Getting another truck may be the answer. Is it possible that some come from the factory where the frame/chassy just isn't right?

 

That's Bull%&%$!! My 2010 "shuddered" between 38 and 42. Ford changed out the drive shaft assembly, which includes u-joints and carrier bearing and problem solved.

 

Not sure if my vibration is the same but if I put my truck in 3rd gear and drive it at 1800-2000 rpm (which is 35 or so mph) it has a very annoying vibration/drone. the same drone shows up at higher speeds in drive but is very noticable as described. The Ford dealer here also said it was normal compared to other trucks on the lot. They did say they put it on the hot list or whatever it is to see if any other techs had the solution. Maybe it is time for me to take it back in again.

 

Trying to get it back in the shop this week. The dealer was fairly responsive early on but now they are dragging their feet replying to me and/or doing anything. I have asked 3 times for contact information for the area VP and the service rep with no response at all. The whole Ford attitude of "it's acceptable" and then ignore the customer, is really starting to **** me off.

 

[I posted the following on the other F150 website.]

I recently completed a 3,500 mile road trip in my 2010 F-150 Platinum. I had never driven it on long distance runs at 70 mph prior to this trip, so I didn't notice a vibration that went in and out of phase every 5 minutes at 70 mph. No vibration for 5 minutes followed by vibration for 5 minutes. The 5 minute intervals is just a rough average.

I mentioned this to my neighbor and he said he once had lost a wheel balancing weight on a long road trip that caused him wheel vibrations, so we proceeded to inspect my truck for missing wheel weights. From the outside, no balancing weights are visible. They all look like the photo below.



We figured it is highly unusual to have a perfectly balanced tire and wheel with no weights, so we looked further and found the balancing weights installed on the inside of the wheel rims as in the photos below.





The water is because I had just washed my truck.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but it looks like all the wheel balancing weights are mounted on the inside of the wheel rims. Doesn't that cause dynamic imbalance?

So how do you dynamically balance 2010 F-150 Platinum wheels?

Until I find out different, I attribute the 70 mph vibrations that phase in and phase out to the dynamic imbalance of the wheel/tires.

*********************

One of the replies to my topic on that other website was to have the wheels balanced using a RoadForce wheel balancing machine. If it is done properly, I would expect to see the standard weights clipped on the inside rim of the wheel and surface mount weights stuck on behind the spokes near the outer part of the wheel rim. Since I don't see any weights on or near the outer edge of any of my Platinum wheels, I conclude the wheels are not dynamically balanced. This in turn causes the phase-in and phase-out vibration while driving at 70 mph.

 

My truck does not have weights on the outside of the wheel either and I am not sure how that works. However, I am convinced that my vibration is not tire and wheel related, rather mechanical of some sort. I really believe it is drivetrain related as it shows under slight acceleration considerably more than coasting at the same speed.

 

SailorDon, I hadn't thought about that before but I believe you are correct with your question of how to dynamically balance a wheel/tire assembly such as this. The dealership definitely told me they only put the weights on the inside with rims like these. My question would be, these are not the only rims which they do not place weights on the outside, thus do these have problems also or is it unique here?

Regardless of this particular issue, I do not believe mine is the same, as in one of my earlier post, I mentioned how they took wheel/tire assemblies from a truck I drove, which had no vibration, and placed them on my truck. The vibration was still there which would seem to rule out the wheel/tire assemblies as the source of the problem. This does not mean that it may not exacerbate the problem.

Our issues are similar in that the vibration I have tends to come and go some but is present most of the time. I travel a lot, I have 13000+ miles in 6 months, so I’ve had a lot of road time to notice things. There seems to be harmonics going on with the way it goes comes and goes plus as I’ve mentioned before; when I encounter an unusual bump or pothole, there is a shudder which prolongs for a few seconds. It definitely seems to take longer than normal for the effects to subside than it should. The service manager at the dealership even felt it and admitted the same thing while we were driving my truck. Mostly though it is the noticeable vibration from 35-45 and also 65 and over. From 45 to 65 it seems to be not as noticeable but still there.

 

Hunter engineering has several articles that explain wheel balancing and how to dynamically balance a wheel that is designed like the Platinum wheels.

http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/technical/4202T/6GLOS005.cfm

I think Ford took the cheap way out and doesn't take the time or effort to dynamically balance their Platinum wheels. That sucks IMHO.

 

Not having much luck with dealer other than they keep saying they have passed information on and their hands are tied. I was also told, they are not allowed to give out the contact information for the area VP or the service rep and the service rep does not deal directly with the consumer.

Anyone have a list with contact info or can you find it for me or tell me where to look. I will find the right info or I will start emailing any and everybody at Ford I can find a name for. This is BS. I want to speak to someone who has authority and will actually listen to my complaints. Dealer says they want service rep to ride in my truck but I've been told that for the last month and a half with nothing happening thus far. I feel like I'm getting a run around, not cool Ford. I really don't want to have to get an attorney, I don't like them much, but it's looking more and more like Ford is giving me no other option.

OK FORD PEOPLE, SOMEONE STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP OUT. SHOW ME ITS NOT ALL BS TALK "QUALITY ONE"

I JUST WANT MY TRUCK FIXED!!!! AND/OR FOR FORD TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT!!!!

 

I had to go to the national Ford Customer Complaint 1-800 number to get my dealer to fix my Nav/SYNC which had a busted CD drive from when it was brand new. It took 2 weeks, but they finally fixed it with some prodding from the national customer service center.

If you haven't done it already, I would suggest you enter your vibration problem into the Ford national customer service system.

http://www.ford.com/about-ford/compa...n/contact-ford

 

I have posted often about this. On my truck they replaced the entire drive shaft including the u-joints and carrier bearing and problem solved. Have them drive a new one on the lot that doesn't have this vibration and then swap out it's drive line for yours. That will solve the question....and NO it is not normal...and YES there are a bunch out there with the same problem. Don't fall for "Well the other truck does it also" probably the "other" truck has a bad drive line also.

 

Any updates on this issue?

 

Just picked up a 2010 XLT F150 crewcab. I noticed a 72-78 shudder while driving. I was thinking it was just the way the air hits the tailgate at that speed. Was going to drive with the gate down.
My shudder is pretty bad at that range of speed. I can see the passenger seat vibrating pretty good.
I have the 18" chrome clad wheels w/Michelin tires.
Truck now has 2000 miles. I have been driving it from Orlando to Jax a few times a week and it can be unbearing.

Thanks

 

If you think it's a dynamic wheel balance issue, take it somewhere where they will use sticky weights near the face of the wheels.

 

To PDG DAN...have them pull the drive shaft out of the truck they drove that didn't have the problem and put it in yours. If it solves the problem, they can order a new one and put it in yours. It cured my problem and took the guess work out of it.