I work for a company that has recently added several 05 F250 SD 4x4 Super Cab Short Bed trucks to the fleet. We have started experiencing a problem with the front ends that causes anything from a shimmy to a violent, out-of-control, whole vehicle shaking that can only be stopped by a drastic and rapid reduction in speed. We have had the trucks into three different dealers and steering dampers and other various front end parts have been changed with no real positive results. Anybody out there experiencing anything like this and if so, what has been done to eliminate it.

 

Welcome to the only family Ford Truck site, on the net. The members in these forums are very knowledgeable about trucks; they will eagerly help you…with your question. If you have a minute check out the Guidelines, it will help you to navigate through and understand FTE.
Enjoy FTE …..See you on the boards!

 

Yours is the first time I've heard of that issue on the 05's..

Welcome to FTE.

 

The last time I ever had such a problem was in my 79 f150 4x4 (same coil design as 05) it was due to out of balance tires or overloading my truck and unspringing my front end. I would check balance. Hope this helps!

 

i had the same prob with my old 95 f150 coil spring frontend it was also due to out of balance tires, i went though the whole front end from wheelbearings all the way up to the steering box and nothing helped had a good balance job done on tires and it went away

 

Quick update: The latest from Ford is that there may be a problem with the front end alighnment specs. The Shop Foreman has been told to adjust the caster/camber numbers to something different than what his spec read (he didn't share exact numbers). He was only able to get part of it with the adjusters that were on the truck, but has ordered new adjusters that will allow him to get to where they want. He did say that there was some improvement in the way the truck handled with the adjustment that he was able to make. BTW, thanks for the replies.

 

one thing I noticed on my 05 right off the lot is it has
a low speed vibration\ steering wheel shake

I experience this from about 20-50mph

at highway speeds things are alot smoother

the dealer 1 st tried to tell me is was the "pulse" of the v-10
and I was just not used to it --coming from a 5.4 SD to this

I almost broke out in insane laughter

then after- they said it likely tire balance as I suggested
and they didnt have good equipment to balance it any better
than the factory-- so they did not want to rebalance tires

ive also heard these conti tires develop flat spots while sitting
and takes a while driving to smooth or round out

and I suspect this flat spot problem would be worse if there were
weight on the truck

also--I increased the air pressure in my tires to
70-front 75-rear
and I think the ride is better

another thing to think about
my 01 sd had some nasty driveshaft vibrations
if your not sure of where it was coming from - it seems to come through
the steering wheel and shake the whole truck
after a new drive shaft(split)+u joints+carrier baering assy+1" spacers
all done under warranty----the problem was pretty much eliminated

g/l Josh

 

I have also had a slight bump on the road until the tires smooth out, and heard of the Conti tire flat spots being the cause from a Ford service tech. Sounds like yours is pretty severe though. Does your company have a heavy service box on the back, or? I suppose this would intensify the effect of flat spots on the tires.

 

I have a 2005 f250 and have had no such problems. I only have 700 miles on it though. Any further update on this problem?

 

Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts! If you have a minute check out the Guidelines, it will help you to navigate through and understand FTE.
We are pleased you have chosen, the best source for Fords
See you on the boards

 

Welcome aboard Utahford. Capmjack's is the first I have heard at all of a violent shake like that. Gotta wonder how the weight is distributed in the bed on their work trucks or just how they are set up. I have felt my tires bump only a couple of times so I haven't determined what climatic conditions cause it but haven't had anything like Capmjack has. Mine isn't real noticeable. I've got 5000+ miles on her so far. Once the tires are warmed up, she handles like a dream.

 

I have a 05, f350. No problems

 

The weight distribution aspect is the first place Ford went with this. We are carrying pretty good loads in the trucks (the reason we went to 3/4 tons instead of 1/2s). The truck that is being worked on currently (the others are parked waiting on a solution) originally had a "Rat Pack" toolbox located just inside the tailgate. It was heavy enough to squat the rear a little and there was some slight rise in the front end. The shop pointed towards this as the whole problem. We have since completely unloaded the truck and the Ford service dept. has it in that configuration and still experiencing the same problem.

To clarify the scope a little, we have a total of seven of these trucks in the local fleet. Four of them have experienced this same problem and three have not. Of the three that have not, I am driving one and I have no complaints, in fact I love it. I have driven the truck that is now in the shop, and I can tell you, it was scary.

One interesting side note that I just became aware of: One of our 04 SDs has been experiencing somewhat of a front end shimmy and when the local Ford service looked at it, they found that it had the same type of tie-rod assembly that was on the 05s minus the stabilizer. The manufacture date on this truck was 12-03 and it had the 04 style suspension. The service manager is really scratching his head over that one.

 

I just took my 2005 F-350 into Ford for a front end alignment under warranty. It drifts to the left, and has been like this since new. Presently I have 3000 miles on it. The advisor says its "in specs" (must be some pretty loose specs) , but the mechanic can improve it. They ordered new adjustors to properly align it and get the caster/camber right. It's in the shop now and the adjustors are on order. I'll let you guys know how this turns out.

 

This all sounds like the 70's F-150 and 78-79 Full size Bronco "Death Wobble". It seems to be a real issue on some of these coil sprung front ends designs. Our 78 Bronco was having this issue and the only fault I could find was the track bar was not torqued enough to provide the stability these front axles require. I assume these are not lifted 05's as a lift will almost always make the wobble disapear or get so bad you can track the part causing it in the first place. Let us know what the dealer finds, it would be good to know for alot of the 05 owners on here.