Bought a F150 XLT yesterday although I noticed some vibration during test drive. Oh, no problem we'll balance tires. Go to take delivery, oh, we needed to replace some tires and takes time to "road force balance"

Woke up in a sweat after my first 05 F150 nightmare. Cancelled the deal just minutes ago. What a shame.

After reading all the posts - TSB 4 25 7
I find out the tires are just the first thing they check, then perhaps they get lucky. Or not:

Is it the drive shaft? run vibration test
clutch pack?
Frame too stiff?
Needs a damper kit?

Did I miss something - I found ton's of threads here but nothing difinitive as to a cure.

No answers.

No thanks.

 

There is no cure. So after they replaced the tires did you take it out for a spin again and still feel this vibe or what? If they replaced the tires, why did they want to RFB them? The old tires or the new tires? I'm confused.

 

I would definitely have them fix it before signing any paperwork. If not, move on to something else. Most of the trucks out there don't have these issues, but the ones that do, including the one I bought, are a pain in the A!! to say the least.

 

I've read enough posts about these problems popping up over and over again after they had supposedly been fixed that I would not buy a truck that exhibited a vibe on test drive. They built enough that you can find another one with a little patience. Good Luck.

 

My 2004 vibrates just a little from 65-75 depending on the road. My friends Newer 2004 is smooth as ever. I have a XLT and he has a FX4. Im thinking about getting an FX4 wheel and tire package from ebay for 500 bones. Maybee thatll fix it????

 

I really doubt thats going to fix your problem..

 

I have to agree with Thumper, after reading numerious posts regarding the vibe, only on very rare occasions have i read where actually replacing the tires solved the problem.

 

As mentioned here at the Forum, there are several different vibes. I use to experience the one that shook the whole truck at a certain speed (steering wheel, wiper blades jump around, etc.) and would then stop by itself (would stop faster if you pulled to the side of the road and stopped moving). I saw one persons comment on the cause and I've got to admit, ever since I switched I have had ZERO (notta, none) vibes ... period. Never have had the truck into the dealer for any work related to this vibe (no tire changes, no force balancing, nothing). What did I change? I stopped setting and using the E-brake. Even conducted an experiment and started using it again, and low and behold, the vibe returned (at times). Have not used the E-brake for months ... have not had a single vibe occurance.

I can't swear this is the fix, but I'm sold ... and that's the bottom line.

 

I was somewhat aware of the vibe issue when I went looking for a truck but it did not register until they started throwing parts at the problem before I even took delivery.

I really liked that truck, too.

 

THey were going to work on it today so I was to go back and retest. I saved them the trouble although I hope they figure this out. They are good people and did not have a problem with me

 

I went from steel wheels to aluminum and it made all of the difference, the dealership gave me the basic FX4 wheels, they are lighter, absorb more from the road and are one peice not like the steel wheels, if that answers your question........good luck.

 

I went into the dealer the other day, after having had my tires rotated, and the vibration got TEN times worse. I brought it back to them, and they said they needed to do a 'road course balance.' In my case, it DID fix the problem - now the truck drives like an absolute dream, no vibrations, nothing. :

 

They replaced all of my tires this time. It has fixed it again. The first vibe they balanced and rotated, and it fixed it. I like the Summerville Ford (SC), they even gave me a rental (F-150 too) when they could not finish the things I had them accomplish.

Kevin

 

Sorry to differ here, but I have the FX4 package with the FX4 wheels and mine shakes like a preacher in a ***** house, even after my brand new BFG or should I say NFG tires.

BREW


I think its a characteristic of SOME trucks (aka..a problem) and just cant be fixed

 

I clearly stated that I doubted it would change anything. It might work for a select few but I can say its not going to be a fix for the widespread of people who have a vibe issue. If it was as easy as going from a steel wheel to an aluminum wheel do you think there would be this much debate about what it really is!?