Why does my truck shake/vibrate when I hit about 37-38 mph?

Question

I have a 97 f150, and when i reach or stay at 37-38 mph the front end starts shaking. This also happends when i brake to come to a light, etc. as soon as i hit the brake, and reach that mph my truck shakes. I have taken it to ford and they are telling me its my tires, and that the tread is messed up from having such a bad alighnment. I have gotten my alighnment fixed, rotated and balanced the tires and no difference at all. I'm not a mechanic, but it doesn't make since to me that tires with a messed up tread would act wierd at a certain speed. But what do i know. I also took it to brakes plus before ford and they told me that it was a bunch of stuff around $1700. I think they said the ball joints, and upper and lower control arms and some other stuff. Ford told me all that was fine, its my tires. I don't want to pay for new tires if thats not the problem. Any ideas what could be wrong?
Oh, ford also i don't need to rush on buying new tires, if i can live with the shaking.

Answer 1

Take a ride in a friends f150 truck with your tires on his truck. It would have to be a very good friend and don't go in heavy traffic or rain. It want take but one short ride and a lot of work and you will know if it is the tires. I think you should buy new tires all around.
I have never lost control of a vehicle but one time it was a truck. The tires still had legal thread but they hydroplaned when I didn't think they should. I bought all new tires. I went near 180 twice and one time I was aimed at a huge truck. When it was over I had switch from the left lane to the right lane on a four lane that had no median. Am I lucky or what?
Good Luck to you.

Answer 2

Do you feel it in the steering wheel or the whole truck ?

This sounds like a brake rotor is worped or has a hard spot this would show most when braking. the fix for it is to have the rotors turned(remachined) or replaced.
You may be able to tell witch one is bad by jacking the tire up off the ground and turning the tire you may feel a tight spot or you may need a helper to lightly press on the brake pedal just enough to put a slight drag and rotate .

While the tires are off the ground feel the tires around the cercumferance you may find a buldge or tread not inline with the rest. the fix for this is a new tire.

If you got an alignement then the suspension parts should be fine as it won't align with bad parts.

Answer 3

It sounds like it would be out-of balance rims and tires, or ball joints. I've also heard of problems with unbalanced driveshafts too, though unlikely on your truck. I would take it to several shops and have them check out the front suspension and tie-rod ends, and axles or spindles, whichever one.
Just hope they've all got the same conclusion.

Answer 4

confident, i could omit you! many human beings on the line immediately are careless and reckless; maximum of cases I see issues that make me draw back! in spite of the undeniable fact that, would I kindly advise which you place on a acceptance tag on the returned of your cycling shirt that states. "Mark ok" ?? i'm going to be plenty extra courteous to you, roll down my window and yell out some friendly greeting! I understand all of us share the line, yet once you have ever been caught at the back of a man or woman on a bicycle going below 20 m.p.h. in heavy site visitors, no longer able to bypass, i'm hoping you may understand the unhappiness. i'm in no way impolite. i do no longer bike myself. i attempt to appreciate all people, and understand that the guy on his/her bike does not care that i'm already late to %. up my 2 babies, nor do they care that my blood rigidity shot up 3 hundred factors going 15 m.p.h. in a fifty 5 m.p.h zone.My concern, no longer yours!

Answer 5

It sounds to me like there's no cheap way out. If I were you I would trade the thing off before I kill myself when the thing really goes to hell. Think about it. After you put all that money into it you still have an eleven year old truck.

Answer 6

well there can be a couple things wrong. since you are braking the rotors could be slightly warped..and it it could also be some of the suspension mainly the tie rods.
good luck

Answer 7

I cant say this is your problem but mine was doing that and all it was is that one one the weights had come of one of the wheels and was makeing it out of ballance ,but yes if you have bad tires it can cause that too.

Answer 8

My guess would be ball joints, or your tires have bulges

Answer 9

it's your tires