Iv posted about this before, but some things have changed so... and im getting a little fed up with it all.
My truck drives fine. I bought it a little over a month ago... i started noticing a bad vibration. at first it was around 30-45 mph, got worse during deacceleration. since i bought the extended warrenty i took it in and had the dealership check out the problem. the tech working on it told me he noticed it and that it was probably the tires.they balanced my tires and sent me on my way. they said if it still does it, its probably the "aggressive tread", even though they're only ALL TERRAINS. well it still does it but know its only between 40-45mph, but its alot worse. ive had the tires balanced at 2 differants Les Schwabs and they were fine. i dont want to keep taking the truck it and having the dealership charge my $90 diagnosis when they say that its not a warrenty problem. I really dont know what to do. Like i said i am really fed up with it all. if anyone has any ideas or suggestions let me know.

sorry to ramble on.

 

Start with the simple things....are the front hubs unlocked?

 

I'd put money on a driveline issue. They are time consuming and frustrating to diagnose, but if you have a written list and just methodically go through it you'll be free from the vibration. Don't get discouraged if its more than u-joints and balancing. When one thing vibrates on a driveshaft, it wears out everthing else in line with it at a breakneck pace. If you don't have the time, or the patience for it, ask around and find a good experienced driveline specialty shop and write the check.
It involved a new slip yoke, u-joints, transfer case output and rear pinion bearings, and shimming my rear axle to lift the pinion angle on my '01. It took me all weekend and a fair chunk of $$$ to finally get it right, but it was way worth it.
Now, instead of a love/hate relationship with her, I have a ***** eating grin every time I slide behind the wheel.
If you have an opportunity to tow a trailer with some decent weight to it (6000+ lbs.), do it. If everything gets better, your driveline angles are the culprit. If not, it is slop somewhere.

Sorry for the long winded post, but it is going to take methodical patience or writing the check no matter how you look at it.

Keep us posted and don't give up,

Austin

 

I think a bad belt in tire , But since that has been checked I would think drive line,
I would probably take the truck, put it on 4 jackstands and put it in gear and see where the vibration is comming from, if it drive line I would think it would start vibrating at a lower speed,,
I have tested vehicles like that with no ill effects like falling of jack stands,, just start your speed slow and gradually build up, have a helper watch, But my bet is that you can jack it up , put it in gear and jump out and you will see what it does...

 

The biggest thing to me is the dealership saying its a tire balance problem even though ive balanced them and rebalenced them I have the extended warrenty on the truck so money wise i should be good. but inorder for the warrenty to even matter, the dealership needs to say that there is problem. if they keep denying that there is a problem then im screwed. god this really ticks me off.

 

Does it have to be that dealership (stealership as I've often seen it put)? Can you take your baby into another Ford shop in another close by city to get a "second" opinion? Having the same guy look at it (that may or may not know he's doing) could be the diagnostic problem.

I'm fortunate (or not) to have 4 stealerships in about 20 miles from me.

 

take it to independent and have him find it and then get estimate to show the dealer ship

 

if the dealer said its tires and they charged you for the diagnosis, then tell them to put tires off of a truck on the lot on your truck and see if the vibration goes away and then youll know if you have a driveline problem or not----good luck

 

Well i have already bought some new tires because the old ones were getting low and howled like crazy. i had these balanced also so ther're good there. but that vibration is still there.

 

it got too be drive line...everything else seems ok..right ?

 

Yea as far as i know everything else is good. Im gonna take it down to a different dealer tomarrow and see what happens. i dont see why they cant tell its not the tires but oh well. ill get back with you guys to let you know.

 

Check the pinion on the rear axle to make sure it doesn't move up and down.My pinion nut backed off causing my pinion to go in hitting the carrier and causing a vibration.My truck is a 2000 with 60000 on it,so anything is possible.Just something to try.

 

have you tried the jack stands yet...once you do it you will find the vibration..
because you can look under it while it moving and it shows more since its not under power to the ground, if you want you can even drop your rear drive shaft to isolate the problem from front to back....that way you at least narrow it down...