Has anyone had any problems with the super duty F450 front ends? A friend of mine has a 1996 model and when he goes over railway tracks or even a pothole he gets an uncontrollable vibration or shimmy in the front end. You have to stop the truck to get it to quit shaking. He has had it checked out a number of times at a alignment shop and they can't find the problem. Any info would be much appreciated. Thx.

 

I had a similar problem on an older truck, not a 450 but the problem sounds identical.The shaking was so bad it actually broke apart one of the manual hubs. The problem was a hairline crack in the spindle. Inspected by at least 4 mechanics who never noticed it. Crack was on the underside, I found it by accident. Worth a look. Good luck.

 

Ford has TSBs on this problem. I have a F53 motorhome chassis and I hear about this problem all the time on the motorhome BB. I have never experienced the problem but I am running with a panhard bar on mine. I think you have about the same setup on the 450; Long leaf springs and no panhard bar. The hydraulic steering damper is not enough to stop the lateral movement of the axle and once this problem starts it rapidly gets out of control. Good luck
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