Honey Badger

Truck 2012 SuperCrew Eco, 6.5" bed, 4x4 3.73 elocker.

After my 10,000 mile oil change and tire rotation I noticed a vibration at about 75mph. I assumed it was the tires that were just balanced, so I had it re-done. After 2 more re-balances Goodyear warrantied the tires for the Duratracs I just had installed, but the vibration is still there, so it's not the tires.

Yesterday I tool the truck to the dealer and had him test drive it, and he felt he vibration too. So next week I'll take it back in for an extended diagnostics to find the issue.

Current thoughts are either a bent axle shaft or the carrier bearing for the 2 piece drive shaft.

Has anyone else had this issue and found a solution?

bj973

Interesting. Your story sounds eerily familiar. First rotation/service sparked an issue with a vibration at 75-80 mph.

Your dealer will try to balance the tires, but when they can’t figure it out, they'll call Hotline. Hotline will tell them that this is "a normal characteristic of the vehicle". When you complain, the FSE may come out and say that they're aware of the problem, and it’s normal, accept it.

Ford engineering, if you can get in touch with them, will tell you that this shake is definitely not normal. However, you have to get a dealer or Ford customer service to support that opinion and address a fix.

You can replace rims/tires/driveshaft/driveshaft bolts/etc.... with no success. I hate to break it to you, but you're stuck with it. Your salesperson will tell you that it’s out of their hands and offer you a trade in while you take a $5-8000 financial hit. Ford either doesn't have a fix or doesn't know the root cause.

My opinion is that it’s cheaper for them to leave you stuck with a shaking vehicle and hope you quiet down… or settle for a low-ball buyback… rather than paying to randomly replace components chasing an undiagnosed issue.

sullyman

I had this happen with a vehicle before my truck. It wouldn't occur until a certain speed, the it would smooth out once going about 5 mph over the speed where it occurs.

It's a either a warped rotor, or brake material transfer to the rotors.

Ask the stealership to turn your rotors.

Venuspie

iTrader: (1)

Same here. Starts right at 75 and stops around 80! Passenger seat vibrating the whole time. Really sucks.

Honey Badger

Whelp....the dealer said they feel the vibration, but can't figure out what causes it, so nothing will be done to fix it.

bj973

Hate to say it - but told you so. I cant believe that a $45k truck should shake at all.

I have an email from Ford engineering telling me that this "is definitely NOT normal"... but FCSD says otherwise. Their solution is that this is a normal characteristic for this vehicle. Strange, since each identical vehicle should exhibit the same performance. Some do it, most don't.

BlueFX-2

Have there been any updates or solutions for this annoying issue? I've had my truck to our local dealership multiple times and they don't have any answers for the vibration. They've put two new tires on, rotated the tires (endlessly), and the vibration is still there.

The vibration is never in the steering wheel, it's always in the chassis more towards the rear of the truck, which tells me that it's not in the tires or wheels, because at some point after the multiple rotations the vibration would show up in the steering wheel.

I'm at just over 20,000 miles and beginning to get very frustrated. What should we try next, axle or drive-shaft replacement?

Thanks for any tips or advice!

techrep

iTrader: (1)

Rotate the wheels back to where they were...see what happens..

Ford850

I have had issues after rotations but usually due to uneven wear on tires. Having new tires doesn't guaranty they are without flaws either.
But I think it is more likely the shop over torqued the wheels when they rotated them and warped your rotor(s).

Xorak

this sounds like the winner. i'd also check the tire pressure. they could have overinflated the tires when they installed them.