live2mac

Okay lets start here, 2013 F150 SuperCrew XL 4X4 15k

I bought at dealer with 12 miles on it. Took in for the shudder Jan 2014 10K after stopping and accelerating it shudders 4-6 times and several hard shifts getting on the highway. They told me that there was nothing wrong with the truck. Still had the problem after. Life is busy work, coaching, etc.. anyhow I picked my boat up yesterday from storage shudder was 4X as bad as its been. (SX210) I went to the dealership to schedule an appointment I like to talk face to face with service/sales. They looked up on the computer and said your truck has never been in for service for this problem. When in fact I specifically asked them to make notes on this due to the fact that they couldn't tell me what was wrong cause I pull a 5000lb boat with my family in the truck and I was concerned about this as we travel back and forth to the lake 4hr drive. I had noticed that the load caused it to be more significant. I carry a bed full of tools for work and I took them out when I took in for service so that maybe why the couldn't feel the shudder? I notice it every time I come to a stop and it drives me crazy! Every forum page talks about the issue and nobody post if they have found or been told a solution.

I have searched hi/low running out of options

Does anyone know anything about this please please let me know????????

live2mac

Anyone?

rjtaylor925

Nope. I brought my truck to the dealer last week to get them to regrease my splines on driveshaft. Get in my truck and the thump is just as hard as when I brought it to them. I have zero faith in my dealership to fix anything.

Killav-TT

The "thump" and the "shudder" are two different issues. I have had both, in my 2011 and also the 2013 I traded it in for. Both of my trucks were easily cured of the thump with the addition of the synthetic grease on the driveshaft slip joint. Many on this forum have the thump in the driveline when coming to a stop or taking off repaired through a TSB at the dealer, only to have it return after driving around for a while. Neither of my trucks ever had the thump reoccur.

I wish I could tell you that there was an easy simple fix for the low speed acceleration shudder when taking off from a stop. The fact is, Ford does not know how to completely solve it. Some dealers will throw everything but the kitchen sink at the problem. Other dealers keep the truck for a week, and then call you back telling you it is just a "characteristic of the truck, they all do it". That's my favorite.

Some of the things that the dealer can try are:

1. Placing angled shims between the spring and the rear end perch to angle the differential down in order to help better align the u-joints when under load (spring wrap).
2. Replace the rear leaf springs with a newer version (thicker main leaf).
3. Place shims under the transmission
4. Place shims under the carrier bearing
5. Replace the drive shaft
6. Replace the torque converter
7. Index the driveshaft-what I mean by this, is to make sure the u-joints are 90 degrees apart from each other. This cancel's out vibrations when the u-joints move back and forth as the driveshaft spins. When you get the slip joint re-greased, it is important to slide on the rear shaft as close to 90 degrees as you can get from the front shaft of the two piece drive shaft.

There are a couple of home remedies that I know of:
1. Place very short rubber bump stops in the bottom leaf spring that helps prevent some of the spring wrap when taking off. I tried this, and it didn't do anything for me, and made the rear suspension noticeably stiffer.
2. Installing a RAS (Roadmaster Active Suspension) on the rear leaf springs.

So, I had shims put in my truck on the rear differential. This eliminated about 90 percent of my unloaded shudder when leaving from a stop, and eliminated about 50 percent of my God awful shudder when towing my travel trailer.

But, I now have a deceleration shudder, I assume from the negative pinion angle, that starts shuddering inside the truck like a small subwoofer right about 40 mph. I can touch the accelerator pedal with the slightest pressure, taking the deceleration load off the drive-train, and the sub-sonic shudder completely disappears. Let off the gas, and it comes right back. My truck has 20k on the clock.

sweetoldbill

Sorry for the rather crude subject/title line, but after multiple trips and discussions with Ford regional and corporate people, I have in writing that the shudder you are describing is "...characteristic of the vehicle and will not result in harm to the drivetrain".

Service folks have agreed that stiffening of the rear springs and/or tweaking the pinion angle would fix or markedly improve the problem, but Ford will not pay/participate in any such fix.

Having had 6 Ford products over the last 20 years or so, this is the last I will own and as soon as finances permit, this truck is getting dumped.

Good luck and check other posts describing the addition of another leaf to the rear spring pack and the installation of the Roadmaster suspension product.

Bill

white08gt

common problem with all mfgs when you are dealing with 2 piece ds. my 2005 Toyota did from day 1, no permanent fix. my son-in-laws GMC same thing. i got rid of 90% of mine with the addition of an aal and monotube Rancho shocks with shims under the leafs. i am assuming you have the long bed Screw with a carrier bearing. sometimes you can loosen the bolts holding the carrier bearing and the the driveshaft maybe off center just a small amount. above post has a lot of things to try and look for. i have the short bed Screw 4x4 and mine is smooth on take off. maybe in my head but truck seems even smoother with the addition of the Helwig rear sway bar. read any of the forums and you will lots of complaints with this, i know that it doesn't help but it is not just Ford. some times you just have to try to come of with a solution on your own, easier than dealing with the stealership.

zimmer0

iTrader: (1)

for a quick $20 fix, get a set of spring clamps and place them ~6" in front of the axle on the leaf spring. See if this resolves your issue.

Killav-TT

This is exactly what I was going to try. This should help the leaf spring pack be more resistant to wrapping into an S, without killing the ride and compliance of the rear springs....

I also started looking into this:

http://www.driveshaftspecialist.com/Truckhtml/Ford.html

The driveshaft would be serviceable after this swap. Also, if you look down at the one piece drive shafts, there is a Constant Velocity front U-joint for lifted vehicles (C-5 constant velocity slip yoke). If they could somehow modify this and put this joint at the front of the rear shaft, maybe it would help. Just throwing out ideas here. I am willing to try anything.

FordService

Hi live2mac,

I'd like to get this in front of your regional customer service manager (CSM) so they can help. To do so, send me a PM with your full name, best daytime phone number, VIN, mileage, and servicing dealership. I'll move this up the line.

Crystal

live2mac

Thanks for all the info guys! I am going to take back in so it's documented on paper but from what it sounds like they will do nothing to remedy. I'm going to put some coil over shocks on rear and try the leaf spring bumpers and move from there when I'm told "it just how the truck is" tomorrow. The sad thing is I've only bought and owned several used Ford trucks my whole life and have never had a problem til I bought my first brand new truck. I feel I got ripped off and I'm ashamed to say I may never by one again.
God bless America if that means any thing any more like it does do me!