Although this information is not very conclusive or assuring I thought I'd share it with you guys.

I work for Ford Motor Company in the Crash Safety Development Center.

About 2 months ago before I was even considering buying a F150 we had an NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) Engineer bring out a damper for the SuperCrew F150. The damper was about a 25-30 pound weight mounted on rubber. This unit bolted to the drivers side frame rail as far rearward as possible. It was a very strange looking part so I asked the engineer exactly what it was for. He explained to me that the F150 was having a vibration issue and this part would fix it. I did not ask him for any more details than that because like I said I was not considering buying a F150 at the time.

Our purpose for testing the part was strictly to see if it had any negative effect on a rear impact crash. We were not interested in wether or not the part actually stopped the vibration issue.

We crashed the truck and last I heard everything went ok and thats all I know. Unfortunately I don't know if this part will go into production or be part of any recall or TSB, but from what I understand the part did stop the vibration. I do know that this particular crash test cost Ford $400,000 and I don't think they would have wasted that money if they weren't confident in this damper.

If I hear anything else I will be sure to post. I would bet that this part will eventually be making its way to some of our trucks. Like I said this was about 2 months ago so it would take some time to get these dampers mass produced and go through all the other processes.

 

That's awesome.. thanks for the info!

 

So if the Job 2 trucks are "fixed" we should be able to see this dampner on the frame...Since mine is not here yet would somebody look on theirs please?

 

Three weeks ago my dealer put this vibration dampener kit on my truck. He said that it was about a 50 pound weight that they attached to the frame. It did help the rebounce and body noise after taking a harsh bump.
It did not help my truck's 45-65mph driveline vibration. What kind of voodoo can Ford come up with next?

 

WOW! I have to add a weight to get rid of the problem? This actually makes sense, but I think it admits poor engineering. I'd sure like to give it a try though. Funny....my girlfriend told me to just drive the truck with a couple bags of sand in the back. Women....they make too much sense sometimes. :-)

 

I also had the vibration kit installed a couple of weeks ago. Made absolutely no difference to the vibration problem. There's vibrations from 40 - 65 mph. The worst used to be at 46 - 48 but after they added some shims to the driveshaft it's now at 42 - 44 mph. The Ford field service engineer is on vacation this week so the dealer is waiting until he comes back before looking at my truck again. Sigh, been trying to get this fixed since November.

 

acarlisletx
Have you requested a Dispute Settlement Board Application from your dealer or Ford Customer Service?

 

Let the consumer test it, and we'll fix it with a patch later. Save a buck, cut a corner, push 'em out the plant. Typical for Ford.

 

Someone please explain exactly the feeling they are getting referred to as "vibration". I feel something I refer to "feedback" in the steering wheel and cab. It is like the steering wheel is extra sensitive not so much a vibration really as it is feeling every nook and cranny in the road. I have a FX4 Supercab and the problem seems to be in Michigan with the Supercrew builders but I want to make sure before I get the TSB performed and they do more harm than good.

Thanks

 

Lift your tailgate only 1 inch and drop. Watch the box of the truck wobble. This wobbling resonates through the truck frame and body causing a vibration or shuddering at higher speeds. Makes me sick....
Wish I would have tried this before buying the truck. They are installing the new "dampening kit" which is nothing more than a counterweight to the frame on the drivers side rear. From what I hear, this doesn't help. I'm going to give my feedback once this is done and hope for the best.

 

I also had the "vibration dampening kit" installed a few weeks ago. No fix. Ill keep waiting. My love hate relationship for this truck is begining to gravitate to really HATE. The strengths no longer outweigh the negatives. I wish there were a fix. I wish I could dump the thing for close to what I have in it. I wish.....

 

I did the tailgate test and guess I passed. The truck did not shake any more than should be expected and I did not notice any vibration or shock to the cab. I guess that means I passed the test? I have received feedback from another forum user with the exact same truck as mine who replied to a thread I started and he has the same problem as I which sounds different from what allot of you screw guys have. Our problem is feedback felt in the steering wheel and not so much of a vibration in the cab or bed.

Thanks

 

There's a difference between "feeling" the road and the constant vibration I get - almost like riding a motorcycle. My son and I did the tailgate test. We both agree it's the same type vibration we feel when driving/riding in the truck. Weird how it resonates through the whole truck and it takes a couple of seconds to die out.

 

My SCAB, XLT does not have any vibration coming from the rear. But every bump in the road can be felt in the steering wheel. I don't know if this is normal or not. If there is no bump, no vibration.

 

I tried the tailgate test. It sure did vibrate a lot. I then tried in on my companys 99 supercab. It did the same thing. I then tried the same test on a couple of chevys that my employees drive. They did the same thing although not as pronounced.
I don't think this has anything to do with the vibrations problems stated.
My FX4 Scab does not have any vib problems so far.
I would like to know how much of this is just feeling the road because of the stiffer suspension?