My 2005 Silver/Gray Scab F/S FX4 arrived at dealer yesterday. Oh what a happy day...NOT. Went to pick it up and (THANKS TO THE GUYS ON THIS FORUM) decided to test drive it before accepting. Good thing I did. It has the dreaded nibble/shake/vibration/Parkinson's. Steering wheel has high-frequency oscillation and also has very pronounced vibration in center console.
Told dealer that I wouldn't accept delivery and left. Major bummed out. Thankfully I'm not out a deposit, but boy does this situation suck out loud.
Asst Service Mgr called this a.m. and said they had "indexed the tires," but didn't know if anyone had test-driven it to see if that cured the problem(s).
After reading here that the problem may be temporarily solved with this fix, I'm gun-shy about taking delivery of the truck only to find out later that the vibe has returned. Then I get to go without my truck for weeks(?) while they replace the drive shaft, rear-end, pinion gear, etc...or I end up in DSB hell. I've read all the TSBs. I've read all the very helpful posts. Some fixes apparently work, some don't.
If the vibe is gone when I test-drive again after work today, SHOULD I TAKE THE TRUCK OR JUST ORDER ANOTHER ONE?

 

First thing service should have done is test drive then call you. But good luck on what ever decision you make. Thats what test driveing is for.

 

I can't believe Ford is producing trucks a year after the 04's came out that still have shimmy's and shakes. This is ridiculous. I requested a DSB form from Ford this morning on my 04 FX4. I bought a 97 F150 yesterday to use as a beater/work truck. It has 160,000 miles, no shimmy's no shakes, go figure. My dealer had a meeting with all of the service managers this morning. They got an email from Ford telling them they are working on a fix. My dealer is tired of Ford throwing parts at the problems in an effort to satisfy the customer. If I were you I would hold off on getting the 05, unless you find one on the lot that does not have the shimmy's and shakes. I wish Ford would get off thier asses.

 

Check out if they have any 04's on the lot left with the same package that you wanted. If they do take it for a test drive and look for the shimmy.

1. If it doesn't shimmy you will get basically the same truck (04 to 05 there are ZERO differences).

2. You can bargain them down to practically 10,000 off the MSRP and 0% financing or close to it on an 04 right now.

Why pay 10k more for the exact same truck? I could accept it if there was a body style difference or something but there is no difference in the 04 to 05 models except the 04 models have the silencing steel in them and the 05 models dont from what I have read.

 

Don't buy it. First, they should have driven it
when it was shipped in. Second, they should have test drove
it after they "indexed" the tires before calling you.
They are only concerned with selling the truck,
not your satisfaction. Go to another dealer and
find one that don't shake. The vast majority
with problems start out shaking immediately, not
3000 miles later.

'04 LARIAT SCREW

 

I wouldn't buy a truck that had a problem from the minute it hit the lot. Too many people on this site have spent way to much time trying to get their new trucks fixed. I'd rather wait a week, a month or however long it takes to find another truck you want. If you're anything like me, you'd never be happy with this truck. Every time I heard an unusual noise or felt the slightest shimmy/vibration, you'd wish you'd waited for a truck without the problem from the start.

 

I have two 04's, one a 4x2 and the other a 4x4 and luckily neither shake, yet. Is this something that I would be able to tell immediately or can it happen as more miles are put on?

 

I wouldn't take it.

Interesting note. Mine is smooth as silk ever since I bought it in late March. Now, ever since it started getting cooler outside, I notice in the morning (for about 5 minutes after starting up and driving down the road), I have a low frequency shake, for lack of a better word. I can feel it in my seat very well. Almost as if I've let it sit so long the tires developed flat spots. I have the BFG Rugged Trail T/A tires (275/65 18). Never noticed this before until it got colder out. It's smooth as silk again after the truck goes 5 minutes down the road. I also notice the limited-slip rear end shudder while turning from a stop (during this same 5 minute warm-up period). I don't think I have a problem, but I'm curious as to what makes it do that when it gets cooler outside (just until the truck warms up)

 

Do not buy it man This vibe problem is something that has to be taken very seriously.Either Ford is still not aware of this problem or they do not WANT to be.We do not buy toys to make us nervous and angry we buy them to enjoy our life and feel good.I believe a recall is soon!!(better be)

 

don't buy it, its one thing to be stuck with one that started acting up 5000 miles down the road and have to deal with it, but I can't see any good coming of one that has the vibe from the start, don't do that to yourself. Tell them you won't buy that one no matter what and if they want to order you another one you will test drive it and if it is fine you'll buy that one. If they give you crap, go to another dealer. Good luck.

 

That is a major bummer.

I just picked up my '05 Lariat SCREW two days ago, and it drives beautifully. No problems at all.

 

I was told by my salesman "not to worry" about the shaking on my F150 Hertage. I have 1052 miles on it mostly back and forth to the dealer. DO NOT BUY THEIR PROBLEMS by doing so they become your problems! This is my last American made purchase, this is not what I want to pay for. The dealers floor manager, the service manager, the techs, they have the same response "that's the way they ride" BS. I'm goning back to NISSIAN.

 

a gallon of gas and a match

 

Is it true that the 4x2's are less likely to shake than the 4x4s?

I remember my old subaru with 250k miles on it, finally started shaking when the rear differential mount was out of alignment due it it falling apart.

A new set of bushings and a couple of shims solved that problem.

I'm seriously considering an '04 or an '05 F150, but have held back due to this issue being all over the place. I am actually LOOKING to buy an American automobile again after all the defective crap in the '80s, and buying imports for the last 10 years.

Won't consider GM or Chrysler products. I still think they are crap. I've never owned a Ford, but have a few friends who really like them. One of them has a 2000 F150 and loves it, and I see tons of them on the road.

 

Not all trucks have the nibble, shake, etc, etc.

Mine has been great, and I run the crap out of it, wide open every time I pull out, off roading, towing, pulling, hauling.