This whole nibble thing is just driving us all crazy!! All my Ford's prior to this 2006, never ever had an issue with the nibble. I feel pretty confident in saying that it is in the power steering rack. Don't forget, this is the first year (2004) that Ford used a rack. The rack is so sensitive, that its picking up any little variation that you would normally not feel in a truck.
Rich

 

**Update** Question, Does everyone that is having the nibble have a Supercab/supercrew OR a Reg cab? Reason I ask, is that after looking through some info on the racks, they show that the reg cab has a different one then the crews/scabs. Under Steering Specs for 2006, there is also a footnote that says "includes nibble dampner with 20"and 22" wheels" which is interesting to me.

 

05 supercab here..

 

It's going to cost me about $1900 for wheels and tires, not including putting them on the truck

 

OUCH!! thats alot

 

hey zekeman! To give ya an update, I got my truck back this afternoon and... THE SHAKES ARE GONE!!! Like i told you yesterday they re-balanced and rotated my tires and re-calibrated my E-brakes. Now @ 75mph, the shimmy is gone. I also put my Edge programmer back in w/out trouble. Hope it's just your tires. And for the question above... I have an '06 F-150 S-Cab 4x4 w/6.5' box.

 

Thats great news I hope I have as much good luck...

 

Zekeman, My first time on the post. I've got an 04 with the same problem. Came with Continentals, had shimmy when i purchased it though it was only around 70 to 75 mph. Didn't think too much about it. Had about 40k on the tires and just happened to have the tires turned real sharp in the driveway one day and noticed something shiny on the inside of the tire. It was the steel belt. Both front tires had the steel belts showing on the very inside corner of the tire. Really a bumber because the rest of the tire looked like it could go aother 30k. I purchased four new continentals, had them balanced and still had the shimmy. I took truck to dealership to have it aligned. They told me it was out a little. I thought great, that will fix my tire wear problem and hopefully the shimmy. It didn't fix the shimmy, but as i said it's only around 70 to 75. I just happened to look at my tires today, now with about 15k on then and the inside of the tires are wore slap out. I will be talking to the dealership tomorrow and see what kind of bs they can come up with. I just can't believe all this talk about tires, tires, tires. That just absolutly cannot be the case. I've got an 92 f150 and never had a shimmy, tire wear problems, anything and I've had 10 different set of tires on it. In fact I've never had a problem with the 5 other new Fords I've had. This is ridiculous. Ford has definetly got a problem here. Also the shimmy I have isn't there all the time. It's like it changes when the truck changes directions. Like the direction of the wind or something has something to do with it. It's crazy. I would be interested to know if kgilliam80 got his problem fixed. To make matters worse I have the injector, cam phaser, whatever, ticking issue. Thought I would take a look on the Ford forums to see if anyone else had these problems. Looks like alot of folks do, so there must be a problem.

 

Hey, zekeman.i have 04 screw i had a same problem like yours with generals, I did replaced them with mastercraft at 26k and didn't fix the shimmy and vibe. Dealership checked all 4 corners and they said noting they can do call ford.so I did call ford.
ford talked with dealership when I was waiting on the phone,then ford said my truck is in good condition noting they will do.next day back to the dealership and ask them about road force balance.he said about 130 dollars I SAID NO .dobbs autotire did all 4 tires for 90 dollars.and now i have no shimmy,nibble and vib. I have 31k on my truck.but just happen 2 days ago my E-brakes start the sticking.so friday i'm going back to dealership.
good luck

 

whittdl, there is a TSB out about your issue of premature wear on the inside of your tires. Basically alll Ford does is adjust the toe setting on the front end so the tires stand outward more. This shimmy "nibble" is very aggravating, now wonder a lot off guys are having to replace ball joints so early on there trucks.

 

My ball joints went out at 17000 miles

 

If you rotate them and put the rears on the front, you may avoid having to replace them so soon...and if the dealer can't fix it you could have a tire shop break down and remount the tires the opposite way, to spread out the wear. This should get you through another 20 or 30k miles.

BUT, I would not let the issue die there. I'd keep pushing the dealer for a solution!

 

Heck the 18" 265/60/18 BFG's that come on the Lariat are $128 per tire at Sears.