I took my 99 F150 XL to Firestone (yes, I know) yesterday for some very routine maintenance - oil change, rotate and balance, FE alignment. Mechanic called me and said a ball joint was bad and needed replacing, so I authorized the work.

Picked it up and noticed the truck now has a noticeable vibration throughout (I can feel it in the seat) that gets more pronounced the faster I go. At 50MPH it feels like it's going to shake itself apart. The steering wheel doesn't shimmy back and forth until I hit 50 or so, so it feels like something more than just a wheel balance problem.

Also, it smells like burning plastic coming from underneath the truck right after I stop it and get out.

I'm willing to allow the burning plastic is not a problem but maybe just a smell that has to burn off the new ball joint. (I know NOTHING about these things.)

And any thoughts about the smell and the roughness?

I'm taking it back in tomorrow morning. The truck was running fine when I originally took it in, but now I don't trust it to get me to the store, much less from Tennessee to Alabama, which I was planning to drive tomorrow afternoon.

Any ammunition you can provide for when I take it back would be appreciated.

And I know - stop going to Firestone.

 

There should not be a burning plastic smell after a ball joint is replaced. Sounds like he may have keft someting on/near the exhaust. I would have them check the alignment as well as inspecting everything else they touched. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you could file a complaint with the BBB.

 

i believe they have a tire out of balance, have ALL the tires re-balanced, and re-check alignment. things to look for prior to returning, is the truck pulling to left or right? any front end noise? does it drive any differently than before the work (worse)? do not pay anything to have this work done! most tire stores will give lifetime (for the tires, not you!) balancing and rotation. next time front end work is suspected find a reputable frame shop by asking friends etc.
hope this helps.:santa:

 

There's no pulling, although I took it back once already (this morning) because they gave it back to me yesterday with the steering wheel ****-eyed.

I'm not noticing any front-end noise - just a lot of vibration. Maybe it's just a wheel-balance problem. <crossing fingers>

Thanks, both of you, for your replies so far...

 

If they rotated the tires could be one is bad or you have a bent rim. A bad tire/bent wheel on the rear will often go unnoticed till it is rotated to the front.

 

I took it back this morning, and they agreed about the vibration. I had forgotten that they had also adjusted the rear brakes on Saturday. Turns out they adjusted them so that the pads were ALMOST touching the drums, but the drums were a little warped. So the vibration was the pads thrumming against the drums. That also explains the smell.

They machined the drums to get them back in round, and the vibration and smell are gone.