He's wrong that he has heard of problems in all cab and bed configuriations? Did you even read my 2nd post that you quoted? How do you know? Have you surveyed every 2004 F150 owners? If there wasn't a wide problem, why did they already have a TSB written and are working on a second? Haven't you noticed several of the posts in this forum?

I'm glad your truck is problem free, and I 'm sure the majority are. I have driven 5 2004 F150's, every one has had a vibration. Mine did not at first when I purchased, but developed after about 500 miles.

I had a GMC Z71 before this truck, and it was much smoother above 45. My Ford is a 4x2. Anyway, I'm not concerned about vibes in other makes, I want mine corrected.

 

Obviously you are selective reading.

Here is a link:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=294608

 

People with vib problems, why didn't you test drive the truck? Captain Kid you said the day after you bought it you started having problems. A lot of dealers will let you "test drive" for a day or so. I test drove mine on the highway and city roads, no problem, so I bought the one I test drive. I wasn't aware that their was a vib problem in the '04's when I test drove my truck but it was a VERY smooth ride and that's what really made me get it. At 5100 miles still the smoothest ride I've ever been in.

 

I have a 99 F 150 4.6 2WD and now a 04 F 150 5.4 2WD. I had little to no vibration of any type in my 99. Although my 04 rides generally smoother and i love the truck, it still has that shimmy vibration between certain speeds which is irritating and emmanating through the truck. Obviously not the smooth ride they tried to design for an did well at for the most part. I would really like to get rid of this vibration. I dont want to be tagged as a winer, because I am not one. Just want this fixed and to move on more happily with my great new truck!

Thanks,

Dave

 

Should we spray them down with water or someting? Lets just say IT IS AN ISSUE some have it and others do not ( I wish mine did not but it does) If you do not have an issue then be happy for those of us that do it sucks that we pay so much for a truck and the is the help we get. I know my company with ISO standers could not do this why should FORD. ALL WE WANT IS THE TRUCK FIXED. We did all buy the trucks. Walmart would replace why not ford?

 

Well my 04 Scab FX4 has no vibrations at 6500 miles and that includes towing a trailer weighing 7200 lbs. We also have 3 fleet 4.6 4x2s in service with no problems.

It would be interesting to do a study on the trucks that have the vibration. What size engine? What wheelbase? 4x4 or 4x2? rear end ratio and limited slip vs non limited. I can say that a few years back we had some drive line vibration issues in Econolines. We isolated it to the 4.6 138" wheelbase units and it turned out to be a driveshaft issue. When they were replaced the problems ceased.

 

Good call, I did have my driveshaft replaced. The vibe seemed to dissapate, but has returned. Looking at several posts the several wheelbases and 4x2 and 4x4's have the problem

 

Add me to the multitudes that do not believe "ALL" of the 04s have the vibration problem. 5,500 mile on my Lariat and still smooth as silk. All my passengers have remarked how luxurious the ride is. Some said it's like gliding on ice or a hover craft. Normal road bumbs are smaller than any other truck or car I've ever riden in. Just because one service advisor said it don't make it true. Because it's not.

 

The DSB is pursuing my case. Any resonable person can clearly see that Ford is mass producing a bad vehicle.

The Ford Field Service Engineer that drove my truck and told me that the vibration is a "characteristic of these trucks" says they all do it and Ford has no plans on a fix for it. That was a few weeks ago though.

Of course your Service Manager is going to tell you that a major production problem is isolated. Until he finds out you've spoken to a Ford engineer that told you the truth. They did the same thing with me. The first TSB about this problem came out in March. They've known about it for a long time.

At first, it was only my truck with the problem. When they relized I wasn't going to go away with the Ford Motor Company moto "we've done all we can do". I asked them to tell me the truck was safe to drive and they couldn't. Then they kept it for a week or two and when I finally got it again they told me that this is a common problem and that since I complained about it they've had numerous complaints. WHAT A LIE! Yes, I called them liars. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. I'm ****ed at Ford. They need to get themselves in gear and do the right thing. This is rediculous.

Done venting.

 

04 blk screw lariat, i had the shudder in mine when i bought it new and they changed the pinion gears because they were to tight, i do not have any vibration problems with mine. i had a water leak fixed (passenger side firewall, floorboard was wet) and i now have the rattle in the back (back seat or window, they told me the back seat)that they are going to fix tomarrow. and i had the oil changed 2 weeks ago and now i hear the lifters tapping when idling, they are going to check it to. wish they would of used synthetic oil..

 

ford is aware of it and they have bought some of them back, because of the lemon law. i believe they will find the problem. but 30,000 to 40,000.00 dollars is alot of money for something that isn't trouble free for at least the life of the loan (LOL) they should at least be honest with the customer and let us know what they are trying to do about it before they get a really bad name, and lose alot of customers. my truck is a sweet ride and i love it and want it to be troble free, at least til it is paid for. afraid to buy accesseries for it if they don't make it right.

 

Problem free for life of loan? Only 2 years? Not acceptable. Mine hasn't gone 5 miles without a problem. Ford shouldn't have lied to me. Never have I been given the run around so much by any other car company.

 

1000 miles on mine. Feel bump as I go over it, then continues to kind of bounce (vibrate) kind of back and forth 3 or four times and disssapates with each bounce till I hit another bump (like patches over cracks in highway) then repeats. IS THIS THE SAME VIBRATION EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT?

 

Chairperson...welcome to FTE! I think what you're describing is more of a suspension rebounce. One of the guys at work had that problem on his 04 screw, got the damper put on, and that resolved his problem.

From things I've seen on this board, there are several distinct issues:
1) steering wheel nibble - shaking in the steering wheel. A Ford tech posted that the preload on the steering box was set too loose; he torqued it down some more and that got rid of the problem.
2) dreaded vibe - most noticeable between 40-60 mph. Seen alot of fixes, including r/r the driveshaft, adjusting backlash on diff gears, adjusting driveshaft input angle to diff, opening the slot for the emergency brake arm on the drum (caused brakes to hang up), installing "hubcentric" wheels, and of course road force balancing or replacing tires.
3) slip/clunk - on straight-ahead take off, lube the yoke off the transmission output spkine. On turns, some have had l.s. diff clutch packs replaced.

The only issue I had was having to lube the yoke at 1,500 miles. Now with 9,500 miles I have had no other problems. I got one great truck!!

For those who have had any of the problems above, it would be interesting to see if the fixes mentioned have worked; how's about posting your results?

 

DONSFX4--- Mine is a scrw 2x4 I have thought it was a suspension problem, had it back to dealer and they re-balanced the tires, didn't help. What is this damper thing?