2006 f150: front end issues

todddr · 10-26-2006, 11:12 PM

Just got a new F150, crewcab, 150" wb, 5.4L. Right on the initial test drive I felt like it was a little 'wobbly' up around 70-75 mph, like the tires weren't balanced well. Of course the dealership said 'we'll take care of that.' Well, they couldn't take care of that night, cause their service dept was closed. So a few days later I take it in and they rebalance the tires. that helped a bit, but still I've got a pretty noticeable 'shake' around highway speed. So then they start talking about a Ford service bulletin concerning this 'high speed vibration' issue; now they want to have me bring it in for a bunch of front end work: change the camber settings, tighten up the entire front end, road force balance the tires. Just curious of whether anyone else has heard of this issue?

64longstep · 10-26-2006, 11:52 PM

try replacing the factry tiers. the factry tiers are too soft. every new car or truck i have driven you could feel the week side walls. everyone that i know that has a new vehicle says the same thing, that after they put better tiers on their vehicles, they handled better.

75K30 · 10-27-2006, 09:19 PM

That truck wouldn't happen to be runnin The world famous "Continnental" tires would it? Many Fords have gone back to the dealer with similar problems. These tires have a reputation for being difficult to balance. Before you go through all of that trouble with the dealer, see if you can find a friend with a similr truck, that has different type tires, and swap. Bet ya the vibration goes away. Several posts on this subject are out there. Seems that changing tires was the only solution.

todddr · 10-29-2006, 06:23 PM

Well, my truck was at the dealership this last Friday for 7+ hours. They did all kinds of stuff as per some 'technical bulletin' from Ford regarding front end vibration; but, in the end, still the same problem after about 5 hours of work. Then, they call up some guy who I guess is a kind of 'Ford Truck' guru. He asks them some questions about the 'force balance' they've been doing and whether the 'right button' was pushed. I guess there's a choice been an 'LT' setting (light truck) and a 'P' (passenger car). turns out, there can be a significant difference in how the machine processes it's findings. The Ford F150 (and apparantly most other 1/2 tonners) are supposed to be run on the 'P' setting. They'd been doing it on the 'LT' setting. Well, they redid the force balance, and Boom! My truck can now cruise at whatever speed and feel solid as a rock. I had also paid a Goodyear dealership to do a force balance on the truck the day before this work was done. That also did not take care of the problem. When I went back to the Goodyear store to ask what setting they ran on their machine, they said 'LT.' I informed them that was probably wrong. Anyway...I'm happy now. The truck feels wonderful at any speed (I won't say how fast I've had it up to...)

10-26-2006, 11:12 PM	#1
todddr Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2	2006 f150: front end issues Just got a new F150, crewcab, 150" wb, 5.4L. Right on the initial test drive I felt like it was a little 'wobbly' up around 70-75 mph, like the tires weren't balanced well. Of course the dealership said 'we'll take care of that.' Well, they couldn't take care of that night, cause their service dept was closed. So a few days later I take it in and they rebalance the tires. that helped a bit, but still I've got a pretty noticeable 'shake' around highway speed. So then they start talking about a Ford service bulletin concerning this 'high speed vibration' issue; now they want to have me bring it in for a bunch of front end work: change the camber settings, tighten up the entire front end, road force balance the tires. Just curious of whether anyone else has heard of this issue?

10-26-2006, 11:52 PM	#2
64longstep Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PHX.AZ Posts: 140	try replacing the factry tiers. the factry tiers are too soft. every new car or truck i have driven you could feel the week side walls. everyone that i know that has a new vehicle says the same thing, that after they put better tiers on their vehicles, they handled better. __________________ Leten a cat out the bag, is easier than, puten it back!

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10-27-2006, 09:19 PM	#3
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,312	That truck wouldn't happen to be runnin The world famous "Continnental" tires would it? Many Fords have gone back to the dealer with similar problems. These tires have a reputation for being difficult to balance. Before you go through all of that trouble with the dealer, see if you can find a friend with a similr truck, that has different type tires, and swap. Bet ya the vibration goes away. Several posts on this subject are out there. Seems that changing tires was the only solution.

10-29-2006, 06:23 PM	#4
todddr Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2	Well, my truck was at the dealership this last Friday for 7+ hours. They did all kinds of stuff as per some 'technical bulletin' from Ford regarding front end vibration; but, in the end, still the same problem after about 5 hours of work. Then, they call up some guy who I guess is a kind of 'Ford Truck' guru. He asks them some questions about the 'force balance' they've been doing and whether the 'right button' was pushed. I guess there's a choice been an 'LT' setting (light truck) and a 'P' (passenger car). turns out, there can be a significant difference in how the machine processes it's findings. The Ford F150 (and apparantly most other 1/2 tonners) are supposed to be run on the 'P' setting. They'd been doing it on the 'LT' setting. Well, they redid the force balance, and Boom! My truck can now cruise at whatever speed and feel solid as a rock. I had also paid a Goodyear dealership to do a force balance on the truck the day before this work was done. That also did not take care of the problem. When I went back to the Goodyear store to ask what setting they ran on their machine, they said 'LT.' I informed them that was probably wrong. Anyway...I'm happy now. The truck feels wonderful at any speed (I won't say how fast I've had it up to...)