Vibration:Devil's Advocate!
 

Guys:

I just wanted to say, this is a great forum, but I sense a little of the Hypochondriac syndrome... Heh Heh...

Some quotes: Oh may my truck shook when I hit a bump! I must have the dreaded vibe...

Or:

How do you tell if you have the vibe. I don't know if I have it or not...

So anyway, my beef is not with the people that truly have a vibration issue. It is documented, there are TSB's pertaining to this, but guys come on... YOU WILL KNOW IF YOU HAVE VIBRATION OR NIBBLE PROBLEMS. THE VIBRATION AND NIBBLE PROBLEMS FOR ME FEEL LIKE I HAVE A '92 FORD AREOSTAR VAN W/165,000 MILES ON IT. Feels like a worn out rear end, out of balance driveshaft, and like the tires are out of balance (or bald / flatspotted)...

If you can't tell, don't worry... There are some trucks that somehow have a vibration issue. There is a lot of untested technology in this truck, and probabally for 2006 model year (2005 => no change) there may be some vibration characteristic changes... Different mounts, different trannys, driveshafts, rear ends... There are a lot of trucks that don't have this concern...

Anyway, to sum up, what I am trying to say if I hope you don't have "THE VIBRATION" as you probabally have heard, I spent June-Now working on the DSB stuff, and I am still driving my truck waiting on Ford to finish up. So buy a fax machine, tons of stamps and make sure you have a lot of long distance minutes... If you really want to win your case, my documents consisted of about 200+ pages... My stuff, dealer stuff, Ford stuff, some stuff about vibration and posts from this forum... It's a long road ahead, and if they decide you didn't have the vibe. from the start, you are paying mileage back to ford. I talked to one member and to drop off his '04 and get an identical '05, it is gonna cost him like $4000 because of 15,000 miles or whatever... SO he pays out x-tra money... It's not good anyway you look at it... So beware, if you got it, its a long road ahead... If you don't you probabally won't get "THE VIBE" unless you are off roading and start dinging up your driveshaft...

This vibe issue has gone on too long, lets forget about it... The problem with that is Ford doesnt't know what it is... So I don't really think it is a problem with one model, or plant or rearend. I heard FX4's had it more... For some its a bent rim, some a bad tire, some a driveshaft, rearend or tranny. It's a stiff, quiet, and tuff truck and if anything is out of wack you are gonna feel it... I don't think there is any one issure that Ford knows about and is not doing anything about it... The vibe. TSB's for this truck are pretty much the same for Explorer's, Expeditions, and previous model years as well... Nothing new here...

SORRY FOR RAMBLING, but I have a lot to say after 6 months of dealing with this waiting for it to be completed... I may buy a beater for 6 months and wait to see if this stuff ever gets totally resolved????????

My DSB package was only 5 dealer tickets, 1 letter from the FSE, 1 letter from the service manager, my cover letter and 10 supporting documents. The DSB sent everything to me via DHL and USPS. I'm getting all my money back, interest, line-x bed liner & no milage charged to me (12 months & 21,100 miles now).

I have VIBRATION problems from around 55 Mph to about 75 Mph I have 2066 miles on my truck. So far they have only tried to balance the tires and do an alignment but the vibration is still there.

I know the vibration issue can make some people paraniod but I know I have the issue and I dont think buying an expensive vehicle should come with problems.

Paying what we all have payed for these trucks for me is the bottom line. I love my truck but the amount of money I have put out on it should be the over-riding factor. A defective product is just that and as a consumer we shouldn't have to accept it.

J
 

J...

I do not disagree with a word you said... I am just saying the whole point of the DSB is to settle a dispute... You have to give the dealer the chance to fix the vehicle... It states this...

Someone should really just film their steering wheel and post it so everyone can see what a real vibe problem is. My steering wheel (measured from 3oclock) has about +/- 1/2" of oscillation at 55-60. Before the lift it did the same thing at 65-70. And I dont even notice it nor consider it a "vibe" issue. I feel like those truly with the vibe problem are finding their trucks unmanageable, am I right or wrong?
For those who think they have this vibration issue film it or look at your wheel and gauge what you think the amplitude of the osciallation is. I assue for many this is their first truck and expected a mercedez ride. Big tires and beefy suspension will cause a little rough riding (if you are used to a car, even though it feels like a cloud to me) and a little bit of steering "nibble" NOT jerking.
Whos got the true problems here? Figure it out because threads like this have been running amuck since I got here and I still dont know how bad these people got it.
I love my non-vibrating truck.
Remember the vibe is the minority to all you possible F150 owners.

