I have a Screw Fx4 w / 6900 miles...w/ Goodyear ATS tires. I had no vibrations until the past few hundred miles. And now I'm getting a NASTY steering wheel shimmy on a brand new concrete freeway here in Michigan. I'm also getting the truck bed vibrating alot when I go over several small bumps. The steering wheel shimmy is becoming more apparent at any speed.
On a minor note, I notice a shake coming from the rear end when starting off from cold start. That seems to go away after things warm up.

I hope my problems are as simple as tire balancing? I know they are due to rotating. But I don't want to just rotate the tires and later get the shimmy back when I rotate the tires again.

I have made an appointment for service on Monday and I want to be aware of all Ford F150 service bulletins before I go in. Can someone please summarize any and all service bulletins? Like damping kit? Possible tire issues?
I want to be educated so these service guys can't pull any *****.

Thanks,
Dan

P.S. This is my first american vehicle purchase and I hope it won't be my last. I don't want to buy a jap truck, but if Ford doesn't fix this issue I will switch trucks and never look back at an american vehicle again.

 

Here are two:

TSB # 04-3-3 ISSUE: Some 2004 F-150 vehicles may exhibit a vibration at highway speeds. The vibrations will typically be felt through the seat and/or floorpan.

TSB # 04-1-6 ISSUE:Some 1998-2004 F-150 4X4 vehicles with a one piece drive shaft may exhibit a clunking or grunting noise and/or a shudder sensation from the driveline. The condition will typically occur during light to moderate acceleration from a stop and/or braking. This may be caused by the slip yoke not sliding smoothly on the transfer case output shaft splines.

__________________
2004 F150 Scab Lariat 4x2 5.4L LSD Trailer Tow Pkg
helped my nibble with four Kumho Ecsta STX 265/60-18

 

04-03-03 Wheels/suspension - Vibration At Highway Speeds - Service Tips
Vibration - Vibration At Highway Speeds - Service Tips
Transmission/driveshaft/axle - Vibration At Highway Speeds - Service Tips


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04-02-06 Body - Window/glass - Rattle/squeak From Power Sliding Back Glass
Noise - Window Glass - Rattle/squeak From Power Sliding Back Glass


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04-01-06 Noise - Driveline Clunking/grunting Noise Or Shudder Sensation During Light To Moderate Acceleration And/or Braking
Transmission - Driveline Clunking/grunting Noise Or Shudder Sensation During Light To Moderate Acceleration And/or Braking


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03-26-04 Body - Rear Door Panel - Wavy Appearance In Cold Weather - Loud Ringing Upon Closing Door - Rattle Inside Of Door - Vehicles Built Before 11/12/2003
Noise - Rear Door Panel - Wavy Appearance In Cold Weather - Loud Ringing Upon Closing Door - Rattle Inside Of Door - Vehicles Built Before 11/12/2003


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03-25-06 Engine - Romeo Built 4.6l 2v - Tick Noise From Engine - Engines Built Before 9/17/2003


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03-22-04 Wheel - Correct Lug Nut Torque Specifications - Increased Wheel Nut And Stud Size - Service Tip


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03-20-08 Steering - Steering Wheel Nibble At Or Above 100 Km/h (60 Mph) - Vehicles Built Prior To 8/20/2003
Vibration - Steering Wheel Nibble At Or Above 100 Km/h (60 Mph) - Vehicles Built Prior To 8/20/2003

 

Way to support your country. Surely you have also considered moving to Japan.

 

I don't think that it's a big mystery that jap engineering and product releases have improved american automobiles. When I spend close to $40,000 for a vehicle it better be a nothing short of a modern miracle

 

Well I have MUD on my face! Literally...

I started this post asking for some service bulletin information because I recently started feeling a vibration driving my screw Fx4. And after reading all of the horror stories I paniced and made a service appointment. Well, it turned out, the vibration was due to some mud on the front right wheel. I power washed the wheels again and test drove it. No vibrations. I feel silly, but live and learn. I'm new to this four wheeling thing I bought this truck to pull a Mastercraft ski boat with no real plans of going off road.

Anyway, I'm still going to keep my service appointment and ask to get the damping kit, because my FX4 does have some shuddering when I go over railroad tracks etc. My bed just shudders vilently.

I think all the talk of the new F150 not handling several small bumps very well might have some validty, especially the stiffer Fx4 package.

So, I still love my truck! and I'm glad I bought it.

d

 

That's got to be one of the more ignorant things I've read. It's not a matter of supporting your country. It's free enterprize. Best product wins period. THAT's the REAL American way.

 

I checked the NHTSA website for TSB's and don't see the specific ones mentioned above. Is there another place to check?

 

I would truly appreciate it you could refrain from referring to the Japanese as "japs".
Show a little respect would you?

 

Well said!

 

American= native american,african american, asian american, latin american....ect.
Heck we even allow "moron American", so count your blessings! Is America great or what?

 

OK...Someone enlighten me here. Newtof150 says :

TSB # 04-3-3 ISSUE: Some 2004 F-150 vehicles may exhibit a vibration at highway speeds. The vibrations will typically be felt through the seat and/or floorpan.

This is what my truck is doing. Does Ford also issue something in regards to fixing the vehicle or are they just telling the dealers to be on the lookout for them?

 

All the TSB's (Technical Service Bulletins) listed above are Ford issued bulletins. They are for the Ford tech's to repair concern's that some, but not neccessarily all vehicle's listed in the TSB may have. It is part of the repair process. You may have a similar concern that the TSB wont fix, but something else will. It is not sent to customers. These repairs are covered while the vehicle is under warranty. The TSB's info above is not the entire TSB. Just info about the concern. The actual TSB contains info to diag and repair the concerns, including part Numbers if needed.

Recalls are concerns that are either safety related or emissions related or something that can damage the vehicle itself, and maybe a few other similar concerns. These type problems (Recall Notices) are sent to whoever owns the vehicles so they can get them repaired. These repairs are covered during and after warranty for a certain length of time if not safety related or for longer if safety related.

NHTSA's website may not have the updated TSB's yet or they might not be concerned with minor TSB's. I have never been to their site so I dont know how they get their info, or what type of info they cover.

 

Thanks Troll45. I guess I need to clue my dealership in on the fact that there is a TSB available. Anyone know where I might get a full copy of the report?

 

I've seen several TSBs posted in their entirety, but can't remember just where.

Do a search on the key word vibration on this forum (2004 Ford F-150).