Driveline Shutter
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8th Gear
Joined: Oct 2003
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Driveline Shutter
Recently took delivery of a 2004 Super Duty, 6.0L, 5sp Auto, 4wd, Crew Cab, 8ft bed. At 500 mi noticed shutter from rear end while accelerating from 3 to 10 mph. Shutter is worse with hard acceleration. Mechanic thinks vibration is normal, maybe just axle windup. Wanted to test drive similar truck at Ford dealer but closest match was only 2wd and it did not have the vibration. I'm certain the problem is not the torque converter because it is always 3-10 mph, even when starting in 3rd. Has anyone else experienced this problem? I'm concerned it will be worse when I pull my new 14K lb 5th wheel trailer later this month.
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Vibration @ low speed they say is caused by a drive shaft angle problem at the carrier bearing, My truck does the same thing & the dealer orderd a shim kit to try to correct this, they said sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Said they mail me a notice when the parts come in. I'll let you know what happens. Oh, and yes it is worse when towing a trailer.
Last edited by mn 6.0; Nov 8, 2003 at 08:10 AM.
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Just wait till you pull a heavy trailer, you will think the truck is going to come apart with the shutter or the vibration, dealer told me they can't do anything as they have nothing to put it under a load. Getting a total run around from my dealer ship, going to change dealerships as soon as they replace the 2nd. EGR valve.
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8th Gear
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I was hoping the vibration would be less while pulling a trailer since the backing end of the truck would be loaded down, resulting in a different drive shaft angle. Will have to wait for the trailer to arrive later this month.
Another possibly related phenomenon is a slight jerk on initial launch that feels like slack being taken up in the driveline. It's almost impossible to feather the gas pedal off the line to prevent it. This doesn't get worse with quicker starts as the vibration does. I was thinking both problems might be caused by the axle rotating with the leaf springs (wind-up). Maybe it's related to the slip joint in the drive shaft. If this were the case, maybe traction bars would help. I'm interested to hear if anybody has actually solved the problem with carrier realignment.
Another possibly related phenomenon is a slight jerk on initial launch that feels like slack being taken up in the driveline. It's almost impossible to feather the gas pedal off the line to prevent it. This doesn't get worse with quicker starts as the vibration does. I was thinking both problems might be caused by the axle rotating with the leaf springs (wind-up). Maybe it's related to the slip joint in the drive shaft. If this were the case, maybe traction bars would help. I'm interested to hear if anybody has actually solved the problem with carrier realignment.
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Yes I have the same thing but I have installed 2" blocks in the back and have been adjusting my driveline angle 1/8" at a time with carrier bearing shimes and it is getting better but not gone yet and yes it will be worse when you tow. A friend of mine told me he tried everthing on his stock 2000 7.3 and never fixed it completely. I just try to take off easy when pulling. I also thought traction bars might help and have been looking in to that.
knewt8794 what kind of trailer are you getting? I have been working on a 5th/goose trailer about that wieght and am concerned with pulling that much.
Don
knewt8794 what kind of trailer are you getting? I have been working on a 5th/goose trailer about that wieght and am concerned with pulling that much.
Don
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8th Gear
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Don,
It’s a 34 ft HitchHiker Discover America. Dry weight is about 11.5K with a loaded weight of about 14K. I thought long and hard about the weight since it exceeds Ford’s gross trailer weight rating of 12.5K. Since I always see huge trailers being towed by F-350’s, I’m thinking Ford has under rated the tow rating for insurances purposes. Also, I never tow with full trailer tanks so maybe the loaded weight will come in under 14K. We’ll see what happens.
It’s a 34 ft HitchHiker Discover America. Dry weight is about 11.5K with a loaded weight of about 14K. I thought long and hard about the weight since it exceeds Ford’s gross trailer weight rating of 12.5K. Since I always see huge trailers being towed by F-350’s, I’m thinking Ford has under rated the tow rating for insurances purposes. Also, I never tow with full trailer tanks so maybe the loaded weight will come in under 14K. We’ll see what happens.
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New User
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Chatter/vibration
I apparently have the same problem. I towed my trailer today for the first time and from 1800 to 3500 rpm on acceleration, was a very violent vibration. I thought that something was going to explode. It was like a heavy clutch chatter. The truck is three weeks old and I have added $5,000 of stuff, wheels, lift, etc...
What do we do about this?
Joe
What do we do about this?
