Feeling the Bumps

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Oct 7, 2017 | 09:54 AM

#16

A&Pmech

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Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 399

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This is my first solid front axle vehicle in 20 years, so I'm not very experienced with the characteristics. I've noticed mine willl go just a little off course when going over a bump at higher speeds, I always figured this was do to a combination of the stiffer suspension and the solid front axle.

Oct 7, 2017 | 11:51 AM

#17

Iowa Boy

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Joined: Oct 2017

Posts: 47

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From: Iowa

Yup, they do bounce and veer off course. i have lowered my front pressure to 60 pounds and i may have to go down to 50. I just don't want the tires too low so they start to increase rolling resistance or flex to much.

Nov 14, 2017 | 11:22 AM

#18

Iowa Boy

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Joined: Oct 2017

Posts: 47

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From: Iowa

Well I finally took the truck to the dealer to have it checked out. I told them I hate how it drives due to all the bump steer. They took it for a drive and said that they didn't see any issues. Then I took a drive in it with the service manager to show him what its talking about and he says that is just the way the super duties drive. He said at least you don't have the death wobble yet. I had them put it on the rack and check the alignment and it was all with in spec. I can't believe that there are not more posts about how poorly there trucks drive. I guess I will try an aftermarket steering stabilizer once they are available. I would like a dual stabilizer but i don't want to lift the front of the truck as it barely fits in the garage the way it is. Well, i just thought I would post what I found out about my truck. I guess I will either have to accept the poor steering or trade it off. Time will tell.

Nov 14, 2017 | 11:58 AM

#19

Paw's 150 Lariat

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Joined: Aug 2006

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From: Raceland, La.

I actually thought the ride in my DRW would be worse then what it is. I find it to ride better then the 2000 F-250 I had years ago with the camper package. It was a Supercab with the shortbed and it rode like a brickwagon. Other then the ride it was the most trouble free vehicle I've ever owned. My '17 with the 176" WB rides as smooth as the '13 F-150 I had that had the factory 20" wheels.

Nov 14, 2017 | 12:14 PM

#20

rfbrain

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2017

Posts: 156

Likes: 5

From: Jacksonville

I'm not sure if what is being described is actually "Bump Steer". In a solid front axle vehicle as long as the Track Bar and Drag Link are in parallel with each other there should be no Bump Steer as the suspension articulates. Bump Steer is usually much more common in double wishbone/independent front suspensions such as the F150 and GMs.

Nov 14, 2017 | 12:22 PM

#21

Iowa Boy

Freshman User

Joined: Oct 2017

Posts: 47

Likes: 0

From: Iowa

Well, call it what you like but any bump rocks the steering wheel. I did a search on here and it seems to be a common problem. Maybe Ford should worry a little less about all the fancy electronic bells and whistles and focus on making the best driving truck on the market. I'm surprised that they are not constantly in class action lawsuits over how poorly these trucks drive. Just my opinion.

Nov 14, 2017 | 12:55 PM

#22

AK_SuperDuty

Elder User

Joined: Apr 2016

Posts: 812

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My F350 is totally smooth over bumps. I had major issues with bad steering wheel vibration at various speeds due to a bad set of tires, but with the Toyo Open Country AT2's I had installed, the truck performs better than any other vehicle I've driven. I think yours has a problem. It's not an engineering issue unless a large number of them have the same problem.

Nov 14, 2017 | 02:26 PM

#23

mmuglia

Junior User

Joined: Nov 2017

Posts: 79

Likes: 2

I was experiencing the same type of issue when hitting bumps and the truck didn't seem to track straight on the expressway. I brought it to the dealer and had the alignment checked and they said everything was in spec. Knowing this all seemed like an alignment issue, I brought the truck to the shop that aligned my F150 after I leveled it and had them check the alignment on my 3-day old F250. The passenger front tire was at .25 degrees negative toe and the driver front was .25 degrees positive toe. I asked the mechanic to leave the passenger side alone and set the driver side to .25 negative. All problems solved. No more jerking wheel when hitting bumps and the truck tracks perfect on the expressway.