Terrible Vibration
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New User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 19
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From: Hills of W. NC
Terrible Vibration
My 2005 F250 PS with 100k miles is having some issues. This afternoon on the highway cruisin at about 50-55mph as I going through an everyday curve or bend of the road, the trucks steering starting vibrating. I let out of the throttle and it made no difference and vibration continued until I straightened the steering back out. I felt the vibration nearly every time that I was going through a curve on the roadway. I also noticed that the higher my speed was the worse the vibration was. Could this be the hub bearing or what? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,833
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From: Manteca,Ca
sounds like a linkage to me eather stearing or Ideler arm,check those ball joints too. Jack the truck up one wheel at a time have some body slightly move wheel side to side if more than 1/8 to 1/4 play you found the prob, ball joints tire iron under tire up and down more than noted replace.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 477
Likes: 1
I've been having the same issue as well. Especially when I hit a bump going on the highway the vibration is crazy.
I've spent quite a bit of money trying to figure out the issue and no luck, and it's frustrating.
I've replaced tie rod ends, drag link, new Rancho 9000's, about 10K on my BFG A/T's, I rotate and balance every 5k miles, and a new Moog steering stabilizer shock. If you figure out the issue please share, curious to see what everyone says.
I've spent quite a bit of money trying to figure out the issue and no luck, and it's frustrating.
I've replaced tie rod ends, drag link, new Rancho 9000's, about 10K on my BFG A/T's, I rotate and balance every 5k miles, and a new Moog steering stabilizer shock. If you figure out the issue please share, curious to see what everyone says.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,138
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From: South Weber, Utah
Have you check the bushings in the large rod that locates the axle (centers the axle from left to right) , one side connects to the drivers side frame and the other side connects to the passenger side of the axle? Sorry the name of the rod eludes me at the moment.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,287
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From: Fraser Valley
First thing to check is the common tie rods, ball joints, wheel bearings. Give your axle u joints a good inspection, if they are seized and binding it could cause vibration when turning.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2012
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That rod with no name is the track bar... My truck had the vibration under braking, it had everything inspected and declared good but I saw some deterioration of the rubber bushing on the chassis end of the track bar. I replaced the bar, around $200, and the vibration went away, so that fixed that. The other usual cause (if all else like hub bearings, ball joints, etc have been proven good) is lack of castor. It is minimal on stock height trucks, and even a leveling lift will reduce it further to the point that it is ineffective. You need to install castor adjusting bushings and get the castor back to around 3 degrees for best tracking.
Brian
Brian
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
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Hmm, I'm having a hard time picturing this in my mind. I'm a visual person, anyone have a picture maybe? One thing I did notice was that my front steering linkage that connects to the tie rod ends has some play in it. Like if I put my hands on it, wrist toward me and curl my wrist it'll move up and down some. I assume this is normal?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2012
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There are three bars that you can have go wrong in the steering, and they all have names so it would help to use the actual name. None should have any play at all that you can feel with your hands. "Play" means movement in the ball joint or bushing that connects it to either the chassis, the steering box or the hub arms. A little rotational movement is OK, play in the joint is bad. Anyway, the names: the drag link runs from the arm on the steering box to the passenger side hub carrier. The tie rod runs from the passenger side hub carrier to the driver's side, it's the long bar with a joint on both ends. The track bar runs from the passenger side axle to the driver's side chassis and it holds the axle centered in the truck..
Brian
Brian
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
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Yeah, the linkage connected to the tie rod ends you speak of, right in front of the axle is moveable. Should I be able to move it by hand like that? Also I did notice on mine the 2 U-joints on the ends of the axle aren't tight, you can move them by hand as well. It only snowed here a few times, first time my 4 wheel drive worked without manually locking the hubs. This past time when it snowed real bad, just turning the switch in the cab didn't work. Front wheels weren't spinning at all, had to manually lock the hubs, but I unlocked them when it cleared up, but still the vibration has been going on long before that if that's any help to diagnose something.
Sorry sofive, not trying to hijack your thread or anything but I figured since we both have the same problem maybe we can both figure out the problem in 1 thread.
Sorry sofive, not trying to hijack your thread or anything but I figured since we both have the same problem maybe we can both figure out the problem in 1 thread.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 654
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From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Track bar caused my problem too... Easy fix if you have a torque wrench big enough (500ft/lbs) otherwise best to get a shop to do it cause you don't want it coming loose and falling off in the middle of a curve! My shop charged me $50 to swap it out... Also check for cupping in your tires...