I have a 1997 F150 4x4 with 39,500 miles on it. I started feeling a slight vibration and hearing a noise through the steering wheel at about 20,000 miles. I took it to the dealer and they reworked the front brakes and told m\me my tires were to blame for the rest of the noise. Since that time I have had the front end aligned, put new AT tires on and put new Rancho RS5000 shocks on the front. The noise and vibration sre still there. I can,t be detected while driving down a smooth road. Only over bumpy roads, during braking, or turning into or outof an elevated parking lot. Does anyone have any suggestions??? I am supposed to take it back to the dealer today, we all know how they are.

 

Could be the intermediate steering shaft. There is a slip joint in it, inside the rubber boot you can see under the hood. Do a search for "intermediate shaft" here for more info. There is a TSB on it, it is a warranty item. The slip joint had a problem.