Tire or Drivetrain issue >70 mph. (Solved)

[Manellous]

I have noticed that my Lariat AWD FX4 with Black Aluminum Rims and Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires gets a bit squirrely at any speed above 70. Almost feels as if the tires are out of balance or a yoke on a front CV is bent. I have checked the tire pressures and the road I am driving on is smooth (I drove the same road 2 times a day for the past 4 months in my 2020 Escape Titanium 2.0 AWD and it was like driving on glass) Anyone else noticing this issue?

ISSUE SOLVED: Found the problem... My Passenger Front tire was road forcing 40 and under weight by .75oz on the balance. They adjusted the tire and added the weight and put it on the rear and now the truck drives smooth. The other tires were spot on in RF and Bal. I guess the guy doing the mounting/balancing took a break in the middle of working on this tire...

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[Redbaron]

I don’t have the FX4 pkg but nahh I’ve been over 110 mph on my private road and the truck rides amazingly.

 

[Probity]

I have noticed that my Lariat AWD FX4 with Black Aluminum Rims and Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires gets a bit squirrely at any speed above 70. Almost feels as if the tires are out of balance or a yoke on a front CV is bent. I have checked the tire pressures and the road I am driving on is smooth (I drove the same road 2 times a day for the past 4 months in my 2020 Escape Titanium 2.0 AWD and it was like driving on glass) Anyone else noticing this issue?

By "squirrely" do you mean steering wheel/gas pedal vibration (harmonics) or something else? Vibration issues are maddening, as you've noted there could be many things in play. As others will no doubt suggest - if you can, take it back to the dealer, outline the issue, hopefully they'll test-drive it (with you as passenger), see if they can replicate the issue. How many miles on it? Wouldn't be surprised if dealer says "drive it until you have around xxx hundred miles on it and then come back if it's still an issue".

Wheel balance and/or driveline (drive shafts) balance come to mind first as likely culprits. An issue I had (which you won't have had) is I once bought a 'birthday' truck (an unpopularly optioned F150 that had sat in dealer inventory just over a year). I was aware that flat spots on the tires could be an issue (assuming they didn't periodically rotate/move the truck to prevent that), but price was too tempting and I bought it. Yes it had apparent flat spots, slight vibration (harmonics) above 70 mph. By the time I had put 1000 miles on the truck the vibration had cured itself. But worrisome until it stopped. Could be driveline related but that's rarer than wheels/tires problems.

Road force balancing "might" solve your problem if it's wheel/tire related - but it would cost you which you don't want. So see if your dealer can do initial trouble-shooting on their dime first.

 

[Manellous]

Squirrely- Steering wheel and body gets shakes. Not that noticeable at speeds lower than 70ish. My dealership sucks at identifying issues with tires/wheels or driveline. "If it is fine at 70 mph then there is no issues. You should never drive your vehicle faster than that." is the message my service department give me. I have a local tire shop that has new road-force balancers and they treat me well. If I find out what it is I will report back.

 

[Old Ranchero]

Does the hood flutter over 70 MPH?

 

[Darksider]

Is the road cement with parallel groves to direction of travel? I had similar issues with certain types of tires on this type of road.. I know you said smooth but had to ask.. One thing to check is make sure you lug nut are tight!

 

[ziggystar84]

I have noticed that my Lariat AWD FX4 with Black Aluminum Rims and Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires gets a bit squirrely at any speed above 70. Almost feels as if the tires are out of balance or a yoke on a front CV is bent. I have checked the tire pressures and the road I am driving on is smooth (I drove the same road 2 times a day for the past 4 months in my 2020 Escape Titanium 2.0 AWD and it was like driving on glass) Anyone else noticing this issue?

no issues for me

 

[A Dodge that drives Fords]

Does the hood flutter over 70 MPH?

I finally got to test drive a Maverick was VERY HAPPY! with the ride quality. Unfortunately it was already sold Only got up to 55-60 no noticeable vibrations at that speed but yes I did notice the hood flutter.

 

[Manellous]

Does the hood flutter over 70 MPH?

Yea a bit... Although my hinge points are solid unlike some of the videos I have seen.

 

[Manellous]

Is the road cement with parallel groves to direction of travel? I had similar issues with certain types of tires on this type of road.. I know you said smooth but had to ask.. One thing to check is make sure you lug nut are tight!

Oh good point... will check.

 

[vabchusa]

I had a similar problem that tire dealers tried to cure. Balanced tires about 3 times (both spin and static) before taking the tires off and finding a small ball of rubber made from loose rubber dust inside the tire.

 

[Manellous]

Found the problem... My Passenger Front tire was road forcing 40 and under weight by .75oz on the balance. They adjusted the tire and added the weight and put it on the rear and now the truck drives smooth. The other tires were spot on in RF and Bal. I guess the guy doing the mounting/balancing took a break in the middle of working on this tire...

 

[Old Ranchero]

Found the problem... My Passenger Front tire was road forcing 40 and under weight by .75oz on the balance. They adjusted the tire and added the weight and put it on the rear and now the truck drives smooth. The other tires were spot on in RF and Bal. I guess the guy doing the mounting/balancing took a break in the middle of working on this tire...

had to check his IG or FB alerts in the middle of the job.

 

[huunvubu]

Found the problem... My Passenger Front tire was road forcing 40 and under weight by .75oz on the balance. They adjusted the tire and added the weight and put it on the rear and now the truck drives smooth. The other tires were spot on in RF and Bal. I guess the guy doing the mounting/balancing took a break in the middle of working on this tire...

Don't you mean Mr. Robot:

 

[rrawdog]

I finally got to test drive a Maverick was VERY HAPPY! with the ride quality. Unfortunately it was already sold Only got up to 55-60 no noticeable vibrations at that speed but yes I did notice the hood flutter.

I wanted to check that one out but didn't have the time last week! And by the time I was able to it was gone. Now time to wait for them to have another so I can scratch the itch before my order eventually shows up!

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