2010 Standard Cab F150 STX. Just turned 100,000 miles. I have owned it 2 years and put not quite 8000 miles on it. Probably have put 2000 on it since March when I started to work from home thanks to Covid. Haven't driven it recently at highway speeds and did this past Saturday and it felt very dangerous anytime I hit a bump with front tires or rear. Felt like the tires were losing contact with the ground. Steering wheel also doesn't feel right when hitting those bumps.

I had new tires put on when I bought the truck. I have never owned a truck before but have driven some in the past so I am not sure if this is a normal feeling in a unloaded 2 wheel drive truck or if there is something wrong suspension, steering wise. In my 47 years of life, I have owned nothing by VWs so I really have nothing to compare to. My father was a Parts Manager at a several VW dealerships so I always had access to the shop after hours to work on my cars. I don't have this anymore but have a garage full of tools and just stupid enough to try and tackle a project like this. I would like to speak to the engineer who decided the oil filter placement though. Probably just let the local dealer handle that job going forward. My rate it is just a yearly thing anyway

Thoughts on what I should replace and brands of those parts? Struts, Shocks, etc.

 

Check it out first, there's probably multiple items that could cause that. I'd guess lower ball joints first, shocks 2nd.

 

Just dug out the paperwork from the purchase. I bought the truck in November 2018 and couldn't really tell if the AC worked, so I bought an extended warranty. Warranty shows it covers front and rear suspension so guess I will make an appointment at the dealer.

 

Truck went to the dealer yesterday morning. Initial report back in struts, wheel alignment and rotate and balance. Service writer indicated they go after the obvious first and if not fixed, keep digging. So far I will be out $100 deductible for the extended warranty and like $50 for balance and rotate. Balance and rotate needed to be done anyway.

I guess visual/physical inspection of the ball joints was done and appear fine since they aren't replacing them. They also wanted to do a brake job, but told them no as that is something I can handle with no problem. Price was like $1700 for everything as they didn't remember I had an extended warranty until I mentioned it AGAIN after they called them when I dropped off the truck. Should have it back tomorrow as they didn't have struts in stock.

 

$1700 for Ford shocks? Is that Australian dollar?

 

included brake job that I declined

 

Bilsteins $400-ish (all 4)

PowerStop Brake kit (pads and rotors) $200-ish

Just sayin.

 

Total bill to replace the struts, wheel alignment, and rotate and balance was $1085.05 of which I paid $139.95 (extended warranty deductible and rotate/balance which was due anyway)

Front end feels much better, rear end is what it is for a 2 wheel drive truck with no weight in the bed.