Hondafan

Never felt it. I feel left out I occassionalyy get a downshift clunk, but I never expected lexus smoothness from a pickup truck, 99.9% of the times its smooth as silk

dcfluid

An ecoboost with a heavy trailer is the worst case scenario. This is because of the huge low end torque combined with more throttle, more boost, and slower acceleration when taking off from full stop with a heavy load puts more force into the pinion gears than any other half ton truck. Thus the pinion climbing the gear causing axle wrap causing spring deflection.
Ford also claims not every truck is doing it so it puzzles them a bit even though they've seen it for themselves.
Mine has got worse because the springs, bushings and shocks all soften up with use and allow more axle wrap. I also believe my u joints are a little beat from my towing with this problem.

MrCruisin55

I started a thread on another forum in May of this year pertaining to the shudder. Like many others here I have been in and out of the dealer numerous times trying to find a fix. I now feel that I am on to something here with Roadmaster, I had them installed yesterday.

Finally got the Roadmaster Active Suspension installed on my F150 Screw. I let the garage install them as they have the lift etc. making it easier. I am carrying about 600lbs between the 6.5' bed and rear seat. The shudder is not totally gone but barely noticeable now, the mechanic advised me to drive around with it for a week or so to give the roadmaster setup a chance to work itself in, he then wants me to come back to adjust the pre-tension (a part of the setup procedure) to see if we can totally eliminate the shudder.
The overall feel of this setup is fantastic when driving and cornering etc. It gave about 1.5" of lift over stock.
The cost was about $470. cdn. installed

john188971

I had this thread going on FTE and after several attempts the dealer put a whole new drive shaft in my truck and the problem went away.
I do have air bags with compressor on the back to keep ride height while towing or alot of weight in the bed.
They hooked up a NVH analyzer to my truck and found a "1st order drive line vibration"
There is a big problem with ride height and the s crew long bed.
I experienced the vibration at different speeds if I inflated my bags more or less, but it was always there. Now with the new drive shaft it seems to be gone.
I would hope they would classify this as a recall eventually. but time will tell.

dcfluid

Ford now has an official fix for the acceleration shudder 0-30kph while towing or under load.
New spring package!
Helps stop the axle wrap to remove "most " of the symptoms.
My dealer popped in my VIN and out popped a fix bulletin.
Truck has to go in and dealer read part # off my spring assembly and order new parts.
Going in next week.
Stay tuned!

Zrted

great news! I am going to brig this information in with me at my first service to have it fixed. This is the only complaint I have about my truck so far ... I am glad I saw this thread!

dcfluid

Thumbs up. My thoughts are " did Ford find a stronger spring package that preserved the ride quality? "
I will pester them for more info and test it out when I get it done. I will also find out exactly how to find this bulletin for the fix and post it here.
So far all this has been through Ford Canada.

brulaz

I don't have the acceleration shudder described here with really heavy trailers.

But when towing 3800# up steep hills the tranny down-shifts to fifth, and I can hear a muffled grinding or metal-to-metal rubbing when the engine is working the hardest. Reaching the crest of the hill, still in fifth, the noise fades out.

I've only heard it when in fifth towing that 3800# up a steep incline. The truck so rarely down-shifts to fourth that I can't tell if it happens there as well. Never heard it in sixth or the lower gears.

Just wondering if this could be the same problem? It's the double drive shaft (6.5' bed, SCab with Max Tow).

Looking at the U-joints, would there be any obvious signs?

dcfluid

You would never be able to tell anything about the u joints without taking them apart for inspection or they were worn enough to have slop. The u joint vibration only shows up at low speed high torque situations and is silent.
Your 5th gear noise sounds like completely different issue.

ilmo

From another poster/site:

I will be inquiring about this next Tuesday when I go in for the spline lube fix.

TSB
11-9-17

Released Oct 3, 2011
ISSUE:
Some 2010-2011 F-150 4X4 CrewCab with 3.988 m (157") wheelbase built on or before 6/21/2011 may exhibit a shudder/vibration on moderate to hard acceleration.

It is important to confirm how the vehicle is driven the majority of the time (loaded or unloaded) as adjusting the drive-line angle may result in a shudder or vibration if vehicle payload changes frequently.

This procedure should only be used to correct or improve a shudder or vibration in described condition as per vehicle build configuration.

Some shudder/vibration on take-off may be normal under heavy-load or trailer tow conditions. Refer to the Owners Guide and Towing Guide for additional information/specifications regarding towing and vehicle loading. With spring configuration on 3.988 m (157") wheelbase, the shudder/vibration concern may occur when loaded or unloaded.

This procedure will improve the severity of takeoff shudder/vibration based on vehicle load conditions.

The procedure has you change pinion angle with spacers and/or replace rear springs to the latest revision level to Help IMPROVE the shudder.