DrkShadow,

That is one of the strangest looking things I’ve seen in a while. Did they have to drill mounting holes in the frame to attach that kimche looking rig?

Thanks to you and PALongbow, I’ve started documenting my experience and tracking the vibe as best I can. I’ve also contacted BF Goodrich to establish what they consider to be a “good” tire, since my dealer seems to think their tires are the problem. The BFG guys are pretty helpful and they pointed me to a dealer that can check the tires/wheels out for me. The Eagle Wheel guys are next. Once I eliminate those potential causes, it’s down to Ford engineering being the culprit.

I’ve also called to make an appointment for the vibration, after reading every post I can get my hands on about it, I’ve decided not to wait for my 5K checkup. I even took my truck in to have it appraised for a trade-in, just to get this over quickly. But after they offered me 20K for a 34K truck I drove off their lot last month, we’ll do this the hard way.

Thanks guys,

Chuck

 

DrkShadow,

After looking at the pictures of your new dampner I went out to take a look at my new 05 4x4 Screw to discover the same dampner on it. I bought the truck on Dec 7 and it was built in Nov at KC. Just thought everyone following this Vibartion issue would find this interesting. I have not had a chance to post the new pics yet so it is my 04 in the signature.

 

I'm not sure if they had to drill or not. So a brand new 05 has the pos installed on it? Wonder if it camen from the factory that way or the dealer added it after a test drive complaint? You will notice both new TSB's apply to 04/05's.

Very interesting indeed! I'm trying to decide if I should start the DSB or what. I guess I'll talk to my dealer Monday and see if he gives me any more options. I left him a message asking if there's anything his service dept. can do or am I forced into DSB?

I'm going to request an FSE look at it for humor/DSB sake I guess. Maybe write FMC, I'd call but this way at least it's documentation.

DBader,

Why did you get rid of your 04? I've wondered what the dealer would offer for trade. Might ask since I enjoy agrevation so much.

 

DrkShadow,

Could you tell me a little more about your vibe, and anybody else for that matter? I'll describe mine for you. My truck is a Scab, 4x4 and I have the 4.6 motor and only 450 miles. First, keep in mind that I have only gone over 65mph a few times for a very short period and it felt much better than any speed under that. I have only noticed considerable "shake" a few times, and I belive each time it was in the 55mph range. Normal driving for me, I am always feeling some kind of feedback through the steering wheel. When the vibe gets to be a little more noticable then you again feel it in the wheel but harder and the seat. I also feel it some in the floor board area and the bed vibrates back and for slightly. This can happen for me at any speed up to 60mph or so. I would describe 90% of my vib issue as an extreme annoyance more than anything. Only the few times it really got going did I feel safety could be an issue. Also I would like to add that I have never towed anything yet so I can't comment as to how it is under load.

I am seeing more and more people with a vibe issue pop up, so it has to be more common then people want to believe. I also tend to think there are a bunch of owners out there that my think its "normal" since its a truck and not a Lincoln Towncar. I also wonder about all these DSB cases where Ford had to buy back the truck. Were these vibe issues a saftey factor or the annoyance factor? In closing I was with my father in his 1996 GMC Surburban with over 140K. We were towing a Jeep Cherokee and even then he had no feedback coming through the wheel. It just pisses me off when I KNOW how smooth these trucks can run, and I want to feel that 97% of the time vs the 3% that I get to feel it now

Thanks for all your input

 

DrkShadow,

I'm 100% sure it came from the factory that way.

 

It's hard to exactly describe it other then I feel the vibration at most speeds, but the high point is between 40-50. I feel it in the gas pedal during acceleration, steering wheel, slightly in the seat. I can only describe it as a pulsing/harmonic vibration.

 

Do you find the vibration more annoying or unsafe? I'm being picky so I don't want to feel any of this feedback through the wheel. Its certainly not horrible where I feel my body will go numb. Just curious.

 

I don't find it annoying, actually I find it aggrevating. If I bought this used with 20k miles, I wouldn't be on these forums saying anything. Heck my brothers 99 Chevy doesn't do this and he didn't spend 30k on his truck either nor did Chevy spend lots of money in advertising about how NVH had been reduced so much like Ford did.

It did not drive like this when it only had 15 miles on it. I can't say I feel unsafe at this very moment, but it is slowly getting worse IMO. I'm more concerned about the long terms effects of it, and possible safety issue down the road as well as resale since Ford can't seem to fix it and the word about the vibe is slowly getting more attention.

Hope that helps.

 

That was very helpful because I agree with everything you just said. I'm just starting off with this situation so I hope they can figure it all out. Besides the vibe I absolutly love this truck.

 

Me too! That's why I got one and might get an 05. I'll just make sure I get it for the weekend and ride it hard before I do paperwork.

 

Dbader,


That’s kind of strange, a brand new 05 with a TSB Dampner on it, Hmmmmmmmm.

When I take mine in this week for it’s first 2nd vibration visit, I’m going to crawl around under some 05s and have a look. Maybe Ford is trying to do a preemptive strike on the vibe complaints. I wonder how many have already had the tire/wheel Road Force indexing trick applied?

Chuck

 

If my Uncle comes to our lunch thing today, I'll check his. He bought his 05 a few months ago. It's just like mine except it's a screw.

 

Guys With Vibe:
Pay attention to the road surface you're on when you feel the vibe as much as vehicle speed. One thing my service manager pointed out to me when he drove my truck is that you could see the ripples in the road as you felt them. To me, this was/is an indication that the new stiffer frame is causing the vibrations we're feeling.

What I expected to see installed on DrkShadow's truck was new body mounts (i.e., replace the rubber washers that sit between the body and the frame with something softer) and not that leaf spring pimple that he's got now. I thought that's what the frame dampener was going to be and I don't have the TSB in front of me to see if there's another set of parts out there. I'll be damned disappointed if that thing is what my dealer wants to put on my FX4.

 

I don't buy the road bit. I drive a nice new stretch of asphalt daily, which was very smooth in my 99 blazer. I'll see what my dealer says tomorrow when he get's my voicemail. At 40-50, the vibe is there 100% of the time but can feel a bit different if the road has expansion joints.

 

Nope. I don't buy road conditions as well. My vibration was in the driveline. No other place. The road has nothing to do with my vibe. I could feel it on smooth and rough road surfaces. Didn't mater.

Ron