Steering Vibration

[Tim King]

Need some help. I posted a few months ago about steering vibration in my 2010 V8 AWD Adrenalin 20" wheels. I'm having a vibration throughout the truck and steering wheel. My hand went numb the vibration was so bad.

The dealer found severe cupping in the OEM Pirelli Scorpion tires after a road force balance. They replaced them and balanced the wheels. This helped but you could definitely still feel some vibration.

Back to the dealer (9 trips so far) and they've since checked the CV joints, tie rods, and steering joints; rotated the rear tires to the front and the problem persists.

I was so frustrated and after reading other posts on this type of problem I ordered Prada Spec X tires. This has helped even more but there's stll a trace of the vibration and it seems to get worse as the miles go up. (maybe put 1,000 miles on these new tires; 13K miles total on the truck). I'm wondering if there's some serious issues with this truck and it's going to eat my wallet alive in tires.

Does anyone else have any ideas? I'm ready to try another Ford dealership at this point but if their only suggestion is to rotate and balance my tires you're probably going to hear about me in the news going postal on the Ford service dept. HEEEELLLLLP!

:fire:

 

[Jim Mills]

1. find a good alignment/suspension shop and send your dealership the bill. 9 trips for a vibration and cupped tires is rediculous. These types of problems are not that difficult to diagnose for a good front end tech.

2. when are you feeling the vibration? Is it all the time? or during certain driving conditions, ie cornering, certain speeds, or braking?

3. Do you know where the cupping on the tires is? Are they just choppy or or was their serious wear on the inside or outside?

A vibration that bad sounds like a bad rim, or even a bent tie rod, again it shouldnt be that hard to determine.

 

[Tim King]

The vibration is mainly at highway speeds 65mph plus (especially from the steering wheel) but you do still feel it a bit around town from the truck itself. Just resting your leg on the drivers door let's you feel some vibration, even on smooth pavement. I didn't think to really pay attention when the old tires were removed to see where the wear was taking place.

I appreciate the advice and I'll keep you posted with any new developments.

Does anyone else have any insight?

 

[scott degroot]

It's surprising how incompetent dealers are when it comes to vibrations. I purchased a 1 year old BMW a few weeks back and on the test drive noticed a vibration, I knew it was a tire or wheel issue so I wasn't worried about it. When I took the car in to get it fixed they balanced the wheels and said all was good...it wasn't. I took the car into my shop and balanced the tires again at which time I saw a bent wheel so I took the car back to BMW and told them of the issue. They called the next day and said the wheel was perfect..no bent wheel found. When I got there I took the shop foreman for a ride and amazingly he felt the vibration...they called the next day and surprisingly found a bent wheel on the car that was casuing the vibration and replaced it. Point is find yourself a good independant shop and have them diagnose the issue and then go back and inform the dealer.

 

[Gavin Allan]

My '10 Limited 4x4 had a similar vibration. Not bad, but noticable. Got worse above 75 MPH. Dealer thought it was a bad U-joint. Replaced the rear U-joint and it helped a little bit. Tried to balance the driveshaft, but no local shop could do it, so they finally replaced the rear driveshaft (under warranty) and that fixed it.



Good luck, I would have sworn it was something in the front wheels, but it was rear driveshaft that was causing the problem.

 

[Jim Mills]

If you are mostly feeling it in the steering wheel its in the front end. If you feel it in your seat its generally from the rear of the truck. Good luck & do keep us posted.

 

[Bugsiegel]

Sounds similar to what I went though. My front bearings started to go bad right after I bought the truck ( used 45k). hand was going numb... Went back to the purchas dealer and they test drove it. Mechanic said it was the tires. I almost was ready to order the tires he was suggesting... But I just wasn't buying it. Went home not so happy. Back in a week with the same issue. hand numb. Now I ask for another mechanic and they send out their master mechanic. not even 1/4 mile down the road with the salesman and I in the car the mechanic says he feels bad bearings. They change one side and the issue is gone.

6 months later the feeling is back. I go to a dealer closer to my house this time and the mechanic tells me he doesn't feel it.

Bring it to third dealer a few weeks later and they change the other front bearing. numbness it gone. My experience with the Gen 2 is when the bearings are going, you can first feel it in your hands if you know what you are feeling for.



I have another issue that the dealer doesn't believe is an issue. My power steering is noisy when sitting at idle ( not being turned) It gets quiet when being exercised. I had one dealer tell me a 200 dollar clean out of the system MIGHT help that. Their guess, my expense.....