I may get bashed, but that is O.K., I wish I did not have to make this decision, but I have been dealing with an intermittant steering shimmy for 54,000 miles. I have had all of the TSB's done, new rack, atleast 40 different balances, a few sets of OEM tires, and it has really gotten old. I thought I had it fixed when I went to Nittos at 20,000 miles. Even with the Nitto's it takes Discount Tire two attempts at balancing before the shimmy is gone, everytime, sometimes 3. The nittos have been about 80% shimmy free for the 34,000 miles I have put on them. This last time I have gone back 4 times in a one month period and the shimmy is still there. The dealer never could balance any set of Oem goodyears or BFG's, the shimmy would return in a weeks time.

I have always been a Ford guy, I think they make a good truck for the most part. Howvever out of the 54,000 miles I have put on this truck, I am willing to bet over 20,000 miles has been with a steering shimmy. This is totally unacceptable for any manufacturer. I know some of you guys have never had a shimmy in your truck, and I am happy for you, I hope it stays that way.

I drove a 2wd Sierra today with factory 20's that has been sitting on the lot for a few weeks. We went straight from the dealer lot to the highway up to 70, guess what? Not even a hint of a shimmy. I bet 8 out of 10 Fords you drive off the lot and straight onto a highway would shimmy, more so if they had been sitting for a while. I know you can have trouble with any make of vehicle, but I really believe their is a design issue with these trucks steering geometry. Good luck guys. I am probably out.

 

8 out of 10? I don't think so...

Good luck if you go and bye....

 

I was not trying to imply 80% of all F-150's shimmy all the time. I do believe that 8 out of 10 trucks, sitting on the lot, if taken straight off the lot onto the highway up to 70, would shimmy. The shake may go away after 20 or 30 miles, like Ford says, others the shimmy may not go away until you find the perfect tire/wheel/ balance combination.

 

Like I said...I dont think so.

But good luck with the Sierra...Sincerely...not being sarcastic

 

Where did you pull that from?? I have a feeling if 80%+ of these trucks 'shimmied' right off the lot, there'd be ALOT more pissed off F150 owners around here. Did yours shimmy when you test drove it? Don't give up on a great vehicle just becuase you may have gotten a Monday Truck.

- NCSU

Edit: Nobody I know that owns an F150 has ANY kind of shimmy.

 

. . . say what!?

 

There are 3 more F-150's where I work, they shimmy more often than not. I ordered mine, and it did not start the shimmy until a few weeks later. One of the two I test drove before I ordered mine had a shimmy.

Hey Thumper, I thought you had shimmy problems too that could not be resolved on your 04, isn't that why your driving a different F-150?

 

Yup, you're damn straight. But, I never said 8 out of 10 F150s did have a nibble.

However, I did say that I must of just got a bad apple. I'm still in a F150 am I not?

 

I am not saying 8 out of 10 have a nibble that can't be fixed. The steering is very sensitive, and the trucks that have been sitting on a lot for a while will shimmy for a while, more often than not. I could live with it if it went away after a few miles.

 

My '04 had 18's....it shimmied. Gradually got worse as the tires wore down. Never took it in for repairs. Truck had its flaws. I knew that. Kept it for two years.

My '06 has 20's. Dang truck drives smooth as glass. Even my Tacoma had a slight shimmy in the steering wheel. Sometimes you get a good 'un, sometimes not.

Take my word for it, you'll be back. Ford Trucks are the best in the business.

Good luck with your decision, though.

 

I test drove 3 when I bought my truck and all were sitting in a gravel lot behind the dealer, none of them had the shimmy. That was the first thing I checked for since I researched on this forum before buying. Every truck has there pluses and minuses. Good luck

 

I have not made a decision, all I want is a damn truck that does not shimmy. There is nothing about the GMC that I like better than the Ford other than the fact the steering wheel does not shimmy. Infact, I like the Ford better, but 54,000 miles is enough time for Ford to come up with a permanent fix. What design change has Ford made on the 07's that has fixed the problem? Is it still luck of the draw? I have the revised steering rack, although I do not know if they have revised it again. I am considering an 07 F-150, but sure do not have a warm and fuzzy feeling about it.

 

Don't let these guys get to ya.....at least you didn't say Tundra.

Have fun test driving and good luck on a smooth purchase.

 

PS: I drove about 4 new gen. Tacomas and they all had a steering wheel vibration, same as my 2004 F150.

 

<---There's crack in his pipe.

In all seriousness, I understand people exaggerate when ticked off. But a forum full of f150 owners probably isn't a good place to exaggerate like that. I'm certain a percentage of trucks off the lot do have problems. Thats what happens when robots and humans build something. But to say 80% of Ford f150s have problems, is just a little bit over exaggerated.

But if you do go chevy, have fun on the first model year run.