was caused by lack of or INCORRECT grease on the slip yoke splines where the slip yoke slides into the transmission or transfer case. Ford makes a special grease for this application. My 2004 f-150 4x4 FX4 S-cab 5.4 3:73 LS has a slight vibration when lightly accelerating on level ground from about 40 to 60 mph. I have not yet taken it to the dealer. My truck is an early 2004 that sat on the dealer lot 11 months (blazing yellow trucks don't sell well here in Kansas , LOL). Also there is another thing you might try on your own. Take a large radiator screw type hose clamp and clamp it around the drive shaft. Make a note where the screw part of the clamp is, then drive the truck, if it still vibrates loosen the clamp and rotate it 45 degrees and drive it again. Do this on the rear of the drive shaft first and then the front. Might help and might not. Also you could jack up the rearend (try this on traction lock rearends only) and have a friend run the truck in drive (with the rear wheels off the ground) at 30 to 50 mph while you carefully take a piece of chalk and very lightly touch the rotating driveshaft at the front center and rear. If the chalk line is heavier on one side of the shaft than the other try putting a hose clamp on it with the srew side towards the lighter area of the chalk line (versus the darker or heavier side). This may or may not fix the problem. Warning! Spinning drive shaft is DANGEROUS and can catch loose clothing or long hair so be CAREFUL and do at your own risk! I will try this on mine this weekend and post my results.
Good Luck
Even with the vibration issue (Ford will fix it) the 04 Ford F-150 is a great truck!
Bob
Pardon me if this has already been suggested or discussed. Years ago I worked at a Ford dealership in the parts department and found that many times when there was a mild to moderate driveline vibration it was caused by lack of or INCORRECT grease on the slip yoke splines where the slip yoke slides into the transmission or transfer case. Ford makes a special grease for this application. My 2004 f-150 4x4 FX4 S-cab 5.4 3:73 LS has a slight vibration when lightly accelerating on level ground from about 40 to 60 mph. I have not yet taken it to the dealer. My truck is an early 2004 that sat on the dealer lot 11 months (blazing yellow trucks don't sell well here in Kansas , LOL). Also there is another thing you might try on your own. Take a large radiator screw type hose clamp and clamp it around the drive shaft. Make a note where the screw part of the clamp is, then drive the truck, if it still vibrates loosen the clamp and rotate it 45 degrees and drive it again. Do this on the rear of the drive shaft first and then the front. Might help and might not. Also you could jack up the rearend (try this on traction lock rearends only) and have a friend run the truck in drive (with the rear wheels off the ground) at 30 to 50 mph while you carefully take a piece of chalk and very lightly touch the rotating driveshaft at the front center and rear. If the chalk line is heavier on one side of the shaft than the other try putting a hose clamp on it with the srew side towards the lighter area of the chalk line (versus the darker or heavier side). This may or may not fix the problem. Warning! Spinning drive shaft is DANGEROUS and can catch loose clothing or long hair so be CAREFUL and do at your own risk! I will try this on mine this weekend and post my results.
Good Luck
Even with the vibration issue (Ford will fix it) the 04 Ford F-150 is a great truck!
Bob
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Catonsville, MD
My truck has been in the shop since Monday. Four new tires and was called back over to the dealer to pick up the truck since it was "fixed". A short test drive showed the truck was worse than it had ever been. A quick conversation about how it was quite apparent to me that no-one had test driven the truck after the new tires and back into the shop it went. Ordering four new tires, and a drive shaft. The saga continues...
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Catonsville, MD
WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Got a new driveshaft installed today. Picked up the truck and it 99.99999% eliminated the problem. If I have my hand on the wheel, I can't feel it at all. Hand off the wheel and I can just ever so slightly see the wheel move. I think they fixed mine finally!
Got a new driveshaft installed today. Picked up the truck and it 99.99999% eliminated the problem. If I have my hand on the wheel, I can't feel it at all. Hand off the wheel and I can just ever so slightly see the wheel move. I think they fixed mine finally!
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Catonsville, MD
looks like the part number they installed was 4L3Z-4602-MB.
My service printout reads like this:
Complaint: Customer states there is still a vibration felt while driving.
Cause: N25 42 413z-4602-mb
Correction: Continue with TSB 04-03-03. Check and replace both rear tires. Excessive runout, also replace driveshaft per TSB, Road test w/ Service Manger, OK.
My service printout reads like this:
Complaint: Customer states there is still a vibration felt while driving.
Cause: N25 42 413z-4602-mb
Correction: Continue with TSB 04-03-03. Check and replace both rear tires. Excessive runout, also replace driveshaft per TSB, Road test w/ Service Manger, OK.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,409
Likes: 1
From: Sunny FL
Originally posted by rdblan2
WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Got a new driveshaft installed today. Picked up the truck and it 99.99999% eliminated the problem. If I have my hand on the wheel, I can't feel it at all. Hand off the wheel and I can just ever so slightly see the wheel move. I think they fixed mine finally!
WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Got a new driveshaft installed today. Picked up the truck and it 99.99999% eliminated the problem. If I have my hand on the wheel, I can't feel it at all. Hand off the wheel and I can just ever so slightly see the wheel move. I think they fixed mine finally!
glad you got the vibration problem fixed. Now you can really enjoy your truck! 
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Catonsville, MD
About time I must say! I was losing my mind! Didn't help I live in MD and bought the truck 5 hours away in Virginia! Now to start buying extras since it looks like I'll be keeping it! You guys don't know how happy I am now!
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Catonsville, MD
had a little of both actually. Mostly in the wheel though. The driveshaft did not completely eliminate the problem, but DRASTICALLY reduced the felt vibe. It's still there, but tolerable now.