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Just bought a certified pre owned from the local Ford dealer. All seemed well during the test drive but now I have noticed a slight fast paced vibration when slowing to a stop. Seems to happen when it downshifts into 4th around 30mph or so. The vibration feels light but very quick like driving over the fine grooves they put on the side of a road to wake you up...just not as intense or loud. It's not the brakes because it happens even when I am just coasting to a halt. It is right when it goes down to 4th.
I plan to take it in an have it looked at but would like to get your thoughts and also know if anyone else has experienced this? Updated flash perhaps? Rear end?
Any updates to this? I'm experiencing the same issue, which you describe very well BTW. I'm guessing drivshaft/u joints, but haven't had it looked at yet. I'm wondering if my aftermarket bumper to bumper warranty will cover it - if I ever find out what is the cause?!
If it’s when the brakes are being applied most likely wrapped brake rotors
Interestingly, in my case, while the vibration starts with braking, it continues when brakes are released and the hum changes pitch as the truck down shifts through 3rd, 2nd and 1st; lower pitch as the truck slows.
Another post mentioned that it will temporarily go away after sustained highway driving - this was my experience, but only once.
Last edited by Flash Buddy; Jan 6, 2021 at 08:30 AM.
If you have 4WD this could be IWE related. I had a similar sounding symptom, when coming to a stop. A very slight vibration/rubbing sound coming from front end. Unplugged the 4WD solenoid (which locks the IWE in) on driver side above brake fluid reservoir made the problem go away. A trip to the dealer and two new IWEs later fixed it completely. Sometimes it could be as simple as replacing the check valve on the vacuum line coming from the solenoid.
Unplug solenoid circled in yellow. Check valve located in red.
Update: Unplugged the solenoid, went for a drive - vibration was still there, though not as pronounced. Plugged it back in and the vibration is gone. Didn't do anything but unplug and replug the solenoid. I may buy the valve on Amazon since it's only twenty bucks. For now, I think I may have a temporary solution. Time will tell. I did take it out for a forty minute in town test drive which was A-OK, but the next day the vibration was back. Have an appointment at Spradley Bar Ford here in Fort Collins to (finger's crossed) solve the problem.
Last edited by Flash Buddy; Dec 31, 2020 at 09:02 AM.
The verdict is in and it is just as I expected. The vibration when slowing is indeed related to the IWE system, specifically the hoses. The dealership installed "modified hoses"; they now have clamps. Vibration is gone.
Of course I could have done this myself, just put on some clamp for about three bucks worth of Ace Hardware, could have saved me a bundle ;-)
unplugged the IWE solenoid yesterday, and the vibration was gone. I plugged it back in and so far so good, but i'm assummng it'll return. Guess i'll try adding some tie wraps on the vacuum hoses. Hopefully that'll work. Only have 49k on the truck, but its a 2015 and out of warranty.
Flash Buddy, thanks for the picture! i see they removed the vacuum source line. I take it they also capped where the vacuum supply was coming from. I tried just using zip ties, and that didn't work. Looks like they followed the exact instructions on the TSB.
Somebody asked for a photo of the repair done by my Ford dealership. I don't see any changes on the wheel end, but under the hood there is this:
An interesting aside; very occasionally I get that special vibration - less than 1% of the time.
what they did is bypassed the vacuum actuator by capping off the lines so the iwes are constantly engaged which i think is a bs repair for them to do, now the front drive shafts are always engaged which could diminish gas mileage that's the only thing keeping me from doing that tsb on my truck
