How many miles have you guys gotten out of your factory struts and shocks? I currently have 78,000 miles on the truck.

Recently I've quickly gotten some weird wear patterns on all 4 of my tires as well as what feels like tires out of balance, shaking steering wheel, tires roaring down the road, etc. I find it hard to believe that the struts and shocks are worn out already and all at the same time. The factory Goodyear tires were fine and quiet until they were removed from the truck.

I bought a set of Cooper Discoverer AT3 Load Range E tires 20,000 or so miles ago. I've always had them rotated and rebalanced at every oil change. About 5,000 miles ago I started getting a wobble in the steering wheel and a weird squeaky vibration noise from the steering wheel. Rotating/balancing the tires seemed to help for about 1,000 miles. After that the noise came back and the shaking out of balance feeling came back as well.

During my last oil change/rotation I told the tech about my problems. The tech told me it looks as though the shocks and struts were worn. Sure enough all 4 tires were starting to cup and wear weird.

They balanced all 4 tires and I immediately took the truck on a 2,500 mile road trip. All highway. The noises and vibration has not gone away...

Question is - Do you guys think the shocks and struts are wore out at 78,000 miles? Or do you think I have a tire problem?

One part of me wants to change the shocks and struts but I don't want to waste the money, especially since I don't have the tools to do the struts. Another part of my wants to get another set of tires...

Anything else you can think of that may be causing this? FWIW the truck has a new front frame clip on it. That work was done almost 2 years ago and the truck was flawless after that work. The local dealer did all of the work.

I'm thinking I got a bad set of tires...?

Any ideas here?

 

Load E tires on a light duty truck can sometimes cause problems, they are 10 ply and much heavier than the OEM Goodyears. I would probably switch back to lighter duty tire

 

I've had 10ply tires on 1/2 tons before and they ride fine.

To the original question. I'm usually pretty lax about changing shocks but I'm going to make it a habit from now on. My wife's truck has 52k on it and one of the rear shocks started leaking so I replaced all four. It made a big difference in ride. I'm now planning on changing out the shocks on my SD when it hits 40k, unless they start leaking before that.

 

I had no ride issues with the 11 Lariat 2WD we bought with 75,000 miles. After installing a lowering kit that used the factory springs and new shocks and struts, I notice a better ride right away. None of the old ones were leaking either.

 

I have Cooper Discover AT3 tires size LT275/10R18, the truck has 59,000 miles on it without any tire or shock problems. If you have gone through several thousand miles of out of balance tires your shocks might be more worn than mine. Or you are beginning to see problems from having to have the front clip replaced.

 

could be either ... at 78,000 you are likely at the end of the useful life of the shocks/struts.


my expedition's tires are cupping also. this with new struts, ball joints (all four), tie rods (inner and outer) and alignments. And its doing them on all four corners despite the rotations and alignments. Cooper ATR's from discount tires.


I've been a cooper fan for years, but this set has cured me of that.

 

If you are towing or hauling the factory shocks won't last long at all. I would guess that putting those heavy tires on would also cause the shocks to wear out sooner. You already have double the miles I would put on the factory shocks. I would put new shocks on then figure out to do about the tires.

 

I have been running Load range tires on my truck for a few years now with no issues. The last 2 or 3 years have also been with a 2" leveling kit on the truck. With over 96K miles I still have the original shocks on the truck.

 

Factory shocks / struts are not the best. at 78k miles I would say they are shot.

Take the opportunity to go get some quality shocks. I just put these on the rears yesterday and tomorrow I'm having the fronts put on.

Got BIL-09F1504WD 2009-2013 F150 4WD Bilstein 5100 Adjustable Leveling Shock Kit from Stage 3 motor sports. Got the rears installed, fronts go on tomorrow at the 1.5" setting.

My truck has 34k miles on it. Just after putting on the rear shocks it made a huge difference!! No more little active judder. My factory shocks were working as they were designed, and not worn out. Pulling in and out of my driveway with that little curb made a HUGE difference.

I have put Bilstein's on my last 3 trucks now and for those of you that have never had them, go get them now and put them on. That and the rear sway bar completely transform the trucks handling. Cant' wait to get the front on! The factory shocks / struts sure leave a lot to be desired. My truck rides smoother already with just the rears done, and so much more predictable!

 

Is there any way you could post a picture of the tire wear.
I don't see putting a 10 ply tire on a light duty truck being an issue, other that a little harder ride, if you have them inflated to the 80 psi that you can do with most 10 ply tires.
I can't picture this tread pattern in my head (worked in a tire shop for a long...... time as a mechanic, and alignment specialist).
A tire that has a really aggresive tread pattern doesn't seem to hold up as well as a street tread pattern.

Unk Bob

 

I have 154,000+ miles on my 2009 F-150 5.4 4x4. The factory shocks and struts are holding strong. I had to replace a cam shaft, head gasket and I think my power steering pump is failing... all within the past 18 months.

 

I'll have to get a picture and post it after I drive on some smooth clean concrete or blacktop. The gravel driveway at home covers up a bunch of the cupping.


Also, thanks for the replies. For some reason the email notification doesn't always work. I'l look into a new set of struts/shocks.

Anyone done the struts at home with a store rental spring compressor? Easy, hard?

 

Educate me here please. This strut allows you to level or lift the front of the truck without using those spacers that fit between the top of the strut and frame? I've been wanting to at least raise the front to be level with the rear down the road too...

That website you listed is over $120 cheaper than if I bought the same items from my local O'Reilly's Auto Parts.

 

The bottom spring perch can be installed at different locations on the shock. Mounting it at a higher location give you the lift.

 

I just traded my 2004 XLT 4X2 with 178,000 miles with the original shocks.