I was on my way home, and hit a bump in the road, (55 mph) and the front end started shaking like crazy. I could hardly keep the truck straight. This has happened a few times in the past, but nothing this severe. Any Ideas on what this could be? Thanks

 

Usually its the steering damper..Or loose tierod ends..

 

Could it be the shocks? I bought this truck with a aftermarket warrenty, and Im sure they wouldnt cover shocks, but would they cover tierods?The truck is a 99 350 psd. Thanks for the help.

 

Probably not....since they are a "maintanece item" that wears out sort of like brake pads.

I would get it in the air and check the rod ends, ball joints and shocks....

 

Another question, I plan on lifting the truck eventually, would now be the time to do it? I wouldnt use the stock shocks in a lift kit I wouldnt think. I dunno, Im just trying to save a buck. Ill take it to big o for the free inspection

 

Well, I suppose so, if you got the cash.
But I would make sure all the other front end parts are up to snuff, before you lift it and stick bigger tires on there, or it could lead to bigger problems and damage or injury.

 

Big O found nothing. First they said the steering dampner was good, and another guy yesterday said it doesnt have a steering dampner.
The tires were rebalanced, and the allignment is good. Im at a loss.

 

I wish somebody would figure it out because my 99 350 does the same thing, it will do it all the way down to 10-15 mph. Funny thing is, if I pull the shift lever into 4 hi ( only did it once bc it grinds the dog teeth in the T case) it will instantly stop. My truck also dosent have a steering stabilizer.

 

If it doesn't have a stabilizer put one on it...

 

Would that be a Ford piece, or aftermarket?

 

Either one should do. esp if you have larger than stock tires. Stock unit should work fine.

 

If I were you, I would only put an after market stabilizer shock on there. As soon as I brought my truck home from the dealer, I changed mine. What a difference! The after market shocks are heavy duty and will handle bigger tires and wheels. In my area the after market unit was cheaper than the one from Ford. Good luck and let us know how it works out for ya.

Fitter

 

I know this thread was from awhile ago...

I have an '00 Excursion (basically the same set-up) that had that problem. I replaced the tie rod ends and "some bushings in the steering arm's" and the problem went away. The mechanic that did the job is a fine mechanic, but is used to talking to house wives when he explains the work he did. It ran about $218 to get the shaking to stop.

 

While steering in a long turn off the highway at about 60 mph... mine too did some kind of violent bounce, shake, and rattle... Don't confused this with a subtle noise or jitter... It felt as if the tires were coming off the ground and patty-caking each other with high fives, very strange! I took mine to a local front-end shop and they to said they couldn't see anything wrong, but offered their alignment service of course. Got it aligned and it hasn't happened since! Question!

Were you driving or making a curve at high speed, or over 35?