Front end vibration
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Front end vibration
I have a 2007 ford f150 supercrew. I have a vibration in the front end at around 55mph. Doesn't vibrate at lower speeds or when you get above 60 mph. I have replaced the struts and just put new Michelin tires on it. Wheel bearings feel fine and front end bushings, tie rods and control arms look fine to me. It feels like the vibration is coming from the left side. I read somewhere that a possible cause is an upper control arm. Any suggestion or help would be appreciated.
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From: penn twp.
The problem isn't the upper control arm per se. But it is with the ball joint in the control arm. People will tell you though that it is a control arm problem since you have to replace the control arm with the upper ball joint. And you can't necessarily tell by looking at the control arm. What you need to do is raise the front of the truck and place jack stands under the lower control as close to the wheel as possible. Then lower the truck onto the jack stands. Then grab the wheel at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions and try to move the wheel in and out. All the while watching for play in the ball joint. You can also use a large bar like a digging bar for example to do this. But the reason for supporting the truck on the jack stands as I described is not only for safety, but it also unloads the weight of the truck from the ball joint. Thus making it easier to diagnose.
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From: penn twp.
Also if you do that and things check out fine. See my post in this thread. It is another common issue causing highway shudders on these trucks and is often times over looked and miss diagnosed. Thus frustrating the trucks owner.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...front-end.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...front-end.html
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OK I checked my upper ball joints today and they are tight, no movement at all with the truck setting on jack stands, and moving the wheel up and down. I also tried to move the wheel with a long bar and I couldn't get either side to move. Removed the rear wheels and brake assembly. I took the emergency brake assembly apart and cleaned everything. Used lithium grease as suggested to lubricate the actuator arms that move the brake shoes to engage them. I removed pads, springs, the little tricky clips, and the adjusters to clean my assemble, but really if you remove the top spring only you can get to the actuator arms and take them apart for cleaning and greasing. But if you do this you may as well remove everything. Tools I used was a 10mm wrench, spring removal tool that I use for removing the springs from my motorcycle pipe, needle nose pliers, and flat tip screw driver. Pretty simple job if you have some mechanical skills. Thanks paredneck33 for posting the instruction simple to follow instructions. We'll see what happens over the next week of driving.
Thanks again,
Thanks again,
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From: penn twp.
You are quite welcome. Hope it all worked. As I said earlier these are most common issues with these symptoms. Please post back not matter how it turns out. That' what this site is for. Helping other and discussing our trucks. 
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kdzjeff
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
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Apr 12, 2008 07:32 AM
