I am having one hell of a time uploading photos at the moment, so please, bare with me. I took my first "long" road trip with my new '10 F150 Fx4, about 275 miles.

Halfway through the trip, my suspension started acting funny. the ride became extremely rough. As I got into town, I was able to look into the problem a bit closer.
As much as I hate to admit it, I really do not know much about anything going on under my truck. Since I cannot upload photos, my explanation might be too unclear to receive an appropriate answer.

The long, flat, black rods going from near the tailgate to the front of the truck, positioned right behind my rear wheels seem to be rubbing. Right where two of the flat rods connect, there is a rubber pad between them, but this just makes a lot of noise EVERY time I accelerate and brake.

I cringe when I drive, the noise/feeling this contact makes is nauseating to me. I know something is wrong and I am so worried that driving could only worsen things.

I am taking it into a dealership tomorrow. I am supposed to drive back home Friday and I really need some advice.

** I will try to upload pictures, again and again. Just incase most of you dont understand wtf I am babbling about.

 

Grr. Here are the pictures...





this is near the rear wheel

 

sounds like you're describing leaf springs?

It's hard to say; your pics failed...

 

Thats the name I was looking for! Now, what could have caused this problem and how can it be fixed?

I'm trying to go into the dealership tomorrow with a little knowledge about the issue.

 

well, leaf springs are designed to rub together as they move and flex; that's why the little inserts (pads) are in there; to keep the individual springs from rubbing together and making metal to metal contact

now lets say perhaps one of those inserts dislodges and falls out? well sure, it's going to make a hell of a lot of noise then; a lot a squeeking while driving around! BUT, that shouldn't cause the suspention to get any stiffer like you've described

if the suspention actually DID get stiffer, and you're head is not just playing mind tricks with you because you heard the noise then it COULD be a mechnical failure; maybe broken leaf or busted shock caused by overloading (hauling or towing something WAY over what Ford rates the truck for).


But it's really hard to say. If you could get some good quality pics up around that area; where it attaches at the front and rear of the leaf spring (that bunch of flat bars ), and where it attaches to the axle at the center, we may be able to tell if there's something that's visually obviously broken

and the only reason you should get a good judgment before hand is because if something IS broken down there, well, it's NEVER a good idea to drive ANY vehicle with a fubar'ed suspension system... it's VERY dangerous...

 

Thanks for the info. The vibrations and contact are definitely not in my head. My passengers were noticing it too. There were very strange vibrations where I rest my feet and it felt nothing like it has for the first 800 miles I put on the truck.

I totally understand that I should just get reassurance for safety reasons. Sadly, I cannot take anymore pictures (stuck in a hotel with an iPhone at nighttime).

To recap, I have felt this, heard it, and seen it. I had my passenger drive while I was outside the car.

 

Can't tell from your avatar, but do you have a lift or level?

 

ew, yeah, if you got the rear lifted, and blocks were used, the u-bolts could have backed off and caused noise and vibration

 

you don't have the truck in 4wd or 4 low by chance?