Vibration between 50 & 70 mph

[Caltec]

Have decided to give Ford one last attempt to fix the vibration. Asked the Ford rep to find a local dealership that has the vibration analyzer that is used in the service bulletin. I will give that dealership one shot to repair and then I will go the Lemon Law route.

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[shahram72]

UPDATE: So a new driveshaft is ordered, the one in there that was already replaced is also bad, just not as bad as the original ones. AND the vibration is knocking the tires out of balance, so they road force balanced all 4 and I go back when the new shaft comes in. I didn't expect this, but it's better. Not anywhere near acceptable. Geez if the driveshaft is doing this to the tires what is it doing to the rest of the car? I only drive it minimally. I almost feels like it's back where it was after the 1st DS replacement before it got worse.

I feel better with this new shop, they have newer equipment, and the tech and service writer both acknowledged it's an issue. But we are starting all over again. First thing they did was check the tires. So everything before was a waste of time.

 

[theredmeadow]

i've actually made an appt for next friday to start this whole nightmare of a process.

 

[ABS550]

UPDATE: AND the vibration is knocking the tires out of balance, so they road force balanced all 4 and I go back when the new shaft comes in. If the driveshaft is doing this to the tires what is it doing to the rest of the car?

I can't see a scenario where the unbalanced driveshaft is throwing the tires out of balance. The only way for this to happen is for the wheel balancing weights to fall off, or move, or the tire rotates on the rim. I don't think that's possible, but someone correct me if I am wrong.
I am glad that I balanced my driveshaft in one afternoon. The car has been very enjoyable ever since. Hopefully you are able to get to the same point, where you can just enjoy the car!

 

[keltymd]

I can't see a scenario where the unbalanced driveshaft is throwing the tires out of balance. The only way for this to happen is for the wheel balancing weights to fall off, or move, or the tire rotates on the rim. I don't think that's possible, but someone correct me if I am wrong.
I am glad that I balanced my driveshaft in one afternoon. The car has been very enjoyable ever since. Hopefully you are able to get to the same point, where you can just enjoy the car!

So what did you use to balance it? Hide clamp and trial and error or do you have a vibration analyzer?

 

[ABS550]

Go back and look at post 1773.
Between Jgedde and myself there are really good instructions.

Also my post 1767 has some information about the sound I was hearing.

Blake

 

[speedfrk]

UPDATE: So a new driveshaft is ordered, the one in there that was already replaced is also bad, just not as bad as the original ones. AND the vibration is knocking the tires out of balance, so they road force balanced all 4 and I go back when the new shaft comes in. I didn't expect this, but it's better. Not anywhere near acceptable. Geez if the driveshaft is doing this to the tires what is it doing to the rest of the car? I only drive it minimally. I almost feels like it's back where it was after the 1st DS replacement before it got worse.

I feel better with this new shop, they have newer equipment, and the tech and service writer both acknowledged it's an issue. But we are starting all over again. First thing they did was check the tires. So everything before was a waste of time.

The DS vibration isn't doing anything to the tires. The old shop just never balanced them correctly and the new shop did.

 

[Cobra Jet]

The DS vibration isn't doing anything to the tires. The old shop just never balanced them correctly and the new shop did.

Correct.

It still surprises me that even with a TSB out, that Ford Service Centers are wasting shop time AND Customers time force balancing tires when the tires are NOT the issue at all!

 

[speedfrk]

I posted this over in the suspension forum as well, but it really applies to this problem, too.

I installed the Steeda IRS subframe braces this weekend and have nothing but good stuff to say about them- well except for one thing which I'll mention last.
First, the handling improvement is evident immediately. The car feels more "connected" even in moderate speed corners and sweepers.

Second, there is no discernible increase in harshness over bumps, rough road surfaces, etc. It just feels tighter. My car is a base ecoboost with 18's and GY Eagle F1's.

Third- and the reason I really tried them is for reduction in the 50-70mph DL vibration that plagues these cars. They do make a noticeable difference. How noticeable probably depends on how bad your car is to start with. My car was about 90% fixed after new DS, on car balancing, etc. These have basically reduced it to where I have to ask myself if it might be road vibration or engine vibration. It's as good as it's going to get.

Finally, the car had a power on/power off difference in the DL vibration- like going up a hill on the interstate and then cresting the top and going down where there is a significant decrease in power required. My car always had an increase in the DL vibration and droning noise when it was going downhill- power off. That is completely gone now- much to my amazement. So, movement in the IRS subframe has a real impact on the DL vibration.

Judging from the way they install by triangulating the subframe to the rockers using factory predrilled mounting points, it really looks like Ford intended to use something like this in production. Even the gas tank is properly notched for these to fit and there is no reason to do that if they weren't going to use something like this.

Mine installed easily in 1/2 hour with no problems lining up bolt holes like some guys have struggled with. I did mine by backing the car on to ramps so I could crawl under the back. I think it "may" help to keep the car's weight on the suspension for alignment purposes, thus the ramps instead of jack stands.

Now, for the one negative that would only affect you if you have absurdly high rain gutters like my neighborhood- the brace where it attaches to the rocker by the jacking point sticks down 1/2in further than the pinch welded seam and it drags on the concrete rain gutter going into or out of my driveway. It sounds horrible- like I'm destroying the whole bottom of the car- which of course it is not. I'm not sure why this needs to stick down that much farther than the stock pinch weld but if you have a tall rain gutter like my driveway or your car is lowered, it will be an issue. Just a heads up... Maybe Steeda can make these without the extra hanging down past the diameter of the tube?

 

[MikeD1]

^^^ At one point in the PD process on my car the FSE's pointed to my Steeda stuff and said that was the issue - asshats !!

So, dealer removed it all & put the stock bits back (where applicable) and they retested. Techs all admitted the car was worse in OE form & they put all the Steeda stuff back on - LOL.

 

[shahram72]

Correct.

It still surprises me that even with a TSB out, that Ford Service Centers are wasting shop time AND Customers time force balancing tires when the tires are NOT the issue at all!

I see ur point, but you always start at the most basic point. I think this new shop has newer/better equipment and that is why they made a difference with my tires. It's driveline for sure, my tires are cadillac smooth! And I think the TSB says start with the tires I think, which makes sense.

 

[MikeD1]

They did that with my car on the 1st round & it made sense (plus they found 1 tire that would not force balance). My issue with it was every subsequent time it came in for the same issue, they fussed with the tires each time! Even swapping them with another car on the lot twice - all that was a total waste of time & a stupid waste of Ford's $$.

 

[mbaran]

First thing they did for me was tires too. No change.

 

[theredmeadow]

well i took my car in this morning and took a service ride and the tech didn't seem convinced. i left them the SSM number so we'll see where this goes. I don't think anything will be done.

 

[theredmeadow]

can still in the shop. i kinda doubt anything is going to be done. the shop hadn't heard about this problem before and said there hasn't been anyone that's come in. they're a pretty big dealership here too.

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