Vibration 70-80mph after balancing numerous times and getting an alignment

[kishorejoseph]

Hi all, I have a 2021 F150 Limited with CCD and Adaptive Steering.

I have a bit over 36,000 miles on the clock. The truck used to have 35x12.5 tires and when I bought it with a leveling puck, it rode smooth and straight up to and past 80mph.

However, after a while there was a vibration that started which I assumed was the 35" tires chunking and wearing unevenly. So I bought new 295/70/18 Michelin Defenders (old tires were worn and balancing wasn't doing it so I figured it was due for a new set).

The truck still vibrates like crazy over 70mph+. It gets worse the faster I go. If I really pay attention I think a mild vibration starts at 55mph. Feels like the whole chassis is shaking and in return, the entire cab is shaking.

The truck has been balanced/road-forced numerous times at this point at different places and has gotten 3 alignments. The driveshaft looks good and I don't see any scoring on it so makes me think it's not the driveshaft problem everyone is having. Local shops have all said the other suspension components look fine.

We've been on the road for the last 6 months (25k+ miles) and for all of it, I've been facing this vibration. I'm in Southern Cali for this month and about to drive back home to VA and am not looking forward to this drive back.

Since we are constantly on the move I have had no luck having a dealer take a look at the vehicle. I haven't even been able to get the Limited badge that's falling off replaced. Now I am out of warranty and likely will be completely out of warranty by the time I reach home and have time to take it to a dealer.

Does anyone have any suggestions for shops around Los Angeles that can help or guide me to a Ford dealer in the area that will help?

Any suggestions on repairs?

As always I appreciate any and all help! Thanks!

Edit: truck has a spacer on the front shocks, Deaver +3hd leaves in the back with an airlift (currently aired all the way down unless loaded). Has a ranch hand grill, leer bed cap and I cut off the air dam that broke (in case anyone thinks these mods may cause the vibration).

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[kishorejoseph]

As a full story, while in Anchorage, AK, the truck 2 or 3 times made a loud jerk and lunged. The truck was vibrating before this with the 35" and was vibrating after this as well. It has not happened since (10k+ miles).

 

[SpaceWhiteF150]

My truck also have a vibration above 60, I feel like it comes and goes though. I’m leveled with bilstien 5100s and Icon delta joint upper control arms. Aligned with spc alignment bolts, I’m only on a 285/75R17 Toyo AT3. So mine has to be the balancing.
What are y’all’s thoughts on balancing beads?

 

[SALEEN961]

Did you measure your rear driveshaft u-joint angles after installing the Deaver rear leaf springs to see if your pinion angle needs to be adjusted?

 

[GIjoe]

Check for out of round tires yourself. You’d be surprised how many times a shop will balance and tell you all is fine but they don’t check or tell you it’s out of round. If your old tires were cupping or wearing unevenly it’s a suspension problem. The soft valving of the stock shocks (which you have with your spacer lift) are not designed to control big heavy tires

 

[Mosey]

Have you swapped out your 35’s for stock as a test?

 

[kishorejoseph]

Did you measure your rear driveshaft u-joint angles after installing the Deaver rear leaf springs to see if your pinion angle needs to be adjusted?

I just found a video on this from another thread. I’m going to give this a try today to see if something’s wrong with the pinion angles. I’ll update afterwards.

 

[kishorejoseph]

Check for out of round tires yourself. You’d be surprised how many times a shop will balance and tell you all is fine but they don’t check or tell you it’s out of round. If your old tires were cupping or wearing unevenly it’s a suspension problem. The soft valving of the stock shocks (which you have with your spacer lift) are not designed to control big heavy tires

Hmm I understand what you’re saying but initially the truck drove smooth with 35x12.5 AT3s. They only started cupping on this road trip which I assumed was because I had a lot in the bed. Now with the bed empty and new tires it’s still doing the same. I’ve examined the tires visually and they look good but any other suggestions on how to see if they’re perfectly round or not?

 

[kishorejoseph]

Have you swapped out your 35’s for stock as a test?

I have not done this, I assumed since initially when the truck had 9k miles or so the truck was smooth the tires were the issue and not the truck.

 

[RickBullotta]

Hi all, I have a 2021 F150 Limited with CCD and Adaptive Steering.

I have a bit over 36,000 miles on the clock. The truck used to have 35x12.5 tires and when I bought it with a leveling puck, it rode smooth and straight up to and past 80mph.

However, after a while there was a vibration that started which I assumed was the 35" tires chunking and wearing unevenly. So I bought new 295/70/18 Michelin Defenders (old tires were worn and balancing wasn't doing it so I figured it was due for a new set).

The truck still vibrates like crazy over 70mph+. It gets worse the faster I go. If I really pay attention I think a mild vibration starts at 55mph. Feels like the whole chassis is shaking and in return, the entire cab is shaking.

The truck has been balanced/road-forced numerous times at this point at different places and has gotten 3 alignments. The driveshaft looks good and I don't see any scoring on it so makes me think it's not the driveshaft problem everyone is having. Local shops have all said the other suspension components look fine.

We've been on the road for the last 6 months (25k+ miles) and for all of it, I've been facing this vibration. I'm in Southern Cali for this month and about to drive back home to VA and am not looking forward to this drive back.

Since we are constantly on the move I have had no luck having a dealer take a look at the vehicle. I haven't even been able to get the Limited badge that's falling off replaced. Now I am out of warranty and likely will be completely out of warranty by the time I reach home and have time to take it to a dealer.

Does anyone have any suggestions for shops around Los Angeles that can help or guide me to a Ford dealer in the area that will help?

Any suggestions on repairs?

As always I appreciate any and all help! Thanks!

Edit: truck has a spacer on the front shocks, Deaver +3hd leaves in the back with an airlift (currently aired all the way down unless loaded). Has a ranch hand grill, leer bed cap and I cut off the air dam that broke (in case anyone thinks these mods may cause the vibration).

Bent wheel?

 

[kishorejoseph]

Bent wheel?

Multiple reputable shops balanced the tires, do you think they would not have noticed?

I have Method 18” wheels.

 

[RickBullotta]

Multiple reputable shops balanced the tires, do you think they would not have noticed?

I have Method 18” wheels.

Not always obvious. Just go take a look at them, and if one has a lot of wheel weights on it, more than the others, it could well be bent or have a flatspot.

 

[kishorejoseph]

Not always obvious. Just go take a look at them, and if one has a lot of wheel weights on it, more than the others, it could well be bent or have a flatspot.

Thanks, let me take a look to see if I see anything like this. You think low air pressure could cause an issue? I have tires set at exactly 35psi in all corners.

 

[RickBullotta]

Thanks, let me take a look to see if I see anything like this. You think low air pressure could cause an issue? I have tires set at exactly 35psi in all corners.

Well, if it was REALLY low before and you slammed something, maybe, but 35 should be fine for Defenders if not towing or without a full bed of rocks.

 

[GIjoe]

Jack the truck up so tire is just barely off the ground and spin it. If it’s out of round you’ll see it and it’ll get hung up on the ground. I had a similar issue and after several balancings at DT I did this and found 2 were out of round. They replaced them and now I’m smooth as silk. I would’ve thought they would have checked this but obviously they did not.

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