front end Problems Help
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front end Problems Help
I have a 99 f350 that is having a serious front end problem! The main problem is that it will not happen for the dealer. While driving on smooth roads, no bumps or anything the front end will start , what I call hopping. It is so bad that I will have to pull over and stop. This will fix the problem until next time. The shimmy is so bad that the truck can not be controlled. any Ideas?
We have had the truck in for the same problem at least 6 times. We have had lots of parts changed a steering stabilizer add and new brakes new tires you name it.
Truck has about 135000 still in great shape but I am afraid it is going to kill me or some one else
Jeff
We have had the truck in for the same problem at least 6 times. We have had lots of parts changed a steering stabilizer add and new brakes new tires you name it.
Truck has about 135000 still in great shape but I am afraid it is going to kill me or some one else
Jeff
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Lyndonville, Vermont
I've heard of this B4 but I can only give Idea's. Since I know how its put together I'm guessing a bent rim or bad tire first..Something has to start all of this going...you said you did the stabilizer....wheel bearings or tierod ends....shocks...At this point you need to get under there and check everything...
Are the front axles turning free in 2wd????? let us know what you find.....mine is so rock stable You have to have something majorly wrong...Tire size?? I assuming 4wd..
Dick
Are the front axles turning free in 2wd????? let us know what you find.....mine is so rock stable You have to have something majorly wrong...Tire size?? I assuming 4wd..
Dick
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it is a 2wd really 4 but all tires are on the same axle. yes we have had the wheel bearings, tie rods, shocks, tires camber has been ajusted. everyone is stumped. I guess if the dealers can not find the problem I will have to ask ford to buy back. I have had the truck for 3 yrs and the problem started about 6 months ago. I doesn't do it every day, as a matter of fact it took 5 weeks for the front end to bounce after they put in the new tie rods and steering stabilizer. I pulled out of traffic, stopped and took it to the shop (with no more problems). Now they can not get it to happen so they are just chalking up the test driving hours. can not wait to see this bill.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Michigan
I had a truck that did this very same thing about 15 years ago - and in that case it was a shock with a valve that was sticking. Basically, it would drive along just fine...and then all of a sudden one tire would start hopping, more and more violently until I had to slow down to a near stop. Then it would smooth back out, and I could accelerate again back up to the proper speed.
Since the valve didn't stick *all* the time, it was a difficult problem to reproduce - it would be fine for a week, and then all of a sudden it would start acting up again.
Edited to add: you posted a response while I was writing mine - and now that I have additional info, it doesn't sound like your problem is the same as what my old pickup had. I'll have to think about that one...
LK
Since the valve didn't stick *all* the time, it was a difficult problem to reproduce - it would be fine for a week, and then all of a sudden it would start acting up again.
Edited to add: you posted a response while I was writing mine - and now that I have additional info, it doesn't sound like your problem is the same as what my old pickup had. I'll have to think about that one...
LK
Last edited by LK; Jan 6, 2004 at 03:44 PM.
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From: rochester
recall possibility
I have a 2000 PSD f-350 which had a front axle that did the same thing, hopping, the axle was under a recall for having wear issues due to bad bearings or somthing. but there is a tsb and recall for this issue atleast for the 2000 model
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: West Cornwall, CT
As was mentioned in an earlier post, this sure sounds like a shock absorber problem.
If your truck has stiffer springs and a bit more weight on the front axle, it probably needs shocks with more damping power than stock.
As a suggestion, consider an adjustable shock - Rancho 9000s are one example. This way you would be able to select the shock damping that works on your truck.
Lou Braun
If your truck has stiffer springs and a bit more weight on the front axle, it probably needs shocks with more damping power than stock.
As a suggestion, consider an adjustable shock - Rancho 9000s are one example. This way you would be able to select the shock damping that works on your truck.
Lou Braun
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f350jeff,
This may seem silly but have you had to use any "fix a flat" or any spray in tire sealer?
I had a problem like this many years ago with a car and vowed never to use tire sealer again.
Fo those who may not know. What happens is the foam turns into liquid and will roll around within the tire until enough speed is reached to suspend the liquid causing the tire to go severly out of balance. When you slow down or stop, the liquid rolls to another spot in the tire and son and so on.
Good luck.
This may seem silly but have you had to use any "fix a flat" or any spray in tire sealer?
I had a problem like this many years ago with a car and vowed never to use tire sealer again.
Fo those who may not know. What happens is the foam turns into liquid and will roll around within the tire until enough speed is reached to suspend the liquid causing the tire to go severly out of balance. When you slow down or stop, the liquid rolls to another spot in the tire and son and so on.
Good luck.
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Lou, Not sure of brand name but we did replace front shocks hoping this was the problem. I do remember it was a beafy shock.
Fordowner, no fix a flat- we put on new tires (it needed it anyways)
mrplowdiesel, Do not apologize, Thanks for your input
I keep going back to the messed up wheel-- If a wheel was bent or something was wrong with it -- could the problem come and go. I know that the truck is balanced and aligned --could this happen if the rim was messed up?
I really think that my truck has a major factory defect and one day I will be driving along and my front tires and axel will seperate from the truck!
Thanks for All of the ideas
Fordowner, no fix a flat- we put on new tires (it needed it anyways)
mrplowdiesel, Do not apologize, Thanks for your input
I keep going back to the messed up wheel-- If a wheel was bent or something was wrong with it -- could the problem come and go. I know that the truck is balanced and aligned --could this happen if the rim was messed up?
I really think that my truck has a major factory defect and one day I will be driving along and my front tires and axel will seperate from the truck!
Thanks for All of the ideas
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From: rochester
death wobble
Thinking back on this topic, i remember reading about this in another forum... I looked back and found the common name to be "Death Wobble"... most sites refrence 4x4 vehicles, but i have read it can happen on 4x2 models aswell... I recommend looking for "death wobble ford" on google might have some ideas there we haven't touched upon. Finally I also remember reading somthing about some adjustment screw in the steering system either on steering-box, or somthing, that will be a sure cause for this. I wish i could find what it was.
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