OK!!!! I will keep quiet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hy guys
remember the weight on the steering axle of your new f350 is approx 4500 lbs and it is a u joint not a CV joint , so with there being only a couple of inches of snow the resistance is almost like your're on a dry surface. This truck is made so tough that moving around in a parking lot is not going to be smooth. I take mine to the bush where there is a foot of snow and I can still feel a little hop moving around, but I'll guarranty you won't hurt it. I'm on my 3rd super duty diesel and I have never broken a u joint yet.

 

preciate it ibdpic haha

 

I dont see how adjusting the backlash of the R&P will fix/help the lurching?

 

I notice the same thing....it "jerks" more than my 05 did. But I have'nt been concerned.

I to try to turn the 4WD off when getting into tight corners.

Another thing I will do, if 4WD is not really needed, but additional traction would be nice, I pull out the 4wd **** and lock the rear differential. That way both rear tires have equal traction...not just one spinning. It helps alot. This way you do not have the jerky feeling in the steering wheel.

--
Gordon

 

This is the biggest reason why our SDs are so much worse than other types of cars and trucks.

I can't say why some of you feel that your 2011 is worse than prior model SD, but I can say that having those U-joints will make it buck and jerk even if you are on bare ice. Won't hurt a thing, but it won't be a smooth experience either.

I do not understand how a properly adjusted front or rear differential could help or hurt this...those U-joints will still bind and snap over when the wheels are turned hard no matter what the diff is set to. And you also will always have the driveline bind mentioned above.

That jerking does NOT always mean there is plenty of traction!

 

My previous '99, '03', and now the '11 all feel the same to me if in 4WD in a tight turn; my belief is this is normal with a 4WD system that you engage and dis-engage ( my 2010 Jeep Wrangler is the same) ... I had Blazers (K5) and Ramchargers in the past with full time 4WD that did not do that because I thought the differentials allowed for slippage. The only time the binding is noticeable is in a tight turn when the tires have solid contact with the surface ... same as when you turn on the electronic locker in the rear, takes away slippage and provides equal traction to both tires .........IMHO, not a mechanic, just an end user.

 

Drive on glare ice and then go to bare pavement and you will notice a difference. Due to the traction!!! Yes you will notice it when traction is poor but it is less of an issue. It is just the typical feel of the 4wd system. All the backlash adjustments in the world will not eliminate this feeling. Gets more pronouced as you turn the wheels into a sharper turn.

CV joint shafts turn at the same speed. Shafts with U-joints the shafts will actually turn at different speeds. 1 turn equals 1 turn but the shaft will vary speed within that 1 revolution. Now if the u-joints are straight there will be no variance in the speeds but start to angle the shaft and the speed will change within that 1 revolution. A CV joint lessens this effect because of the multiple ***** driving the shaft within the joint but a u-joint has only two planes that it can flex on.

Locking the rear axle will not allow the rear tires to turn at different speeds so yes you will have the rear tires fighting for traction between each other. A differencial stops the fight!!!!!!! The diff allows each tire to turn at whatever speed it wants smoothly!

That is why proper phasing of the shaft is critical. To reduce this speed bump in the shaft and vibrations. Having the proper phasing reduces it but does not rid it of this effect.