Calling F350 SRW owners

[Kevin (FL)]

Been running my truck on some regular roads trips between here and Houston and have just noticed something about the handling of the truck--strangely it seems to act up when crossing bridges or hitting road bumps. It seems like I almost lose control of the steering for an instant--almost to the point of having to back off the throttle for an instant to regain control of the truck. The only thing I've done to the truck lately was to buy two new tires for the rear because one of front ones got a nail near the sidewall. So I had the two rears rotated to the front and they put the new ones on the rear. I'm thinking the problem could be a bad shock on one side and maybe the tire rotation was a coincidence. Truck has about 135K on it--a single rear F350, 2001 model with the 6 speed ZF. Has anyone else run across this situation?

 

[olddog]

Recent rotation of tires....

Wouldn't hurt ta check the lug nuts..

 

[BUDD]

Did you put the same make and tread type of tire on? If not this could be a problem.

BUDD

 

[Katharine]

Kevin,

I have a 2000 Excursion that I have just recently had to put new shoes on her feet and I went with some very 'spensive Cooper Tires all the way around and can tell you I am having the same problem with mine. It feels more like the whole dang front end is loose. I experience it more going down a particular dirt road, that I used to take with ease and even over some really annoying RR tracks.

It seems like it simultaneously will want to go right and left all at the same time under either of those circumstances.

Kinda the same thing going down the road on the blacktop, feels like I'm doing the "Hawaian Hula" swaying back and forth down the road between the lines!

Here I thought I was just imagining things, because the kids were making me crazy!!!
Heirloom Country Farms

 

[bob farrell]

Raise the pressure in the tires 3-4 lbs. Some radials flex or "walk" more than others. bob

 

[Mike in Ohio]

Kevin, check the tie rod ends and the idler arm on the steering.I have a 2000 expedition that goes through tie rod ends. Finally I took it to the dealer and they said the idler arm was bad and thats what was killing the tie rod ends. Fixed that and no more problems, at least so far. Good luck, Mike

 

[Anonymous-0]

Had the exact same truck, key word HAD.
Check your ball joints now before they fall out.
I had 140,000 on mine and 3 sets of ball joints, first 2 from ford, last set was moog.
That wreck was the best thing that happened, made me go buy a new one, back to dodge.
But seriously check the ball joints out

 

[Anonymous-0]

Ball joints and shocks.
Been repeating for years.

 

[Brent in IA]

I have a 1995 F350 Dually extended cab. Thing has pulled to the right since I bought it 3 years ago so decided (since tires were bad on front already and I only drive it 6,000 m/yr) to put 6 new ones on and get it aligned. Ford dealer did the work and charged me an extra $100 for "shims" and parts. Now it kind of "floats" down the road, seems like I have no steering control. If I hit a bump I need to be ready to correct left or right depending upon...well...I have no idea but I have to be ready to swerve back. Any idea? Would dealer easily miss ball joints, etc.. when doing a major alignment and new tires?