I will be happy as pie if they can fix it when I take it in tommorow. If replacing the drive shaft, putting on a dampener, etc etc etc... fixes it I will jump for joy.

I just have read alot of people getting wierd, little to no, different responses from thier service departments about the same issues.

I am fully willing to turn over the truck and have my dealership work on it to fix the problem that is what I am hoping will happen.

However, I want to know about the DSB process and what you folks have had to do to protect your investment. I see my truck as a major investment and I have paid for extra security in that investment by buying it brand new and paying for a warranty.

I make a decent living but I am not rich by any means this truck I plan on having for a long time but I need to make sure it works and it works right from the get go.

2 THINGS...
 

THE STEERING WHEEL NIBBLE IS A SEPERATE ISSUE FROM THE VIBRATION. ALTHOUGH I HAD BOTH ISSUES TO DEAL WITH. SOME PEOPLE HAD ONE OR THE OTHER.

STEERING WHEEL NIBBLE ISSUES:
I HAD A STEERING WHEEL NIBBLE 50-70 OR SO.

They will replace your steering gear (rack) if it's an old one. If it's the new one, there may be a nut to tighten, or tires out of balance???


VIBRATION ISSUES:
I HAD DRIVELINE VIBRATION UPON ACCEL (LIKE SLIPPING TRANS).

I HAVE A THUMP, THUMP, THUMP WHILE DRIVING AT STEADY SPEEDS (LIKE FLAT SPOTTED TIRES).

I HAVE A RUMBLE THROUGH THE WHOLE CAB UPON DECEL... (THIS IS LIKE A JET WITH THE REVERSE THRUSTERS AT FULL TILT AT LANDING)...

That's why I say, if you have major (DSB/FORD BUYBACK) problems, it will be very noticable. That's why some have had dealers say NO PROBLEM FOUND... If you drive mine you will know...

I would love a report from FORD stating what they found when the engineers dig into it...

(ALSO, I HAD 5 TRIM PIECES REPLACED THAT WERE TORE UP AT THE FACTORY, AC DIDN'T WORK, 5 NEW TIRES, 4 BALANCE JOBS, NEW DRIVESHAFT)... LOTS OF WORK!!!

My new '04 FX4 is my fourth F-150, first one was a '94. The current truck is superior to any 1/2 ton I have driven and I have tested them all.

Being an extremely anal truck purchaser my FX4 was in the shop at 360 miles due to the fact I felt the vibration (in the seat of my pants) and suspected a driveshaft issue (I have had them before - I had the same feeling when the driveshaft in my '66 fastback started to go).

I am sure there are different degrees to the vibe or shutter, what ever you want to call it and I only hope that everyone on the post is satisfied with the resolve whatever it might be.

Personally I am truly hoping to find the fix on my current truck - I think it is an awesome truck. We tried the wheel balancing trick and it didn't work and she is currently in for the drive shaft - fingers crossed it will be the fix!

Dan


:thumbsup:

I rotated my tires yesterday at 12,000 miles and everything is still good, no vibration. I’m optimistic that nothing will change but only time will tell.

I have the vibe problem so ******* bad that I had to speak to the GM of my dealership about it and now wouldn't you know it, they found a bad tire and had to order a new rearend. I'm so disappointed in FORD right now that it makes me sick to have to take the truck back.

Jansen

Umm it's a truck. If you wanted a smooth easy ride should've bought a Honda.

It's a $40000 truck - it should perform as advertised.

Honda did you say Honda? Here is a link for the new Honda 2005 SUT
http://www.honda-club-ems-jade.de/Ho..._concept_.html

HOPE NOT...
 

I would hope that was not directed towards me... I have owned Grand AM's, Achieva's, Malibu's, as well as a ZR-2 Blazer, Expedition, Explorer, so I think I understand how trucks ride...

I don't expect it to be a Cadilliac, but it's close. Abnormal vibrations and steering wheel shimmy has nothing to do with a rough ride. Hell, I like a little bit of a rough ride, that's why I bought an FX4...

matt

EXACTLY

Thank you for that. Trade for an Escalade with 20" wheels and low profile tires.