ok, so im taking delivery of a brand new 04 f150 xlt 5.4 SuperCab this comming tuesday.. i have been endlessly reading through the forum and the vibration issue is really worrying me.

it seems about 50% of the people have the problem. I terribly sorry for beating on a dead horse, but i am also considering a 04 ram quad cab hemi. Im not trying to be a troll or cause problems but, will the ram be a safer purchase?

Has there been a fix made to later production 04? Mine was built 8/20/04... Does anyone have a recently built f150 with the vibration problem?

Please offer some advice.. thanks guys!

 

I would suggest a test drive, including some highway miles if possible. You definitely want to get to at least 60MPH. I'm not sure though if the vibration happens on a new vehicle or develops after some number of miles. I just picked up a SCab that was built in July, and no vibration so far (knocking on wood). I feel that the F-150 is a nicer truck than the others, for us it was new F-150 or probably a slightly used F-150 if we didn't like the new one.

 

i will definitely give it a good drive before doin anything.. hope it works out.

 

04 ram quad cab hemi will vibrate to my paw and some friends have them and they vibrate and my ford super crew dont vibrate any more

 

thats true it seems like the ram hemi has their share of problems too...

 

PM, my Lariat built 06/02/04 in Norfolk at 150-400miles had the slightest nibble in the steering wheel at 65-70mph. At 500 miles it was gone. I've got 1900 miles now and she's smooth as glass up to 90mph.. 50%??? If 2% of the 04 150 buyer's read this page I would be surprised....

 

you are right... i was only referring to a poll i saw... it was about a 50/50 split of people who have or dont have vibration problems

up to 90mph? do u have vibrations over that speed or do you not take it over 90? just wonderin... thx

 

Na, I had guy in a Cheby Avalanche trying to get me to go coming down the Garden State Parkway a few weeks ago. We were running together down the Pwy and every time I came out of a toll booth he was right beside me giving me the eyeball. He wanted to see what the Ford had.... We went at it about 30mph and the Chevy ran pretty even till the those extra plenun vents in the 5.4 induction system started to open around 50mph in 2nd gear. By the time we got to about 85mph he was 8-10 truck lenght's behind me and I was still going away from him... It was a short blast to 90mph with the hammer down and I only had 800-900 miles on her at the time.. Since then I've driven it up to 80 for longer time periods and she's like driving your living room down the highway...


Stop worrying, get the truck and put some miles on it.... Read this first.... http://www.oly4x4.com/newgearbreakin.htm And take it easy on the rear for the first 500 miles.. At 15 miles my rear temp was 185 degrees. That's hot... Let it cool for 15 minutes then run another 20-30 miles at 30-45mph. After 60 miles my rear temp was 150 degrees. At 500 miles it runs about 120 degrees. Thing's are tight in a new rear and the gears need to wear in. If you are wondering how I know the temps....I'm a Marine Surveyor and one of my tools is an infared heat gun...deadly accurate...

You read in the manuals not to tow anything for 500 miles. It's not the engine that needs broken in it's the gears in the rear.....

 

got it! awesome advice man.. imma break her in properly..

thx again!

 

I think your figures are a bit off. I think only a small few people have actually had the vibration problem.

I had the rear clutch packs replaced becaus they were making noise. I havent had any vibes in my truck.

 

Give your new F-150 a test drive and make sure to drive it at hiway speeds and if possible, for about 25 miles at hiway speeds. My 04 has the ever popular whine in the rear end. Fords fix is having the dealer pull the synthetic oil out and replacing it with 90-140 dino oil. I haven't had mine done yet as I am trying to unload mine but the best trade-in I have been offered for my spotless, 4 month old truck is $16,500. I have a work bud that bought a Quad cab back in December. He has had the rear axle (complete) replaced and they just replaced the entire brake system from mastercylinder to pads. He has the 20" factory wheels and his truck came with the wrong brakes. Good news for him though is that Dodge at least has tried to take care of his issues. Can't say the same for ford. Who knows, you might get a great truck- drive it and see.

 

Got my truck 2 weeks ago....By Far the best transport I ever owned to date. She cruises as if she was a hot knife through buttah...Smooooth! no Vib's, nibble or noise. just an amazing machice thus far.

 

I think the majority of the vibration problems have been with SuperCrews and not Scabs. My Scab is smooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth

 

fingers crossed... tomorrow im gonna go take a look at her again.. and if all goes well, tuesday she comes home.

 

I was all worried too when I read this forum's... but the truck's been really good, smooth ride. My truck is a scab as well... dont worry about it, worrying takes the fun away from stuff. I'm sure it'll be good.