TO ALL 2004 F-150 4X4 4.6L WIDE SIDE .I CANT BE THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.TRUCK HAS36055 MILES .IT DOES NOT HAPPEN DRIVEING AROUND TOWN.GETING UP TO SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY I START TO GET ISLITE VIBRATION AT AROUND 55-60 FROM THESTEERING WHEEL FOWARD WICH TURNS INTO HOOD WIPER BLADE AND FRONT END GOING UP AND DOWN SO BAD YOU HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD.GO INTO PARK WAIT .BACK ON HIGHWAY PROBLEM GONE.ALWAYS DOES IT AGAIN . PLEASE HELP /EDSELL

 

EDSELL

I have a 2004 F150 X-Cab 4X4 5.4 V8 with the same problem. Today at the dealership thay preformed a 5 hour test procedure to rule out tires and the brakes draging. I had been able to sucesfully repete the failure by simply appling ther e-brake and then releasing it. All of the test completed and the vibration was still there. The Servive Bulliten advised them to instal a vibration dampener behind the left rear schacle that they said would fix the problem. Well upon leaving the dealership it was ok until I got to the first light and aplied the e-brake then released and the vibration came right back as bad as ever. It is so bad you would think you had a flat and the tire was coming off the rim. Tommrow I am taking the truck back to the dealer to discuss whare to go now. I have read just tonight sevral poasting all over the net with the same issues and concerns. It depends on your dealer and level of tech experties they have as to how quickly they wil fix the problem if at all. Some people have had drive shafts or brake componants changed that rectifird the issues and some have been told by Ford that it is an inherent desing problem that cannot or will not be fixed. I will keep you poased to the outcome.

Best regards,

Brian ONeil
Michigan

 

...Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

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Have the dealer take the rear disk / drum assembly off. Then have them locate the expander cam between the parking brake shoes. It goes through the backing plate and the parking brake cable is attached to it. Have them remove the expander cam and verify that it moves freely. Either the left or the right or maybe both are probably rust welded and therefore not allowing the shoes to retract when the parking brake is released. They need to clean the cams, then reassemble them with some high temp grease so that they don't rust together again. If they call the ford tech line they can get roughly the some information. I did the whole repair in my driveway, both sides, working slowly in alittle over two hours. This was after I brought it to the dealer twice wasting more then 6 hours, and they still didn't fix it.

 

Sorry, repeat of above post.

 

I had the exact same problem, it was the parking brake failing to disconnect fully, there is a TSB on this too!

 

Guys,

Thanks for all of your replys.. But did you read the part whare I say they completly disconected the rear brakes and the truck STILL had the same vibration.... So at that point they added a very large vibration dampener and to the rear of the left rear leaf spring schacle... Then the service advisor said take the truck home and see how it does... Not closing the ticket at all in the past three consecutive days and Saying with absoultley no confidence in the repair preformed that if this doent fix it I dont know what we are goingto do. At that point I left the lot felling no vibration. I got the the first intersection and wanted to feel that the parking break completly disengaged, that same morning when I droped off the truck I advised the service writer that I duplicated the vibration by engaging and releasing the parking break and could feel the brake was draging, this triggerd the violent shaking. Ok so I engage the break and disengage it twic , both times felling the brakes dissengage fully. I take my left turn and aclerate to 30 MPH and here comes the heavy vibration just like before... No difrent even with this gigantic dampener in place. Now I am just depresed and lost.... This morning I brought the truck back and the service writter wasent suprised and said "No diffrent?" he says. Now they have completly diassembled the brakes and rebuilt them. I asked waht if it does this again like we suspect it will and he said we will contact Ford and get them involved. So now I drivwe my $29,500 dollar truck witch I have 2 year more years on my lease waiting for the vibration to occur again. I will keep this thred informed as the situation developed.

Best regards,

Brian O'Neil
Michigan

 

P.S.

Oh yeah they are of course following the latest TSB in regards to this matter. I beleive the dealership has reached the end of the road with this one and must get FORD involved.

 

If the parking brake expander cams are rust welded, it won't matter whether the parking brake cable is attached or not. They will stay right where they are no matter what. Then the shoes drag on the drum, build up heat from friction, and this then finally starts causing the vibration. Not to beat a dead horse here but you can't assume that the dealer service department checked the fundamentals. It could really be a simple fix that they just overlooked. Now if they took the shoes completely out of the drum, and tested it that way, I'm at a loss.

 

Sounds like people this problem would have better luck doing as you suggested. Just to do it on there own.

How about posting the procedure so they can see if they want to tackle it...

 

I just picked up my truck from the dealer yesterday for this problem, and yes they didn't fix it, it didn't vibrate for them... well it does for me.
It is definatly the parking brake, when I roll the truck slowly I can hear a" moan "from the right rear hub and it is also much hotter than the left.
looks like I will have to try to fix it myself.
Thanks to you guys I knew where to look when the problem first appeared, I probably wouldn't have thought of the e-brake as the source and the dealer wouldn't have been, and continues to be no help.

 

Ok, the job is done! it is just like ford9c said, that expander cam was rust welded big time, The hardest part was getting the disc/hub off because the shoes were locked tight against the drum.... Thanks ford9c