I have a super cab FX4 with 2500 miles. I really love the truck but do have one issue with it. On a smooth newly paved black top road going 58-62 mph I seem to have a tire problem. There is a vibration that goes "whomp, whomp, whomp about every 1/2 second or second. It goes away below and above the 58-62mph range. You can hear it and feel the vibration. It is not horrible but can be felt slightly through the console, seat, and steering wheel.
I took the truck in and they road forced balanced the tires. It might have helped a little but it is definitely still there. They ruled out any driveline components with a vibration test that showed it was coming fromt the tires. My dealer said they would get a new set of tires and try them. My problem is what if the tires I get or worse than the ones I have now. I won't be able to put the tires I have now back on. I am hoping it goes away with time but I doubt it. I don't really want to go back and forth trying different tires. I just don't understand why even after a road force balance, I still have this problem. What should I do?

 

Ford seems to be shying away from the issues with many people...trying to add weights and change the gearing fluid and other useless stuff. It just seems like some of the trucks are coming out defective and that is that. They should either give a refund...or replace the entire truck.

 

04FX4-

You need to read through the other posts on this site dealing with "vibrations." I noticed it twice in my truck (just picked it up Saturday), but only when the tires are cold. As soon as I've driven a mile or so, it goes away. Anyone else notice this?

 

04FX4 what rear diff. do you have in your truck? Limited slip or ?

 

3.73 Limited Slip

 

04, What you describe does sound like tires. Considering that technically your tires are not covered by Ford, it sounds like your dealer is trying to do the right thing. I know it's a pain to go in for service, but maintain a good attitude with them, and it sounds like they will do right by you.

 

What is "Road forced balanced"?


Thanks.

 

The dealer is doing fine, and he said he would get some new tires if I was not happy. It is only on certain smooth roads, most roads you can't feel the vibration on and even on the smooth roads as long as I am going below 58 or above 62 it is smooth as silk.

Noonan, I believe road force balance is when they apply force to the tire when balancing as it would have force on the tires going down the road.

 

What brand / model tires?

I'm wondering if different tires result in different speed-sensitive nibbles.

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2004 F150 Scab Lariat 4x2 5.4L LSD Trailer Tow Pkg
shod with BFGoodrich Radial Long Trail P265/60R18
with a nibble occuring around 70 miles per hour.

 

I have the Goodyear's. The dealer said I was the first truck with goodyears on to come in. He said they have yet to get the continental brand to balance out even after it checks out on the road force balance machine. He said that tire technology has not kept up with the front suspension technology with the lighter weight control arms. He said if my truck had a solid front axle I would not notice the vibration.

 

Thanks,

That makes sense.

 

if any of you have the continental tires, that is the vibration problem you have. i work at a distributor and cannot stand the on a truck. bmw mercedes maybe but not on my 04 screw. i found some minor defects and had them adjusted. got full credit and went with toyo. best tire for the $. either AT or sport truck.

 

I went to the dealer today and talked to the assistant service manager. He said bring it in tommorow morning and we will put take some tires off one of the trucks on the lot and try them. He said don't worry about it we will fix it. You got to appreciate a dealer with this kind of attitude. The funny thing about this is, I did not even buy the truck from this dealer. I bought my 2000 F150 from them, but they could not get right on the price on the 04. They have the best service department around so I went to them. The service guys know me from my old truck, and they probably assume I bought it from them.

 

I just now returned to the office from my local, friendly tire dealer.

On Tuesday of this week, I asked him to order me a set of Kumho Ecsta STX (Street/Sport Truck All-Season) to replace the OEM BFGoodrich Radial Long Trail T/A (Highway All-Season) tires.

He got them in today, mounted and did a good balance, and drum roll please they cured my 65 - 75 mph nibble.

I know that I was taking a chance, since I was on the hook for $290 exchange, but here were my reasons.

1. Generally, in my experience, OEM tires are not the best available, the manufacturers are said to buy the brand that is the low bid, every few dollars savings adds to the profit margin,

2. the BFG tires just looked like they were prone to wander and shake. Look at the Tire Rack page and compare the two tread patterns, and also look at the ratings.

3. I have a years of experience with Kuhmo race (and near race) rubber on my sports racer, trust them at speed, and trust Kuhmo's fine reputation.

I am one happy camper.

BTW, the dealer inflated the Kuhmos to 40 psi, and recommended to stay at that level of inflation, no matter what the gas door sticker indicates.

 

1956MarkII, 04FX4, and others.....

On several occasions, I have experienced a slight "vibration" at highway speeds (55 - 65 MPH) when the tires were cold, and when my truck had sat in one place over night. It felt like all four tires were just slightly out of balance. Then after driving for several miles at highway speeds, the vibration went away, and my truck rode just as smooth as silk!!

The explanation for MY "vibration problem" (and probably for many of yours as well) is quite simple and straightforward.....

My truck weighs almost 5,900 pounds, and has the P285/6018 BFG Radial Long Trail T/A tires on it. I drive 35 miles from work to home in the early evenings at 65 - 70 MPH, and park my truck in the garage (which is less than 1 mile from the interstate). At that time, the tires are fully heated and at their maximum pliability. The tires then sit for 12 to 14 hours on the cold, concrete garage floor and cool completely down to the ambient air/floor temperature. In doing so, they take on a TEMPORARY "flat spot" at the contact patch of each tire, which TEMPORARILY changes the location of the mass of each tire.....which TEMPORARILY changes the balance of each tire. So, each tire is now "out of balance", just as if a balancing weight had come off, or one had been randomly applied.

Now, when I drive my truck the next morning.....each of the "flat spots" will rotate and hit the road at the same time, and cause an even thump, thump, thump sound and feel.....JUST AS LONG AS I ONLY GO IN A STRAIGHT LINE.....which is not even remotely possible. So as I turn left and right, etc. the tires will start turning more rotations (on the outer side of the truck when turning) and/or less rotations (on the innner side of the truck when turning) so that the "flat spots" that were initially hitting the road at the same time, are now hitting the road in a varied, random, and changing pattern, which causes varying vibrations and road noise.

Once the tires warm up and maximum pliability returns, ALL the vibrations and road noise go away.....and the truck rides VERY smooth and quiet!!!

The MANY different rubber compounds, tread designs, tire sizes, and types of tires that come on on your trucks will DEFINITELY play a part in how often this problem occurs, how severe it is, and how long it takes to self correct.

FYI.....I am getting ready to take off my O.E.M. BFG's and put on a set of Yokohama Geolander H/T-S G052 "H" Speed Rated", Unidirectional, 285/60R18 tires. I will keep you posted on those tires and also post some pictures of them.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Fred