Well today I went to the alignment shop and the tech told me my truck was within spec, therefore I didn't need alignment done. Tech and I agreed on it might be the shocks, but too early to tell. He said drive around for another 5-7500 miles to see what happens. I will upgrade my shocks this summer. Thanks all for your inputs.

 

If you have Goodyear tires I had the same problem on my 2002 F150 4x4 FX4. I took it back to Ford and they replaced the goodyears with 4 michelin LTX M/S's. It is a problem with the goodyears not the truck...if you have low miles make them replace the tires...

 

Y2K you are on the right track with the shocks being bad that is a typical symptom for bad shocks. You should replace them ASAP before you need to buy new tires as well as new shocks. Another 5-7000 miles will just make those tires worse the tech probably wanted you to buy new tires which is why he told you to drive around on them for longer.

Richard D.

While your here check out my gallery:

https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=2479

 

Thanks for your inputs. I am gonna get new shocks and tires in summer anyway. By the way, are the shocks easy to install?

 

Not to hard just depends on the access you have to everything but overall it is a fairly simple job unbolt old shocks (which is usaully the hardest part is getting the top nut undone) remove old shock install new and tighten everything down. When I changed my shocks out to Edelbrock IAS shocks I had to jack the trucks frame up in the rear to get the rear shocks out and then in and if you go with Pressure filled shocks which most are nowaday DON"T undo the strap that is holding the shock compressed until you are sure it is lined up with the hole they a a mother FERRRR to try and compress by hand. It is a pretty basic and simple job though if you have any type of mechanical skill you will be fine.

Richard D.

While your here check out my gallery:
https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=2479

 

Thanks Richard for your info. One question, if you dont undo the strap, don't you think it might to too short for the shock to reach the mounting holes?

 

On the bottom it is not an issue becasue the bottom is usaully a hole in the chock that slides over the bolt on the truck axle or front suspension arm. So attach the bottom mounting bolt then get the shock lined up with the top hole that the shock mounts into and get your diagonal cutters out and once the shaft is lined up cut the strap and the shock will expand and go into the hole. If the strap get hung up don't stress you should be able to just pull it out or cut it off from the top .

Richard D.

 

When I read on installation from one of major service manual book, I got the info to install/remove the top end first or does that matter much?

 

I myslef prefer to undo the bolts up top first becasue they tend to be a pain. Then undo the bottom bolts or nut. When removeing the shock if you can get it to compress(and it sounds like yours are pretty shot so that should be easy to do) then go ahead and remove the top first then the bottom will just slide off the bolt on the bottom you may need a large screwdriver or pry bar for the front there is not much room. For the front you might want to undo and remove the bottom bolt before trying to remove the shock it may make things easier.

Richard D.

 

thanks, I'll try that way.