I finally got all of the mechanical bugs worked out of my 08’. It runs great now. I'm starting to like it again except for the rattling when I drive over some minor bumps. I have owned a few trucks and I have driven/used many more (All makes, models, and years). None of them rattled as bad as this F-150. However, this is the first truck I have driven with 20” wheels. I was thinking that maybe they absorb less shock than a 17"/18” wheel. When I go over a few bumps the doors shake, the windows rattle like ones on a beat-up school bus, the passenger seat vibrates rapidly, the rear window sounds like it is going to fall out, etc. It is loud and annoying as hell. If I go over a manhole cover the plastic dashboard squeaks indefinitely. I have to find where the squeak is coming from, and then message it till it stops, only to have it happen 10 miles later in a different place. (This wouldn’t be a problem if Ford made the dash one piece like Rolls Royce does). Don’t get me wrong; when I’m cruising on a smooth freeway at 70mph it rides like a dream and I can only hear the motor. But when on bad country roads and city streets driving only 25 mph it’s horrible. I don’t mind a truck handling like a truck is supposed to. It is the noises and the vibrations that I cannot stand.

I do have the max trailer tow package also. The truck is very stiff and feels solid like an F-350, but it isn’t well balanced. It has a heavy-duty frame and suspension, but Ford used Tinfoil for the fenders, doors, cab, and body panels to keep weight down. The vibrations travel through the frame and rattle the cab to hell. I don’t know? Do any of your trucks rattle like this? Maybe always driving around with 800lbs in the bed would help compress the shocks to absorb more of the vibration.

 

Mine rattles exactly like that and rides like a bus too.

I've got stock rims, with 265/65/R17's and it rattles like a 1992 BlueBird... It's always done that since new.

It drives like a tank... errrr um, a truck should.

On the highway, it drives so very nicely, even with small ripples and bumps in the road. But in the city with potholes, and tree roots, etc it rattles like a bus. So badly, that I can watch the dash, the doors, or anything else in the truck just vibrate and flex. Noticeably the doors.

Who knows, the doors might need an alignment.

(edit: If you think ours is bad, I was in a new 2012 E-450 Bus Conversion with the 6.7l TD, and anytime there was a bump, all the fiberglass panels squeaked, and it was like we were put in the back of a box truck, and it reminded me/drove just like my truck.)

 

Mine doesn't make a ton of noise but on rougher back roads it does do some rattling. The front struts/coils are original and have almost 150,000 miles on them. I replaced the leaf springs with heavier ones and had a leaf added to them so that's what I've always blamed it on. I did replace the rear shocks at the same. I'm planning on installing my new coils/struts when I get new wheels and tires so we'll see if that makes a difference.

 

Yes Exactly! An early 90's BlueBird. That is just what I was thinking. My truck does drive like a tank, and that I like.

 

Yeah, I think the heavier leaf springs have a lot to do with it. Good to know I'm not alone. I guess this is something I will have to get used to.

 

Problems like these are why you just crank the radio!

 

I just try to drive around the potholes and just carefully watch where I'm driving, that's all.

Some of the potholes I've got in the city, are just flat out mini grand canyons.

Here's a great example... I've replaced the entire front end (shocks, springs, bushings, ball joints, sway bar links, control arms, etc) twice (yes 2x) on my 2007 Jeep Compass, travelling the same exact roads. Granted it's got 15k more miles than my truck... but come on twice already!!

It got so bad that the when I changed it out last fall, it sounded like the Jeep was 100 years old, clunk, clunk over bumps, squeaky steering wheel... and both Monroe Sensatracs shot... and best of all the steering wheel was shifted 30 degrees right while driving down the road straight.

Luckily for me, I do all the work myself. It cost me about $700 in parts for just the front end. Imagine the labor? I feel bad for people with cars that have to rely on costly mechanics.

Makes me glad I drive a Ford Truck though.

 

My 04' sames to be pretty rattle free for the most part. I run a 34" tire on a 17" wheel and I would imagine with 20's you would feel a lot more of the bumps in the road. I know after putting Rancho 9000XL's on my truck it helped quite a bit too.

 

In all seriousness, the wheels definitely do make a difference. I bought my truck with 22's (I know, I know, I took em off as fast as I could!) and it rode like crap. Now I've got 33's on 20's and it's a little better. But it's still not quite as good my friends with 17's. But I do think our trucks ride relatively rough, even for trucks. As far as squeaking and shaking stuff, my '06 doesn't do much, and that's coming from a guy that can't stand any kind of rattle or squeak and has to address it right away. Maybe your ears are more discerning than mine, but I've never seen a truck with that many issues like that that are that severe. So I'm wondering what might be going on with it too!

 

My 06 XLT Screw...makes noises to...but I live on a dirt/gravel road..I cured the rear window squeak with Vaseline..same for the windshield cowl..always thought a rattle came from under dash near passenger air bag..turns out the cowl is loose, pin on corner has lost its ummpf, lifted up corner and put some lube on it..that noise cured...I cured any other noise by hooking up a 18 foot travel trailer or a horse trailer..sometimes throwing a 4x5 round bale in the back for giggles, 113 liters of fuel works too!..our suspensions are rough when trucks are unloaded but well sprung with a load...My ex wife once asked me.."Why did we ever start dating?" I said.." Cause I need someone to ride in the passenger seat and wear down the shocks evenly!" Did I say ex wife...

 

Yeah. The trucks do ride a little rough, but I can't stand how soft the Chevy's/GMC's are. I guess that is just the trade-off. It could be that it has been below 32 degrees here ever since I bought the truck 4/5 months ago. Maybe the truck will not rattle as much when it gets above freezing. I am going to put new tires on it also this summer. The factory Pirellis are showing their age.

 

Yeah. I think a load in the bed or a trailer would cure all the noises.

 

My 07 run smooth and great, no rattle.
With my old 18", winter 17" or new stock 08 fx2 20".

the 20" ride stiffer, but no rattle poped out.