NHTSA Complaint #10265646 — 2005 FORD F-350 SD

TRUCK TENDS TO SHIMMY UNCONTROLLABLY AFTER HITTING BUMP 55 TO 70 MPH, WHEN THE TRUCK HAD 2500 MILES SHOCKS WERE REPLACED HELPED PROBLEM UNTIL 15,000 MILES RETURNED TO FORD. TSB FOR PROBLEM WAS TO INSTALL SHIMMY DAMPER ON LR OF TRUCK. NOT INSTALLED DUE TO CAMPER TIE DOWNS. PROBLEM CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, UNDRIVEABLE ABOVE 55 MPH AT 27,000 MILES. PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN HEAVILY LOADED ( CABOVER CAMPER) TIRE PRESSURE NOT A FACTOR LOADING IS. I ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND THE SHIMMY WAS RELATED TO ONE PARTICULAR TIRE BEING MOUNTED ON THE FRONT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BELT SEPARATION IN THE TIRE. ALL THE TIRES HAD SOME DEGREE OF BELT SEPARATION. REPLACED TIRES PROBLEM CURED SOMEWHAT. THE TRUCK STILL EXHIBITS THE TENDENCY TO SHIMMY ESPECIALLY WHEN LIGHTLY LOADED NO MATTER WHAT THE TIRE PRESSURE IS. I AM A ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECH AND HAVE CURED 2 OTHER VEHICLES. ALL THREE VEHICLES STILL EXHIBIT THE SHIMMY TENDENCY BUT SELF DAMPEN WITH GOOD TIRES. ALL THREE VEHICLES HAD CONTINENTAL 275/70 18 TIRES OEM. THE SHIMMY TENDENCY SEEMS TO BE ENHANCED WITH THE CONTINENTAL TIRES FITTED AND GET WORSE WITH WEAR. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RESONANCE IN TRUCK FRONT SUSPENSION THAT GETS SYNCHRONIZED AS THE TIRES WEAR AND OR GET A BELT THAT IS NOT QUITE TRUE. THE VEHICLES WERE ALL 05 & NEWER F250 OR 350 4X4 SRW WITH THE 275/70 18 TIRES. ALL THREE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN MADE BETTER BY REPLACING THE CONTINENTALS WITH MICHELIN LTX AT 2 TIRES. THEY ALL STILL HAVE IDENTICAL CHARACTERISTICS AS FOLLOWS, TENDENCY TO SHIMMY BUT SELF DAMPEN WITH THE MICHELINS FITTED. ARE SENSITIVE TO FRONT AXLE LOAD, MORE WEIGHT ON THE AXLE LESS TENDENCY TO EXHIBIT THE TENDENCY TO SHIMMY, TIRE PRESSURE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR CONTRARY TO FORDS CAMPAIGN 09L02. I AM CONCERNED THIS CAMPAIGN ADVOCATES OVER INFLATING TIRES WITH LIGHT LOADS AS CURE FOR A VEHICLE OR TIRE DEFECT THAT NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION. HAVE MORE OF A TENDENCY TO SHIMMY AS THE TIRES WEAR. *TR