Hello. A few weeks ago I purchased a 2013 F-150 SCrew EB, 157" WB. Last week I hauled a load of dirt and noticed a shudder within the first few seconds of take-off from a dead stop. There's also a shudder when braking. Research online suggests this may be axle wrap. Soon I will attempt to tow my camper and see how that goes, but others have said the shudder gets noticeably worse when towing.

I see some folks tout the Roadmaster Active Suspension as a solution. I am curious to get people's updated feedback on RAS and how it's worked for them. I've seen complaints of premature rear tire wear as a result?

I also wonder if it's possible to replace the stock leaf springs with heftier springs? The stock ones seem ... underwhelming.

Other solutions are welcome.

UPDATE: I just called my local Ford dealer and they said the solution is shimming the driveline. Approx. $350.

 

as for beefing up the rear leaf, i personally use supersprings. get an alignment after install.

https://www.supersprings.com/

 

I posted in your other thread. Here's what I use:

http://www.monroe.com/en-US/products...ock-absorbers/

$100 for the pair and I love 'em.

 

Interesting. I see people have taken different approaches to the problem. The service guy at the local Ford dealer said shimming the driveline is the only solution, and these other things won't work.

 

Shimming the driveline is one of those things that can solve one problem, and create another. Pinion angles change when you shim, which can cause vibration and decreased longevity of U-joints. If you decide to get it shimmed, make sure that the mechanic knows what they're doing.

For the record, I have no axle hop complaints. I installed the Monroe load leveling shocks to keep the truck more level with a trailer hooked up or a load in the bed. Basically, just to prop up the poor payload of the truck. This does not alter the legal payload, but it does change the amount that the truck can practically haul/tow. I'm happy, especially for $100 bucks.

 

My sticker payload capacity is approximately 1700#, so I have no complaints in that regard (seems pretty good for a half-ton). When I loaded dirt, I noticed the squat was more pronounced than I had expected. Some folks who have installed the RAS said it reduced the squat some and eliminated the take-off shudder.

 

Dirt can be pretty heavy, especially if it is a little damp.
I hauled a half pallet of sod recently that was taken from the field as soon as the tractor could get in after a good rain.
A half pallet really made mine squat.
I asked the guy I bought it from how much a pallet would weigh.
He said under normal conditions, probably about 2500#.
I'd guess my half pallet weighed about 2000#, which is over my payload.
I could certainly tell a difference when I was unloading a piece at a time. Much heavier than normal.
I was only going about 8 miles and on backroads, so I made it OK.
Just never thought about something like sod weighing that much.
I tow a 7200# travel trailer and my set up is great.
Your squat is likely just due to a lot heavier load than you anticipated.

 

It certainly adds up fast! I am fairly certain I was under weight. To be honest, I'm terrible at eyeballing distances so I can't say for sure how much the bed squatted. She went down the road and highway just fine. The only problem I noticed was that darn shudder at take-off.

 

Yeah, the shudder can be a bitch. I have a very slight shudder on take-off when I tow my trailer. Not on braking.
I wish it wasn't there, but it has not changed in 5 years and 86,000 miles.
So I'm good with mine now.

 

I can't help but wonder if the shudder is something that us owners need to address for the sake of preventing premature wear and tear on expensive parts and components?