Hi,

I'm new to the forum.

Help with this problem: Once in every few days the truck starts to shake aggressively while on the road. Its like going through a very rough gravel road all of a sudden, felt through steering column. I have to pull over and hit the brakes and bring truck to full stop before it goes away. Then it's gone. Any thoughts before I start to take it to mechanic. Is it shock related, brake related, etc?? Any ideas, comments, suggestions, similar experineces.

By the way, my truck model is the 2005 F150 XLT TRITON.

Thanks.

 

Welcome to FTE!
A first step for diagnosing the problem is to rotate the tires front to rear.
You may have a belt separating in a front tire.
Check the tires carefully when you rotate them.
If the problem moves check the rear tires.

 

When you say "shakes violently", is it kinda like a wet dog shaking all the water off?
Does it happen at a certain speed, or randomly?

 

It happens randomly. On the highway, down, up. It's as if the front of the truck is being driven off road. I've had the tires rotated, and re-balanced, shocks and springs looked at visually by my mechanic. And off course when he takes it for a test drive nothing happens.

I'm wondering if something in the suspension is getting stuck. But then why would braking the car to a complete stop eliminate the problem?

Could it be something to do with the 4X4? It's an automatic gear box.

Jose41

 

I was just recently reading about a different forum member who said his truck shook like a dog. It was in an F350, but same concept. He had it happen to him randomly as well. It wasn't until he did a full lock turn on his steering wheel that his tie-rod snapped off.

Basically, check your front suspension and steering system. I doubt this has to do with the 4x4 system.

 

Do you use the emergency brake ?

 

When I asked Ford to diagnose the same problem the only thing they did was install a steering stabilizer. Check to see if your has one I'll bet it doesn't. Look into a steering stabilizer and it should go away. You can pick up one just about at any parts store or your favorite online shop. That is what they did to fix the problem for the shop here cause I took it to them under warranty. At that time there were no TSB's on the problem. Don't know if there is any yet. Should be recalled after the amount of people having issues. Hope this helped.

 

I only use the emergency brake once in a while...

 

Jose41, just like JoSHN said, check for a worn out tie rod end. I had a pick-up from anouther manufactur for years. It did just what you are describing. But would clear up for awhile with new tires. I think the stablizer was replace twice, fornt end re-alligned many times, all by places that sold tires. Finally I took it to a shop that just did front end and drive line work. They found the problem right away, totally worn out tie rod end. In my opinion, never have front end work done by a place that sells tires.

 

These trucks are known to have the parking brake stick partly on and it makes the whole truck shake by stopping it will release the sticking break
Should have them checked make sure they fully release
most dealers know how to fix them there was a TSB on them

 

Thank you...everyone very helpful! Have an appt. tomorrow .

 

As far as i know these trucks dont come with stabalizers. Stabilizers work with f-350's because of the different front suspension(solid front axle).Plus f-150's have rack and pinion. Maybe check the drive line.

 

The parking break is a drum break. If it's sticking, how does applying the disk stopping break release the drum parking break? They are two seperate components.

 

Not sure of the full procedure to release it it was on this form last year.
I posted what I remember. Point was to have the parking break checked out.
Sorry for any confusion

 

Every now and then my truck would start shaking, found it to be the e-brake sticking. Back in 04 there was alot of us that it happened to. The TSB cleared the problem up.Not sure why pulling over and restarting solved the shaking problem temporarily.....but it did.
On a different note.....really don't think you can put a stearing stabilizer on a rack and pinion stearing system. I know of the death wobbel of the older F-350 with strait axel. A stearing stabilizer worked on that application.