Tony Kirchner

I can't say I have tested it to know. I will be moving some items soon and can double check. If it goes away, what does that mean?

acdii

Putting a substantial weight in the bed will change the pinion angle. If the vibrations go away, or are reduced dramatically, then the pinion angle is too great and needs to be adjusted with shims between the axle and spring. This is what the problem on my 2016 was. Took several trips to the dealer and I finally convinced them to check the angle when I said it goes away with 1000 pounds in the bed. I loaded up 1120 pounds and sure enough, smooth. They installed a shim kit that Ford told them to use.

gjgerhard

I see that this is being directed to 2009-2014 F150, which is not my intention. I have a 2004 F150 5.4, and it was exhibiting the 55 mph shudder shift. I read a lot of helpful posts here, and decided it would be worth the trouble to see if changing the transmission fluid would make a difference. It did. You need read no further, the rumble strip noise appears to be gone.

Up until 38 years ago, I made a living as a mechanic. Almost a year ago, I bought a F150 with 130,000 miles on the clock, and a thorough service record. It wasn't long before I noticed the rumble strip vibration.

I have read reports here, and seen videos, of how to deal with the fact that there is no drain plug on the trans. I think that fact demonstrated amazing hubris on the part of Ford to suggest that their automatic would never need servicing. Ha! So I bought an aftermarket drain plug to install as soon as I dropped the pan. I quickly realized that those videos of guys unzipping their overflowing pans above bathtub sized drain pans were comical. A simple length of clear tubing from the hardware store can be shoved down the filler tube, and will siphon all but about a cup of oil out of that pan. Easy. So easy, I decided not to bother installing the aftermarket drain plug. The siphon is even easier than a drain plug, because, as we all know, getting the drain plug out without splashing oil all over the place takes some effort.

The "mystery object" (former filler tube plug) was not in the pan, and the fluid still had some color. The magnet held about a teaspoon's worth of fine, uniform mud. I drilled a hole in the torque converter to drain it, and tapped for a 10-32 screw.

As I said, the rumble strip vibration appears to be gone. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences.

David Leetch

So I have a 2012 3.5 Platinum with 145K miles and I've experienced what i've read here a few times, a shudder when accelerating at higher gears. I wanted to get the trans fluid changed out after reading a few of these posts but the mechanic doesnt suggest it unless it's been done before becuase it may damage the clutches. Well i dont know if its been done because i bought it at 80K from a dealer that couldnt verify if this has been done. So is this true, will it damage the clutches if i have the trans fluid exchanged?

Walt2137

acdii

It has happened, but it isn't the new fluid damaging the clutches, its the fluid cleaning out the transmission. After all those miles, the fluid is carrying some clutch material with it, so it has friction to make up for the wear on the clutch packs. In addition, varnish builds up on the parts, and clutch material transfers to the steels. Replacing the fluid, cleans out all that old friction material that was in there floating around, and cleans up the varnish and transfers off the steels, and now the wear starts to show as the clutch packs slip from lack of friction. Soon after, burned out clutches happen and truck is on the side of the road waiting on a tow.

Transmission fluid is not a lubricant, it is mainly their to provide cooling and pressure for the clutch packs. The lubricity it does have is for the sun and planetary gears and pump, but just enough to prevent wear. If it were slick as engine oil, the clutches would slip and would go no where. Over time though, that lubricity diminishes, replaced with micro fine particles from the clutch packs, if you were to put old fluid on your fingers and rub them together, then compare to fresh new fluid, you would feel the difference. This is why many places would not want to replace fluid in an old transmission with a lot of mile. It will be worn internally and the new clean fluid could very well cause it to start failing.

gjgerhard

I have to say I'm not buying it. First of all, after 60 years of being a gearhead, I've never heard this theory floated. Secondly, please tell me: if it is true that having "micro fine particles" floating around in your transmission oil is advantageous, why don't they just sell it that way?

acdii

And just where do you think that material that slips past the filter goes? I used to rebuild transmissions, and know what they look like inside prior to a fluid change, and what they tend to look like after a flush and have failed. Steels in the ones that had the fluid replaced and failed were shiny and clean, the other ones had a layer of varnish on them, and the fluid had a friction feel to it. Whether or not that suspended material helps the clutch plates engage is unknown, but the most likely reason that a transmission fails after a full fluid flush is because the detergents have cleaned away all the varnish, increasing the tolerances and inducing slippage.

j689

Hi. I have had this issue twice. At 70,000 and 108,000 miles when loading or heavy acceleration at higher speeds. both times ford place said spark plug are fried along with coils and or mis-firing. Both time all plugs and coils replaced, $$$.
2011
Lariat super crew, 5.5'
4x4
V6, 3.5L ecoboost
dearborn

j689

I have had this issue twice. At ~70,000 and ~108,000 miles with heavy acceleration at higher speeds, shudders and shakes badly then check engine blinks and stays on. both times ford dealer said spark plugs are fried along with coils and/or it is mis-firing. Both time all plugs and coils replaced, $$$. they blame poor gasoline quality produced - ethanol. I am seeing if a BG fuel system/induction clean out by the dealer will help prevent this in the future and add BG products to tank as needed.

2011
Lariat super crew, 5.5' bed
4x4
V6, 3.5L ecoboost
dearborn