Joe
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99-03 Super Duty F-Series Two-Piece Driveshaft Shudder:
Some trucks may exhibit a vibration on moderate to heavy acceleration from a stop. This is usually due to too high of an angle through the center u-joint. The correct angle through the u-joint should be 0.5-3.0 degrees (compare front shaft angle to rear shaft). Check the engineering number of the center bearing bracket to ensure it is the correct application, and replace if necessary. If the bracket is correct, the shudder may be corrected by shimming the bearing down from the bracket using up to three 1/4" shims, part number E0TZ-4A209-A and two grade eight bolts long enough to expose three threads above the nut when tightened to 46 ft/lbs. Loctite is recommended. Broadcast Message 0518
Some trucks may exhibit a vibration on moderate to heavy acceleration from a stop. This is usually due to too high of an angle through the center u-joint. The correct angle through the u-joint should be 0.5-3.0 degrees (compare front shaft angle to rear shaft). Check the engineering number of the center bearing bracket to ensure it is the correct application, and replace if necessary. If the bracket is correct, the shudder may be corrected by shimming the bearing down from the bracket using up to three 1/4" shims, part number E0TZ-4A209-A and two grade eight bolts long enough to expose three threads above the nut when tightened to 46 ft/lbs. Loctite is recommended. Broadcast Message 0518
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Driveshaft Shutter
I also recently, (12/12/03) taken delivery of my new 04 F-250 Super Duty 6.0L 2WD Crew Cab 6-3/4 bed, and it was working great until it hit 90 miles on the odometer into the fifth day of ownership. Now anytime during normal driving a shutter is very noticeable (sometimes violent) between 45 to 60 mph then settles down but still has a very slight vibration. Could this be caused by the driveshaft angle mentioned in this forum? Haven't contacted the dealer where I purchased the vehicle yet about this.
I just went over 200 miles on this vehicle and have always owned Ford PUs since 1982 and loved them. I would hate to know that this vehicle is beginning to develop problems this early in it's life.
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Jack - US Army Retired First Sergeant
I just went over 200 miles on this vehicle and have always owned Ford PUs since 1982 and loved them. I would hate to know that this vehicle is beginning to develop problems this early in it's life.
_________________
Jack - US Army Retired First Sergeant
Last edited by saber7; Dec 19, 2003 at 12:05 PM.
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From: Orange County, CA
Originally posted by knewt8794
Don,
It’s a 34 ft HitchHiker Discover America. Dry weight is about 11.5K with a loaded weight of about 14K. I thought long and hard about the weight since it exceeds Ford’s gross trailer weight rating of 12.5K. Since I always see huge trailers being towed by F-350’s, I’m thinking Ford has under rated the tow rating for insurances purposes. Also, I never tow with full trailer tanks so maybe the loaded weight will come in under 14K. We’ll see what happens.
Don,
It’s a 34 ft HitchHiker Discover America. Dry weight is about 11.5K with a loaded weight of about 14K. I thought long and hard about the weight since it exceeds Ford’s gross trailer weight rating of 12.5K. Since I always see huge trailers being towed by F-350’s, I’m thinking Ford has under rated the tow rating for insurances purposes. Also, I never tow with full trailer tanks so maybe the loaded weight will come in under 14K. We’ll see what happens.
I know that I pull a trailer that is sometimes about 100# to 200# over the max rating, and while I make a some long hauls on 6% or 7% grades in 2nd gear, I keep up with the other trailers, and never overheat.
Even still, I am looking forward now to the arrival of my new 6.0L PSD F-250 Lariat.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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I purchased my 2004 w/2003 motor in mid october, at 16oo rpm there is a shutter. I don't feel it when i am going , lets say 0-60 but when i am crusing at 55 to 60 and the rpm is around 1600 the shutter starts. I have no idea what this is. Any ideas.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Eastern CT.
I had a 99' PSD, SC, auto, 4x4,w/9' dump, DRW, and when loaded as it took off, it would shudder also, just on take-off only, if you look at the center carrier bearing it is surronded by a rubber web like cushion,,is this where the shudder is coming from ?? I never tried to space it down, like they suggest. I tried a 04', F-350, 6.0, SC, 4x4, DRW, 6-speed, cab and chassi, on first drive from the dealer,,I felt that same shudder, with no body on it !!!!, And thought ,,what the heck is this going to do with a 2000 lb body on,,plus a load,??
I instead traded my truck for an 04' F-350, V-10, SC, 4x4, 6-speed, DRW pickup and it has No shudder, when I take off, loaded or not, the way it should be.
Now what the heck is the difference, between these drivelines of our trucks, other then the V-10 and PSD engines ??? does anyone Know,, we should park them side by side some day, in a parking lot, with creepers and compare drivelines, 1,900 and some miles so far, and love my truck..
10-burnin, 6-turnin, sometimes 4 smokin !
Later,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mark
I instead traded my truck for an 04' F-350, V-10, SC, 4x4, 6-speed, DRW pickup and it has No shudder, when I take off, loaded or not, the way it should be.
Now what the heck is the difference, between these drivelines of our trucks, other then the V-10 and PSD engines ??? does anyone Know,, we should park them side by side some day, in a parking lot, with creepers and compare drivelines, 1,900 and some miles so far, and love my truck..
10-burnin, 6-turnin, sometimes 4 smokin !
Later,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mark